Handheld GPS Training for Municipal Use
- 1. GPS for Municipal Use
- 2. Lead Instructor •Fire Chief Tom Lozier •29 year member of the Athol Fire Dept. •GPS instructor for over 11 years •Have used GPS in the fire service for SAR and resource management
- 3. In Athol, over 450 fire Hydrants and 9 Lifeflight Landing zones and 6 RR mile markers have been marked with a GPS
- 4. Assistant instructors •Athol Deputy Fire Chief John Duguay •Petersham Police Chief Dana Cooley •Athol Police Detective Ron Cote •New Salem/Wendell Fire Chief Joe Cuneo •FRCOG GIS Specialist Ryan Clary •Athol FF/Paramedic Bruce Dubrule
- 5. In 2013, our GPS Instructional team taught over 150 Police, Fire and DPW personnel in Western Mass how to use GPS handheld units for Search and Rescue, brush fire acreage calculations, resource and debris management and most importantly “ACCOUNTABILITY”
- 6. If used correctly, crews equipped with a GPS can have their location and movement tracked at all times. This is important when crews request additional resources, manpower or need assistance
- 7. On June 30, 2013, a wildfire in Yarnell, Arizona killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots
- 8. Yarnell Hill Fire report: Experts say report shows firefighter need of GPS tracking Associated Press 2:02 PM, Sep 29, 2013 3:25 PM, Sep 29, 2013 The challenge now, experts say, is figuring out how to prevent another tragedy as the threat of wildfire shows no sign of diminishing in the nation's overgrown, drought-stricken forests and foothills. One way, they say, is to invest in GPS tracking technology for firefighters.
- 9. • When used properly, a GPS will have accuracy of up to 3 meters (9 feet). You must have a working knowledge of a GPS to use it safely and effectively. The more you train with it the better you will be at using it when you need it the most. • The RINO 655t GPS does not have surveyors grade accuracy. It should be used as a reference point only • When used properly, a GPS unit will allow you to track resources as well as collect valuable data for disaster recovery reports • The RINO 655t GPS has a 2 way radio feature as well as a built in camera that allows the picture location to be saved as a waypoint (marked location) • A GPS can be used to mark the location of hydrants, access gates, municipal buildings, debris piles after a disaster, Life-Flight landing zones and more
- 10. Topics of Discussion What is GPS Features and settings of the RINO 655t Demos Field exercises
- 11. GPS – Just what is it? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The system communicates with a number of satellites orbiting the Earth. The satellites consistently transmit their location and time signals. GPS receivers are receiving the signals and use them to calculate their present position. There are enough satellites to provide continuous coverage around the globe.
- 12. Receiving satellite signals The GPS unit needs to see at least 3 satellites (preferably more) in order to calculate the position The GPS unit can see only satellites that are above the horizon Terrain obstructions and foliage can block or reduce satellite signals If your receiver cannot lock on to three or more satellites, change your position. Simple turning around to face the opposite direction may do the trick. On a cold start, let the GPS warm up for a few minutes
- 14. GPS accuracy and reliability Most GPS units manufactured since 2005 have sensitive technology in them (SIRF) These units can get a signal under heavy cover including indoors GPS units sold for recreation use can at times attain accuracy with-in 3 meters (9’) I have experienced accuracy of 3’ These GPS units will display it’s accuracy on the screen Some high end units costing thousands can give accuracy within inches (surveyors grade Trimble)
- 15. GPS units are a electronic device and is subject to failure Most GPS units can survive a lot of abuse Most failures are from operator error or setup
- 16. Topics for basic use of the RINO 655t Powering up the GPS Changing the position format Using the radio feature Reviewing the map page Calibrating the compass Marking/finding waypoints Area Calculation Using laptops
- 17. Garmin 655t Youtube video
- 18. Turning on the GPS
- 19. When you turn it on the screen will look like this. It will search for satellites. Once it has locked onto 3 or more satellites, the bar graph on the bottom will show green bars.
- 20. Calibrating the compass Touch and hold the center of the compass to start the calibration feature.
- 21. Position format The position format that is used by cell phones are typically decimal degrees. See line 3 below
- 22. To set the device to decimal degrees • From the main screen, touch setup •Scroll the arrow down to position format •Touch position format •Touch position format again •Touch the desired format •Hit the arrow return and x button to go back to the main screen
- 23. Using your GPS Marking locations- Making waypoints
- 24. To mark or create a location, from the main screen press the Mark Waypoint Button. Once pressed the screen will look like this.
- 25. You can save it with the default name (001 etc) by touching save or touch save and edit to change the nameIf you just save it, write down what 001 is ie; hydrant, brush fire, subject etc.
- 26. Once you have marked all the waypoints you can access them later by going to the “Where To” icon on the main screen
- 27. You have received cell phone coordinates for a lost person and need to create a waypoint
- 28. Area calculation feature “How big is that brush fire” The easiest feature to use!
- 29. View the Youtube of the radio feature of the Rino 655t
- 30. The radio of the Rino 655t uses the FRS radio Band. You should never depend on the Rino radio as your main mean of communications. A professional radio should be used by personnel when they are working in an emergency environment.
- 31. Changing radio channels, channel code or radio name, Just touch the screen on the icon you want to change
- 32. After a break we will go outside and practice using our GPS units
- 33. Getting the GPS information into a computer
- 34. GPS and PC’s You can Transfer data from the GPS to a PC or laptop. A waypoint managing program such as EasyGPS is online and currently is a free program.
- 35. Once you have downloaded the EasyGPS program, open it up. You will have to add your GPS to the list of GPS units on the program.
- 37. Plug the cable into the GPS and your PC
- 39. Your waypoints should be listed like this
- 40. Laptop/ GPS DEMO • Importing GPS data • Customizing the EASYGPS page • Import data into Google Earth
- 41. The class you have just completed has given you a basic working knowledge of how to use A Rino 650 series GPS device. It is important for you to practice and use the GPS several times a year or more so that you will stay familiar with how to use it. The owners manual is available online and should be referred to as often as needed.