tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22691589.post660957011948364672..comments2022-03-29T01:25:30.137-07:00Comments on Geographical Information Systems Engineering: Simple Steps for GPS use and data capture.José Sousa (Administrator)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03541717395811419939noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22691589.post-59943842750610627142011-12-06T15:49:51.237-08:002011-12-06T15:49:51.237-08:00Hi Ana, I agree that a local datum would be much m...Hi Ana, I agree that a local datum would be much more accurate, the problem is that in post-conflict environments, they don’t usually have a local datum or knowledge of it, that can be implemented at the local level, with a villager + Garmin GPS for example it wont be in the menu. In most cases sub metre accuracy would be useful to have however the cost is prohibitive for many NGOs to purchase greater than off the shelf GPS and many are untrained in how GPS works. These consumer units and smart phones are what the spatial data of Afghanistan are being built on today quite literally. But, if you are found in the countryside with a GPS unit, you are working for the infidels and therefore surplus to requirements, and this will not change for years.<br /><br />My irritation is that maps in these environments are also printed in WGS84 instead of any other useful projection, we used Web Mercator variants (as I think it has become the most printed standard worldwide by international aid agencies) so they could align with google maps. For example, you would be very surprised at how many NGO AID agencies store their data in Military Grid Reference simply because Military Maps are the only maps available to them in the field, the government in Iraq and Afghanistan don’t yet have the ability to print their own topographical maps, so Russian and USA MGRS are prevalent (eg, most data is stored in Lat Long, and MGRS in Afghanistan). <br /><br />There is a recent book out by Esri on Land Administration and Sustainable Development, while not dealing with GPS, there is a need there for a GPS for Developing Environments handbook too (which was the spark for the original text the post is based on).<br /><br />Kind regards<br />Duane.pm4gishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15457920295098044341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22691589.post-2437572044587507362011-11-30T04:39:24.755-08:002011-11-30T04:39:24.755-08:00careful with WGS84 datum....... for precise applic...careful with WGS84 datum....... for precise applications in no useful anymore<br />APanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14831073349115803244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22691589.post-6032622517673518292011-11-30T04:01:00.523-08:002011-11-30T04:01:00.523-08:00Duane Wilkins is a premium Project Manager with la...<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/duanewilkins" rel="nofollow">Duane Wilkins</a> is a premium Project Manager with large experience in GIS.Jose Sousa (Administrator)http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jos%C3%A9-sousa/2/568/255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22691589.post-22709186868678081962011-11-28T23:33:14.832-08:002011-11-28T23:33:14.832-08:00muito bom.muito bom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com