Guide to Trail GPS Mapping with the Garmin GPSMAP 60Csand Delorme Mapping Software

Guide to Trail GPS Mapping with the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSand Delorme Mapping Software

GUIDE TO TRAIL GPS MAPPING

WITH

THE GARMIN GPSMAP 60CS

AND

DELORME MAPPING SOFTWARE

J. Bode

Release 1.0

Preface 3

How to Use this Guide 3

Hardware and Software 5

Software Upgrades 7

Introduction to Global Positioning System, GPS 8

GPSMAP 60CS Setup Procedure 9

Loading MapSource map data into GPS receiver. 13

GPS Data acquisition / Field work 14

Logbook 14

GPS Receiver 15

External Antenna 15

Making Tracks 16

General Guidelines 19

Poor Satellite Coverage 19

Concurrent trails 20

Data Processing and editing 22

Downloading Tracks and Waypoints 22

Download Track and Waypoint Data to MapSource 22

Downloading Data to DeLorme Topo 24

Downloading Tracks 25

Concurrent Trails 30

Downloading Waypoints 30

Viewing Data in MapSource 31

Editing in Delorme Topo 32

Editing Trails 34

Editing Waypoints 44

Deleting unneeded waypoints 44

Labeling waypoints with an index 45

Saving and Preparing the Data to Submit 46

Exporting the Data 47

Exporting Waypoints for a Trail 47

Exporting Trail Data 50

Data submission Guidelines 52

Printing Maps 52

Preparation of Data for Local Sponsor 53

Separating the Trail Data by Sponsor 53

County Abbreviations to be used in file names 56

Preparing ArcView Shapefile Data 58

Minor Edits to the DeLorme output Text file 58

Download DNR Garmin (free software) 59

Using DNRGarmin, Shapefile creation. 60

Appendix 66

a. Coordinate systems and Datum 66

b. WAAS UP.doc 67

c. Useful links 68

d. Reserved 68

e. Suggested data folder structure example. 69

f. Data Requirements 70

Preface

Accurate Snowmobile trail mileage and mapping as used in he OPRHP Trail Grant program has been a subject of some concern. This is a partly result of the variety and inconsistency of methods used to determine and submit funded trail maps and mileage data to OPRHP. A consistent and accurate method of determining and reporting a clubs funded trail mileage is needed. NYSSA has agreed to work jointly with OPRHP to address this issue.

OPRHP has issued a policy that by 4/1/07, all trail mileage will be determined by use of GIS (Geographic Information System). This implies that local clubs or sponsors will need to provide digital map data. GPS based methods or some equivalent means of providing digital data are needed. Here a GPS based method supported by NYSSA is described.

Additionally is desirable to obtain coordinates of various elements of the trail such as services, bridges, and trail intersections. The details of the data to be collected and submitted are listed in appendix f.

This guide is part of a NYSSA effort to facilitate the transition to GPS based trail data through documented procedures, training and technical support for local snowmobile organizations. The purpose of this guide is to provide specific information on the use of the Garmin GPSMAP 60CS with MapSource and Delorme TOPO USA 5.0 to map of New York’s funded snowmobile trails. This guide will describe the application of these tools toward the above goals. It does not replace owner’s manuals that are provided with the GPS receiver and software. At various points, reference may be made to specific sections of these manuals. Basic operating instructions for GPS receiver and Software should be obtained from owners manuals.

How to Use this Guide

In the development of process described in this manual, an attempt was made to keep the steps non-technical. That is a background in science, math or other learned skill is required. The exception to that is the need to be somewhat familiar with the operation of a computer. Even that can be learned as you go.

There is a long list of details and steps. Many steps are logical and easily remembered but a few are not so intuitive and easily forgotten.

I recommend the following approach:

·  Skim through this guide to get an idea of what is involved in the process.

·  Read through the first 10 pages of the GPS receiver Owners manual and skim the rest while trying things on the unit

·  Install the Software and spend some time experimenting and using the built in Help and User Guides. In particular, become familiar with the functions of the Delorme Topo Draw tab features and tools.

·  Read through this guide in sections, trying to do what you read as you go.

·  Take some sample tracks and waypoints walking around your neighborhood or parts of your trail. Then download to the computer and try all the processes on the data.

·  Make a short checklist of things to remember when out on the trail

·  Try the for-real recording of a couple segments of your trail and process them to completion. Follow the steps described as closely as possible.

·  Make use of the online discussion forum to get help with questions.

·  As confidence builds, take larger segments of the trail to completion.

The intent here is to avoid is doing a lot of work incorrectly and having to re-do it.

The many steps involved are easy to forget over the year or between outings. If possible, keep your skills active by mapmaking and miscellaneous use of the GPS unit and software.

This process uses only a fraction of the capabilities of these tools.

Good Luck and ENJOY!

Hardware and Software

Specific hardware and software is being recommended to achieve consistency of data submitted, reduce the overall effort involved in training, field work, and data preparation, as well as provide useful tools club trail management. The selected hardware and software as well as the procedures described in this document allow use of this recreational grade equipment to achieve near map grade accuracy.

The following is the list of items needed with some internet sources and prices in effect at the time of this update (1/15/05):

MSRP gpsnow.com gps4fun.com

Garmin GPSmap 60CS (see note below) $499$ 398$ 419

Garmin External Antenna GA 27C 99 75

Garmin Data/12v.power Cable 010-10165-00 45 37

Garmin Mapsource City Select v6 139 124 119

or

Garmin Mapsource US TOPO 117 90 79

Delorme Topo USA 5.0 East 50 45 45

or

Delorme Topo USA 5.0 100 90 95

USB to Serial Adapter - Some Computers do not have a Serial port. In this case the following adapter is required. This clip is from www.Tigerdirect.com. The link in the first line in the clip should take you to Tigerdirect’s Bafo page. It includes a driver CD.

B133-1014 / 5. / BAFO - USB 1.1 To Serial Adapter (DB9)
The BAFO USB-Serial adapter device provides a simple and easy way to connect Universal Serial Bus (USB) into Serial port interfaces.
/ $9.99

Note: Delorme is about to release an upgrade to Topo 5.0 that includes USB support for Garmin GPS. When that is released, the above Bafo adapter and Garmin Data/ 12v. cable would not be needed.

GPS Case - from www.gpsoutfitters.com ( Ultimate GPS Case ) $14 and / or a camera case to hold GPS receiver, antenna, cables, spare batteries, manual and other things such as a small log book and pens.

The MapSource products are detailed map data to be downloaded to the GPS receiver. The MapSource City Select or MapSource US TOPO is a personal choice and that choice will not affect the project. Samples of these maps may be viewed on www.garmin.com There have been some WIN XP issues with USB drivers in older versions. For example City select must be V5.4 or newer. I am not certain about the US TOPO version but be sure it is the latest. I mention this as a caution since some internet sources are selling back level software at a discount.

Unless you want the full USA,the Eastern Region of DeLorme TOPO 5.0 should be adequate and you save $45. If you do want the full USA, consider the DVD version if you have that type of drive. The DeLorme software will serve many functions in the process of pruning, editing, separating, merging, measuring, and verifying the data to be submitted. It will also produce very useful detailed maps for club use.

The unit comes with a USB cable which is fast for use with MapSource but you need the Garmin Data/12v.power Cable serial cable above for the Delorme Software. This cable also allows use of external 12v. power.

Note. The GPSmap 76CS receiver has at times been available with $50 rebate making it lower priced. It is equal to the 60CS plus more memory for map data. This additional memory is of no advantage in this program.

Software Upgrades

This section will contain information about upgrades available for the Garmin GPS unit, Garmin Mapsource, and DeLorme Topo software. None of the upgrades below are needed for the GPS project.

As of this printing thes updates are known:

GPS unit software upgrades are downloaded fron the Garmin websites and then installed on the GPS unit via the USB cable.

Latest release for the Garmin GPSmap 60CS is version 4.0 1.7 MB

http://www.garmin.com/support/download.jsp

Latest release for Garmin Mapsource is version 6.5 11.3 MB

http://www.garmin.com/support/download.jsp

-Latest releases for Delorme Topo are:

Service Pack 1 for DeLorme Topo 5.0 is Topo5_sp1.exe 2.369 MB (note this service pack was supposed to add Garmin USB support but it did not work correctly. Fix is pending.

http://www.delorme.com/support/topousa/topo5006.asp

- Magnetic Declination update 254 KB

http://update.delorme.com

The intent is to keep this section up to date. As new releases become available and tested this section will be updataed. Posts will also be made on the NYSSA web site http://www.nyssnowassoc.org/ on the GPS Information Page.

Introduction to Global Positioning System, GPS

A GPS receiver can determine its position on earth using timing signals from at least 4 satellites. It must have a reasonably clear view of the sky where from 4 to 12 of the 24 GPS satellites should be “visible” to it at any given time. More will be discussed later on the problem presented by dense forest canopy.

The GPS receiver being recommended is the 12 channel parallel receiver, Garmin GPSMAP 60CS. 12 channel parallel receivers can obtain a fix faster and more accurately under marginal conditions. It has the capability of storing and displaying local road (City Select) or topographical information (Topo US). This is useful as a reference while on the trail and especially valuable for planning a trail. It also has a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) receiver so that improved position accuracy will be obtained when a WAAS signal is available. See appendix b. for more information on WAAS.

As the GPS receiver is carried, it has the capability of recording its changing position as a sequence of coordinate points. These points are saved in memory as a “track”. On demand it can also store labeled position coordinates called waypoints. These are useful for marking the location of trail features. Tracks and waypoint data collected can be displayed on the GPS receiver screen or downloaded to a PC for further display and editing in mapping software.

This receiver has many features including serving as a navigational tool, electronic compass, barometric altimeter and miscellaneous other functions such as calendar and calculator. These additional features are not of immediate interest in the process of trail data acquisition. You may refer to the GPSMap 60CS user manual for more information on additional features.

GPSMAP 60CS Setup Procedure

The following settings should be used for this project. It is suggested that all other settings be left at factory default.

Details of how to set them follows but you should refer to the GPSMAP 60CS owners manual p. 55 - 67 for complete setup overview.

·  Power on the receiver. Press MENU twice to display the MAIN MENU.

·  Use the rocker to highlight the SETUP icon and press ENTER.

MAIN MENU SETUP MENU

·  Use rocker to highlight SYSTEM and press ENTER

SYSTEM MENU

Press QUIT

·  Use rocker to highlight Interface and press ENTER

SETUP MENU Interface MENU

·  Press QUIT

·  Use rocker to highlight Units and press ENTER

SETUP MENU Units Menu

Press QUIT

Use rocker to highlight Map and press ENTER

SETUP MENU Map MENU

·  Press QUIT twice returning to MAIN MENU.

·  From Main Menu select TRACKS This is the main menu item that you will return to most often.

The track log or active track is a record of the most recent movement while tracking is turned on.

Saved tracks are compact labeled copies of the track log. When a track is saved the data is screened and compressed to 500 points or less. Little information is lost but the file is smaller.

Note; a maximum of 20 tracks can be saved. See available number at bottom of Tracks Menu screen.

MAIN MENU TRACKS MENU TRACK SETUP

·  Set Track Log - OFF

o  If Active track log has valuable data then SAVE first.

·  Then CLEAR to clear active track log ready for a new track.

·  Choose SETUP See above screen on right

Wrap when full - unchecked

Record method - Distance

Interval .01 mi.