GIS&RS User Conference in Suva

The Conference Committee have decided that a discussion covering thematic areas, where applications have to be adapted to Pacific environment and conditions.

 

This year this discussion will be well documented based on Video documenting with the following topics as proposal for the discussion:

 

(01)                 "What USP should teach regarding GIS&RS"

(02)                 "Vegetation mapping in the Pacific"

(03)                 "Open Source GIS, RS and database software"

(04)                 "GIS web applications"

(05)                 "Monitoring transport lines in the Pacific"

(06)                 "DTM creation and editing"

(07)                 "Utility GIS application"

(08)                 "Data sharing"

(09)                 "Disaster application of GIS and RS"

(10)                 "Marine application of RS and GIS"

NASA: Huge Defunct Satellite Will Fall to Earth This Week

A dead climate satellite that has been circling Earth for 20 years
will make a fiery death plunge this week, with some pieces of the 6
1/2 ton spacecraft expected to reach the surface of the planet, NASA
officials say.

The bus-size Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, will likely
plummet down to Earth sometime around Friday (Sept. 23), according to
NASA's latest projections. There is a 1-in-3,200 chance that UARS
debris could hit a person, though NASA considers that scenario
extremely remote.

"Re-entry is expected Sept. 23, plus or minus a day," NASA officials
wrote in an update posted Sunday (Sept. 18). That means that by
Saturday (Sept. 24), the UARS satellite should slam into Earth's
atmosphere and break apart

The space agency's space debris experts predict that at least 26 large
pieces of the satellite will survive the scorching temperatures of
atmospheric re-entry. But exactly where the UARS satellite debris will
fall is uncertain.

NASA officials have said that the drop zone for UARS satellite debris
could be anywhere between the latitudes of northern Canada and
southern South America, an area that includes much of the planet.

The satellite should re-enter over a 500-mile (804-kilometer) track,
according to NASA officials. Since 75 percent of Earth is covered with
ocean, there is a high likelihood that the satellite will re-enter
over the sea or a remote, uninhabited stretch of land, Victoria
Samson, the Washington Office Director of the Secure World Foundation,
an organization dedicated to the peaceful use of outer space, told
SPACE.com last week.

See attached for best times and details to catch a glimpse in Vanuatu.

Terms

Altitude is how high up you look. It is measured in degrees. Looking
straight out along the ground to the horizon the altitude is 0
degrees. The setting Sun is 0 degrees altitude. Looking straight up is
90 degrees. Half way up is 45 degrees. And so on.

Azimuth is which way you face when you look. It is also measured in
degrees. There are 360 degrees in a full circle, for all the
directions all around you that you could look. North is azimuth 0, and
azimuth increases in a clockwise direction, so East is azimuth 90,
South 180, and West 270.

When you shake your head up/down as yes, its altitude. when you shake
your head left/right as no, its azimuth. Both are measured in degrees.
Looking at the horizon, the altitude is 0 degrees, Straight up is 90.
Straight down is -90. Looking true north the azimuth is 0 degrees,
east is 90, south is 180, west is 270.

Pacific Islands GIS/RS Conference 2011

Conference Date

Monday 28th November to Friday 2nd December, 2011.

Conference Venue

Pasifika Conference Room, 2nd Floor, SPC Lotus Building, Ratu Mara Road, Nabua,. Suva

Conference Background

Since the first Pacific GIS&RS Conference in 1999, this annual event has attracted a lot of participants from as far as the Americas to the sunny islands most of us call home. Each year the range of GIS&RS technologies presented cover an array of applications including the management of resources of the small island Pacific nations. Shallow water bathymetry derived from satellite imagery, forest function maps to identify areas for to be protected, areas identified for developments in flood zones are some of the applications where the development of GIS&RS in the region have been applied in various sectors. As with previous conferences, there are no fees levied for those wishing to attend. Donations however are graciously accepted. This years theme is Data Sharing, Better Mapping!.

More information here - http://bit.ly/nKkITH or www.picisoc.org

Report Pacific Island GIS&RS User Conference

The report of the Pacific Island GIS&RS User Conference is on the conference website:   http://www.picisoc.org/PacGISRS2010   It is still a draft as we hope that outstanding abstracts will arrive. We are currently working on a DVD which will also contain the presentations.   Have a nice weekend,   Wolf   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr. Wolf Forstreuter SPC                  CPS SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) Postal Address: Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva, Fiji Islands Street Address: Mead Road, Nabua, Fiji Islands

Vanuatu Qualification Table 1999

PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+	PID - Highest Qualification 15+
PID	Province	T Total	T Total %	T Never been to School	T Never been to School %	T School - No formal Qualification	T School - No formal Qualification %	T Primary Certificate	T Primary Certificate %	T Form 3 Certificate	T Form 3 Certificate %	T Year 10 Certificate	T Year 10 Certificate %	T GCE Year 12 Anglophone	T GCE Year 12 Anglophone %	T Year 13 Francophone	T Year 13 Francophone %	T University Entrance	T University Entrance %	T University Certificate	T University Certificate %	T University Diploma	T University Diploma %	T University Degree	T University Degree %	T Post Graduate Certificate	T Post Graduate Certificate %	T Post Graduate Diploma	T Post Graduate Diploma %	T Masters Degree	T Masters Degree %	T PHD	T PHD %	T Post Secondary	T Post Secondary %	T Vocational	T Vocational %	T Not Stated	T Not Stated %	T Junior Secondary Certificate	T Junior Secondary Certificate %	T Senior Secondary Certificate	T Senior Secondary Certificate %	T University Certificate-Diploma	T University Certificate-Diploma %	T University Degree Tot	T University Degree Tot%	T Vocational / Post Secondary	T Vocational / Post Secondary %	M Total	M Total %	M Never been to School	M Never been to School %	M School - No formal Qualification	M School - No formal Qualification %	M Primary Certificate	M Primary Certificate %	M Form 3 Certificate	M Form 3 Certificate %	M Year 10 Certificate	M Year 10 Certificate %	M GCE Year 12 Anglophone	M GCE Year 12 Anglophone %	M Year 13 Francophone	M Year 13 Francophone %	M University Entrance	M University Entrance %	M University Certificate	M University Certificate %	M University Diploma	M University Diploma %	M University Degree	M University Degree %	M Post Graduate Certificate	M Post Graduate Certificate %	M Post Graduate Diploma	M Post Graduate Diploma %	M Masters Degree	M Masters Degree %	M PHD	M PHD %	M Post Secondary	M Post Secondary %	M Vocational	M Vocational %	M Not Stated	M Not Stated %	M Junior Secondary Certificate	M Junior Secondary Certificate %	M Senior Secondary Certificate	M Senior Secondary Certificate %	M University Certificate-Diploma	M University Certificate-Diploma %	M University Degree Tot	M University Degree Tot%	M Vocational / Post Secondary	M Vocational / Post Secondary %	F Total	F Total %	F Never been to School	F Never been to School %	F School - No formal Qualification	F School - No formal Qualification %	F Primary Certificate	F Primary Certificate %	F Form 3 Certificate	F Form 3 Certificate %	F Year 10 Certificate	F Year 10 Certificate %	F GCE Year 12 Anglophone	F GCE Year 12 Anglophone %	F Year 13 Francophone	F Year 13 Francophone %	F University Entrance	F University Entrance %	F University Certificate	F University Certificate %	F University Diploma	F University Diploma %	F University Degree	F University Degree %	F Post Graduate Certificate	F Post Graduate Certificate %	F Post Graduate Diploma	F Post Graduate Diploma %	F Masters Degree	F Masters Degree %	F PHD	F PHD %	F Post Secondary	F Post Secondary %	F Vocational	F Vocational %	F Not Stated	F Not Stated %	F Junior Secondary Certificate	F Junior Secondary Certificate %	F Senior Secondary Certificate	F Senior Secondary Certificate %	F University Certificate-Diploma	F University Certificate-Diploma %	F University Degree Tot	F University Degree Tot%	F Vocational / Post Secondary	F Vocational / Post Secondary %
1	Torba	4146	100	934	22.5	1556	37.5	1332	32.1	66	1.6	128	3.1	15	0.4	2	0	1	0	1	0	3	0.1	3	0.1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	34	0.8	38	0.9	32	0.8	194	4.7	18	0.4	4	0.1	4	0.1	72	1.7	2056	100	330	16.1	819	39.8	717	34.9	39	1.9	66	3.2	10	0.5	2	0.1	1	0	0	0	2	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	23	1.1	27	1.3	19	0.9	105	5.1	13	0.6	2	0.1	1	0	50	2.4	2090	100	604	28.9	737	35.3	615	29.4	27	1.3	62	3	5	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	0.1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	11	0.5	11	0.5	13	0.6	89	4.3	5	0.2	2	0.1	3	0.1	22	1.1
2	Sanma	21213	100	4220	19.9	4738	22.3	7066	33.3	655	3.1	1678	7.9	236	1.1	63	0.3	18	0.1	44	0.2	39	0.2	32	0.2	14	0.1	14	0.1	5	0	2	0	198	0.9	241	1.1	1950	9.2	2333	11	317	1.5	83	0.4	67	0.3	439	2.1	10992	100	2023	18.4	2457	22.4	3623	33	363	3.3	952	8.7	144	1.3	40	0.4	11	0.1	26	0.2	18	0.2	20	0.2	11	0.1	11	0.1	4	0	2	0	129	1.2	155	1.4	1003	9.1	1315	12	195	1.8	44	0.4	48	0.4	284	2.6	10221	100	2197	21.5	2281	22.3	3443	33.7	292	2.9	726	7.1	92	0.9	23	0.2	7	0.1	18	0.2	21	0.2	12	0.1	3	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	69	0.7	86	0.8	947	9.3	1018	10	122	1.2	39	0.4	19	0.2	155	1.5
3	Penama	15204	100	2829	18.6	5038	33.1	5275	34.7	346	2.3	963	6.3	100	0.7	10	0.1	3	0	23	0.2	10	0.1	11	0.1	1	0	4	0	1	0	3	0	125	0.8	270	1.8	192	1.3	1309	8.6	113	0.7	33	0.2	20	0.1	395	2.6	7724	100	1180	15.3	2585	33.5	2769	35.8	200	2.6	536	6.9	50	0.6	6	0.1	1	0	12	0.2	9	0.1	9	0.1	1	0	3	0	1	0	3	0	76	1	180	2.3	103	1.3	736	9.5	57	0.7	21	0.3	17	0.2	256	3.3	7480	100	1649	22	2453	32.8	2506	33.5	146	2	427	5.7	50	0.7	4	0.1	2	0	11	0.1	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	49	0.7	90	1.2	89	1.2	573	7.7	56	0.7	12	0.2	3	0	139	1.9
4	Malampa	18896	100	2340	12.4	7122	37.7	6999	37	339	1.8	1005	5.3	96	0.5	40	0.2	14	0.1	19	0.1	15	0.1	5	0	3	0	2	0	2	0	1	0	184	1	267	1.4	443	2.3	1344	7.1	150	0.8	34	0.2	13	0.1	451	2.4	9490	100	1018	10.7	3545	37.4	3493	36.8	205	2.2	563	5.9	56	0.6	27	0.3	5	0.1	13	0.1	10	0.1	4	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	122	1.3	191	2	235	2.5	768	8.1	88	0.9	23	0.2	7	0.1	313	3.3	9406	100	1322	14.1	3577	38	3506	37.3	134	1.4	442	4.7	40	0.4	13	0.1	9	0.1	6	0.1	5	0.1	1	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	62	0.7	76	0.8	208	2.2	576	6.1	62	0.7	11	0.1	6	0.1	138	1.5
5	Shefa	34013	100	1787	5.3	7799	22.9	12475	36.7	1450	4.3	4470	13.1	1123	3.3	264	0.8	163	0.5	254	0.7	310	0.9	383	1.1	67	0.2	60	0.2	82	0.2	36	0.1	773	2.3	573	1.7	1944	5.7	5920	17.4	1550	4.6	564	1.7	628	1.8	1346	4	17599	100	844	4.8	3781	21.5	6268	35.6	779	4.4	2480	14.1	638	3.6	141	0.8	105	0.6	150	0.9	192	1.1	246	1.4	44	0.3	39	0.2	60	0.3	28	0.2	441	2.5	303	1.7	1060	6	3259	18.5	884	5	342	1.9	417	2.4	744	4.2	16414	100	943	5.7	4018	24.5	6207	37.8	671	4.1	1990	12.1	485	3	123	0.7	58	0.4	104	0.6	118	0.7	137	0.8	23	0.1	21	0.1	22	0.1	8	0	332	2	270	1.6	884	5.4	2661	16.2	666	4.1	222	1.4	211	1.3	602	3.7
6	Tafea	15797	100	6824	43.2	3138	19.9	3445	21.8	243	1.5	536	3.4	58	0.4	11	0.1	4	0	14	0.1	7	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	99	0.6	118	0.7	1292	8.2	779	4.9	73	0.5	21	0.1	8	0.1	217	1.4	7711	100	2896	37.6	1643	21.3	1797	23.3	141	1.8	335	4.3	40	0.5	10	0.1	4	0.1	14	0.2	7	0.1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	67	0.9	76	1	679	8.8	476	6.2	54	0.7	21	0.3	2	0	143	1.9	8086	100	3928	48.6	1495	18.5	1648	20.4	102	1.3	201	2.5	18	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	32	0.4	42	0.5	613	7.6	303	3.7	19	0.2	0	0	6	0.1	74	0.9
Source: National Statistics Office

Satellite Image Data for Pacific Island Countries

Satellite Image Data for Pacific Island Countries   Hi all users of GIS Image Backdrops   A new generation of satellites requires addition bandwidth to download the image information from satellites. We will get more and better images which is essential for Pacific Island Countries. Details are explained in the attachment. Important is that the information is channelled to decision makers taking up the issue.     Cheers,   Wolf   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr. Wolf Forstreuter SPC                  CPS SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) Postal Address: Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva, Fiji Islands Street Address: Mead Road, Nabua, Fiji Islands

Greg's Cable Map - www.cablemap.info

www.cablemap.info

Greg's Cable Map is an attempt to consolidate all the available information about the undersea communications infrastructure. The initial data was harvested from Wikipedia, and further information was gathere by simply googling and transcribing as much data as possible into a useful format, namely a rich geocoded format. 

The data is available in ArcGIS .shp file format on request, so long as it's not going to be used for profit.

History of VANRIS

The Land Use Planning Office (LUPO) in Vanuatu will
release a new version of VANRIS (Vanuatu Resources
Inventory System) late in May 1998. In addition to the
existing data in the previous versions of VANRIS, the new
version will provide information about seismic activities,
locations of bore holes, and the roads and boundaries of
conservation areas in Vanuatu. This latest version of
VANRIS, as in earlier versions, is built using Visual FoxPro
and MapInfo.
The new version of VANRIS will introduce a new system
of Land Classifications. The new classifications are not
only more user friendly (for example, describing land use
capabilities in plain English), but data has also been updated
using satellite images that were purchased by the
project.
The new version of VANRIS will include a new tool called
VANRIS Companion. It is a stand-alone application that can
be consulted while MapInfo Maps are displayed on the
screen. The companion assists in the interpretation of the
maps, and should make VANRIS easier to use and understand.
The VANRIS Companion also contains additional
sets of data about, for example, anchorages, moorings and
polling stations. Look for more details in later editions
when the new VANRIS is released.
Eberhard Kobler described VANRIS in a past Newsletter and will,
hopefully, provide an updated description in our next issue. For any
questions you can reach him via e-mail at either
kobler@vanuatu.com.vu

History of Vanuatu Resource Information System (VANRIS)

The Vanuatu Land Use Planning Project, initiated by AusAid in late 1995, is an effort to:

• Build up skills and resources to strengthen land use planning and natural resources management capabilities; and

• Develop effective mechanisms to ensure that land use plans prepared at National, Provincial and community levels are consistent and are implemented.

• Strengthen Provincial planning capabilities where much of the implementation will take place.

The National Land Use Plan integrates a broad set of principles and guidelines for development of land resources, supported by information from Development Plan 4 (DP 4), the Vanuatu Natural Resources Inventory (VANRIS), the National Conservation Strategy, the National Tourism Management Plan, and data collected by line agencies and other groups such as census data, data relating to agriculture, forestry, geology and mines, rural water supply and cultural heritage. These agencies and groups are involved in the development of the national land use plan, and their endorsement is critical to successful implementation.

The project established the Vanuatu Land Use Planning Office (VLUPO), to carry out the tasks at national level, and to train staff and co-ordinate planning activities in the Provinces. At Provincial level, the project assists in developing Provincial Development Plans and natural resources management capabilities within the office of the Provincial Planner.

At the community level, the project assists villagers in the process of developing land use plans utilises a Community Area Resource Management Activity (CARMA) "Bridging the Gap." The project's overall strategy is to create land use plans that integrate between local, provincial and national levels and across all sectors.

The first step is to assemble a multi-sector team of extension agents as a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) in each province. The group is led by the Provincial Planner and includes extension officers from agriculture, forestry, livestock, fisheries, lands, rural business, health, education, water supply, public works, woman's affairs, youth council, and NGOs.

The National Land Use Planning team provides a 7 day training course that includes a variety of PRA type tools. During the course the participants develop ideas on the most important problems in the various villages in their province and gradually select specific village areas for the site of a CARMA activity. Once sites are selected, the team identifies the potential and suitability of land resources for development using information from VANRIS, local knowledge and other sources. This information is plotted onto a Mapinfo GIS.

The coloured maps are a useful focus tools for the TAG preliminary meeting with the villagers to identify major land use problems. Following the first meeting, the TAG team organises a CARMA program with the villagers to map the area and identify the problems and aspirations facing the villagers. The CARMA program will use TAG extension agents from forestry, agriculture, fisheries, health or whatever agency might be appropriate for that particular village's problems.

Once the problems are identified, the agents work with the villagers in finding solutions at three levels: community, provincial, national. What do the villagers need to do? What must the Province do? What are the National Government responsibilities? One example of this process was the need for a health clinic in one village. The integrated team approach resulted in the community building the building, the provincial government providing the furnishing, and the national government providing the medical staff and medicine.

The final land use action plan is produced as a revised map, showing what everyone has agreed on for the use of specific parcels of land and detailing responsibilities for the projects. The participating agencies have a data sharing agreement so the information can be used by the whole team and standardised to put into the VANRIS with its FoxPro interface. The project has simplified the Mapinfo menus so it is very easy for officials to make maps to support their part of the action program. Presently more than 30 agencies actively use and add to the VANRIS GIS.

The AusAid funded project is expected to directly assist in developing a CARMAP in one community in each Province. This will provide necessary training and experience for TAG members. Thereafter, the TAG will continue the process in other interested communities under the guidance of the VLUPO. The VLUPO will assist the TAG and interested communities in implement their plans through identifying sources of funding. As of November, 1997, 6 TAG training programs and 6 CARMA were completed in 4 Provinces. Four of the CARMA workshops were the first level - done with the supervision of the national staff. There have been 2 secondary workshops, done by local and provincial people trained in the TAG workshops. This demonstrates the training works and the trainees can conduct the CARMA locally.

The participating government agencies agree that the process is successful and will become more so as more people are trained in the process and the villagers themselves begin to understand how they can actively participate in the future. Observers note that Forestry Officers trained in group processes in the earlier workshop have used their training and talents to help other extension agents in the TAG training activities. The major concern of the participants is the question of how the process should be institutionalised when the current project terminates in 2000.

Get rid of Oval Place Names

In the new Australian Defence Force data acquired by the Vanuatu Government Lands Survey and Registry Department, there are some discrepancies in the data attributes. Two examples are 2,8882 contour elevations around South Efate and Oval Place Names. These makes it difficult to control labeling the places or contours in a map window.

The best way around is to remove all the labels in the data itself and thus I found SQL select to be the best tool to fix this. See below window on how to do this.

In the SQL select dialogue box:

For table field, select Places_P (orginal table name), and in condition field, input P_Name="Oval".

Some Place Names includes Oval text. In that case use condition P_Name like "%oval".

For the contour issues, select table Contour_L, and condition is Elevation=28882. Do not use thousand comma seperator.

10 things you can do to increase the accuracy of GPS locations measured by your consumer grade GPS.

1. Wake / Warm Up - For the GPS unit to calculate locations correctly it must receive ephemeris data (precise orbital data) from each of the satellites it detects.  Most GPS units have a screen that shows which satellites it has detected and the bar graph showing the strength of the signal.   On most GPS units, these bars are gray or hollow while the ephemeris data is being downloaded and then turns solid back once the ephemeris data has been downloaded.  All this said, turn on the GPS unit at least 5 to 10 minutes before you plan to use the unit and leave it in an area which it can pickup satellite signals.

 

 

 

2. Keep it on - Leave the unit on and outside, so it will continue to collect data and updating the ephemeris data which needs to be updated about every hour.  (avoid putting the unit inside your jacket or pack).

 

 

 

3. Differential Correction - Use some form of differential corrections (DGPS) such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the USA.   Most differential corrections will allow accuracy of 3-5 meters and WAAS will allow accuracy to 1 to 3 meters.  See my GPS Accuracy Testing page for test results of a WAAS unit vs. non-WAAS unit.  Keep in mind that on some GPS units that have WAAS still must be turn on or enabled.  I hear that Garmin is this way.  My Magellan SporTrak came with it enabled.

 

 

 

4. Average - Use "Averaged" waypoint to locate the point.  Most units will start Averaging once the unit sits still for a few seconds or there is a way to tell the unit you want to start averaging.  Allow the unit to average for 30 to 60 seconds.  

 

 

 

5. Record the Data  - Use the unit to store the point vs. writing it down.  This reduces the chance of a transcription error.  

 

 

 

6. Know the Units - If you do record it by writing it down, make sure you record down to a unit that will give you the precision you require.  To get down to around 5 feet or so you will need to record to:

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00.00001°  (Decimal Degrees)

 

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00° 00.001' (Degrees, and decimal minutes)

 

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00° 00' 00.01" (Degrees, minutes, seconds)

 

 

 

 

7. Avoid Blocks - Make sure the unit is not blocked from the satellites.  If you are beside a building or cliff (especially if it is to the south) it will block the signal from the satellites.  If you are under thick tree cover, you will have reduced coverage.  You may want to invest in an external antenna.  Some of these will increase the signal in areas of poor reception.

 

 

 

8. Avoid Bouncing - Avoid getting a multi-path error which is caused by being close to an object that is bouncing the signal.  Again, avoid standing close to buildings.  (Note:  one surveyor I know said they had one guy that kept on having bad errors in his survey.  When they called the manufacturer of the unit, the manufacturer asked if the gentleman was bald.  He was... the signal was bouncing off his head.  He now wears a hat when he uses the unit.)

 

 

 

9. Data Quality -  Most GPS units will provide you with an indication of the quality of data.  For example, Estimated Position Error (EPE) or Position dilution of precision (PDOP).  The smaller these numbers are the better (for PDOP less than 6).  

 

 

 

10.Plan - Due to the way satellites orbit the Earth, there are times when coverage is good and poor.  You can download Mission Planning Software from Trimble or Thales .  Once installed, you will need to download the most current Ephemeris Files aka Almanac (Click here for Trimble and here for Thales.  The almanac is a file that contains the orbit, clock corrections and atmospheric delay parameters for all of the satellites.  The software will then calculate the PDOP for the area you will be working in and for the date you need.  Below, you can see a screen shot of the PDOP (red) and the Availability (green) graph.  Notice that between 10:30 and 11:30 availability drops and the PDOP goes up from 3 to 10.  So you would want to avoid this time.

 

Source: doylesdartden.com

 

 

TC Yasi

TC Yasi