How to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit

GPS units are used to record location coordinates: latitude, longitude and elevation. Coordinate data can be imported into a Geographic Information System (GIS) and displayed on a map. The Humanitarian Information Center (HIC) loans out GPS units for data collection. When you borrow a GPS from the HIC, you will be shown the basics of collecting coordinates. It is important that before you leave the HIC office, you understand how to use the GPS unit. The notes below refer to the GPS units used by the HIC. Satellite phones can also be used to capture location data. The form on the left is the standard format for recording GPS data. Collecting coordinates with a GPS Unit 1 2 Turn on the GPS unit (power button). You need to be outdoors, most GPS units do not work indoors. Wait while the unit tracks the satellites. When the screen states READY TO NAVIGATE ACCURACY xx m you can record a location. Sometimes it takes several minutes for the GPS to acquire satellites. a. Press the PAGE button to change the display page. Press the PAGE button until you reach the page titled MENU b. The MENU has options which can be accessed by pressing the up or down arrows. For collecting point data, use only the Mark option i. Mark this records the Latitude, Longitude and Elevation for a single point. This is the feature you will use most frequently. ii. Waypoints navigate to a recorded location (advanced use) iii. Routes records a route (advanced use) iv. Tracks records a journey (advanced use) v. Setup DO NOT change the settings on the HICs GPS units. HICs units have been set up to accurately collect data for the Earthquake Response in Pakistan. If you are setting up your own GPS unit, the dd.dddd format is the preferred option for units. For Pakistan the GPS should be set to WGS84 On the MENU page, select Mark. The unit will display an image of a man holding a flag. On the flag is an ID number. At the bottom of the screen are three rows of data: ELEV: (this is the elevation measurement) N (this is the Latitude measurement) E (this is the Longitude measurement) Write down the screen information on the GPS Waypoint Entry Form (see example at left). Include the number on the flag (this is the GPS point number) plus the data at the bottom of the screen. Press ENTER on the left of the unit to save the location mark. The screen will then return to the Menu. Each time you arrive at a new location that you wish to capture, repeat the process to collect a new mark.

Return the GPS and the GPS Waypoint Entry Form to the HIC office. The HIC will use this information for improvements in mapping. You can contact the HIC at HICPakistan.GIS1@un.org Download the form at left and a GPS tutorial from the HIC Pakistan website: http://earthquake05.un.org.pk/ Other HIC sites can be found at: www.humanitarianinfo.org

Geo-referencing data in the Pakistan Earthquake Response

Any location on Earth can be described by two numbers--its latitude and its longitude. These coordinates are used to specify position on a map. Latitude lines circle the globe horizontally. They are analogous to the lateral rungs on a ladder. Longitude lines run vertically from one pole to the other. Longitude can be thought of as the long sides of the ladder. Latitude and longitude are collected using a GPS unit. When these coordinates are included as part of data collection, the resulting information is geo-referenced. Problem: Information that is not geo-referenced can cause confusion and imprecision. In the earthquake affected area in Pakistan, there are over 20 villages named Danna. If a school in Danna is reported as having measles and needing a vaccination campaign, how can one tell which Danna the school is in and where to send the vaccination team? Without coordinates, this could be a difficult or impossible task. Solution: Coordinates need to be included as part of all data collection, assessments and reporting. Information that includes geo-referencing would look something like this example: The reconstruction team reports a need to prioritize building three projects: a grade school in Danna (73.7437, 34.1395), a health center in Danna (73.4069, 34.2839) and a carpenters training facility (73.2302, 34.8352) in Danna. This geo-referenced data can be added to a database (sample data is for demonstration purposes only):

How: Coordinates for geo-referencing are collected using a GPS unit. GPS units are now easier to use than ever before. The HIC Pakistan website has a GPS tutorial. It can be downloaded from: http://earthquake05.un.org.pk/ Why: Collecting location data increases both the immediate and long term value of information. Geo-referenced data can be used as baseline data and displayed on a map for planning. Having the location information reduces the need for multiple visits to the same area to determine exact locations. When location data is used as a common reference, additional data such as roads, population figures and distribution centers can be added to the map. Geo-referenced information is of utility to many actors in all stages of an emergency and is also useful for the subsequent stages of reconstruction.
Produced by HIC Pakistan and USAID, December 2005