Moving XY Data (Waypoints) to a Map

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Moving XY Data (Waypoints)to a Map

• Frank Wideman
• Extension Engineer
• Univ. of Missouri Extension
• Perryville, MO

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To get points from a GPS to a Map software

• GPS unit
• Computer Cable
• USAPhotoMaps
• XML file
• Excel
• CSV file (XY data file)
• Import XY data file into to a map
• Called importing an Event Theme in AEJEE

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Hooking up the GPS unit

• Check your connections
• Not many opportunities to mix up ports
• Just check and match up

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Garmin eTrex GPS

• Check the notches and grooves
• Pretty durable connection
• Do not force the connection
• Match up the connection
• Other GPS units
• Just pay attention to
• pins,
• notches
• grooves

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Check computer connection

• Serial older style Garmin use this
• USB
• Other

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Check computer connection

• Check the shape
• Check the alignment
• Guide it into place

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Start USAPhotoMaps
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Connections are ready

• Now you can start your GPS Applications
• Now start USAPhotoMaps
• First start will bring up the help menu
• Read or close Help as is your need

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Setting up new project

• Click File menu
• Select New Map Location
• Use Map Locations to identify projects since
  several projects may be located in the same
  territory.
• Select Open Map Locations to work on an
  existing one.

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New Map Project/Location

• Default location is Washington, DC
• Name your new project. Replace the name that is
  there.
• Use one of your Waypoints for Lat Lon
• Click OK button

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Fill in the blank map tiles

• First screen will be empty
• You must be on-line to download maps.
• Only the downloading of map data requires you to
  be on line.
• Maps are from Terraserver.
• Aerial photos and topo maps.
• Future projects for the same area will not
  require the map download.

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Fill in the blank map tiles

• Click on File menu and select Download Map
  Data and Fill Screen.
• Map tiles will fill the screen
• Separate downloads will be needed to get 1-meter
  and 8-meter aerial photos also 4-meter and
  64-meter topo maps.
• Download only what you need.

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Setting up for the GPS

• The GPS menu allows you to set Comm Port,
  Baud rate and Protocol.
• Comm 1 is usually the 9 pin serial port that most
  GPS units have used until very recently.
• Newer GPS units are usually USB.
• For USB connection use No serial GPS.

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Setting up for the GPS

• Baud rate seldom needs to change.
• The amount of data we are moving is so small that
  even slow baud rates are OK.
• Standard for serial port is 9600

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Setting up for the GPS

• Protocol
• Most of the GPS units that we use in our 4-H
  programming are eTrex units that use the serial
  connection.
• Use the Standard Garmin Protocol
• Garmin units with USB connection uses Garmin
  USB
• All GPS units can be set to use the NMEA
  communication protocol

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Sending receiving data

• In the GPS menu you can send or receive
  waypoints, routes, tracks and position.
  The Unit must be on for this.
• Waypoints are the points/locations of interest.
• Tracks are paths recorded while traveling.
• Routes are a series of waypoints in a desired
  order
• Position allows for a live connection with the
  GPS unit.

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Sending receiving data

• A message will show if the transfer is
  successful.
• A message will also show on the GPS screen that
  indicates the transfer is complete.

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Reviewing Waypoints

• The Waypoint menu allows you to show the list
  of current waypoints for this project.
• Another option will import a new list from other
  programs that might create an XML or GPX file.

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Lutheran
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Reviewing Waypoints

• The list of waypoints will have the name the GPS
  unit gave each point, usually a number. This
  program calls it Name.
• I usually add the real world name as the
  Comment.
• You can select one from the list and click the
  Go To button. The program will move that point
  to the center of the view.

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New map view

• The map will show the points in the current view
  and corresponding labels that you select, GPS
  name or Comment.
• You may need to download more map tiles.
• You can click and drag any point to correct any
  GPS error or inaccuracy.
• You can create new points in the program.

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Editing a point

• The Edit button will let you change the text
  information for that point, like GPS Name,
  Comment and add other descriptive information.
• The To GPS button will send the selected
  waypoint to a GPS unit. Use this if you do not
  want to upload the whole list.
• The GPS menu will upload the whole list to the
  GPS.

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Edit Screen

• You can very easily change the GPS name here,
  much easier than in the GPS unit.
• We will use it for Data Base ID
• Lots of room for more information. Maybe too
  much!!

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Zoom Menu

• Zoom menu will let you get a different view of
  your world.
• Different map types use different zoom levels.

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Map types

• The View Menu will let you select the Map
  Type
• All maps are downloaded from TerraServer.
• Types depends on what is public
• Aerial Photos of USA
• High res color photos of urban areas
• Topo Maps

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Example topo map
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XML files found in C\Program Files\USAPhotoMaps O
pen with Excel (version 2002 or 2003)
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Files created

• USAPhotoMaps creates an XML file for each
  location or project.
• XML files found in C\Program Files\USAPhotoMaps
• Open with Excel (version 2002 or 2003)

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Use Excel to edit project file

• Open Excel and browse for the desired file in
  C\Program Files\USAPhotoMaps
• Only newer Excel (version 2002 or 2003) will work

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Select the project file you want
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Extra step to XML files

• We dont want to handle all the extra formatting
  in XML
• Select open As read-only workbook.
• Remember that when we finish we would prefer the
  file format be a CSV file.
• Click OK

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Here is what the spreadsheet will look like.
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Delete rows columns that are not needed
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Editing the file

• Remove the unwanted columns and rows
• Right click on the column and row markers
• A, B, C, D and 1
• And select Delete from the pop-up menu

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Edit labels (column headers) remove special
characters from labels, add data columns and name
appropriately
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Editing labels

• Labels might also be called column names.
• Seldom is USAPhotoMaps labels what you want.
• I usually turn \wpt\Name into DataBaseID,
  \wpt\cmt into Name, \wpt\lat into lat,
  \wpt\lon into lon, etc.
• There is a limit on the number of characters that
  mapping software will allow in the labels. NO
  special characters!

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Add the other data

• Now we add more columns with the other data we
  have collected about our points
• Use labels with appropriate meaning.

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Now save the file

• Save the file after you finish all your additions
  and edits, as a CSV file.
• CSV is Comma Separated Values.
• Put it where you will keep your other data and
  layers for this project.
• Save as an Excel file for ArcGIS 9.2
• Older versions and AEJEE use CSV file

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CSV files have an Excel icon that has a little
a, in it.
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Now Start ESRI Software

• Add map layers as Shape files or JPG files, photo
  layer shape files.
• Use the button that has the sign.

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Shape files

• Your map layers will likely be shape files.
• When you add them, you only see files that end
  with .shp or .jpg for aerial photos or topo
  files.
• Remember that there will be at least 2 more
  supporting files with the same name.

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Add XY data / event theme

• Also called xy or Lat-Lon data file.
• ArcMap Click Tools menu and select Add XY
  data
• AEJEE
• Click on the View menu and select Add Event
  Theme.
• This process will create a new shape file from
  the data as it is imported in AEJEE.

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Add XY data / event theme

• The opening folder is the Browse button.
• Browse to the CSV files you saved.
• Select the one you want.

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Add XY data / event theme

• Unlike the newer versions of Arc GIS, you must
  select the fields, columns in the CSV file, that
  are the X Y fields.
• Remember that the X field is longitude and the Y
  field is latitude.
• Select the folder you want the shape file stored.
• You can select the symbol for these points.

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Points shown on screen
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Layers or shape files

• Get them as free down loads from lots of
  locations.
• ESRI has Census TIGER files
• Many states have clearing house of data files.
• Some local communities have data files
• Check out these sources

http//www.geodata.gov http//www.fgdc.gov/metadat
a/geospatial-metadata-standards http//www.geograp
hynetwork.com http//nationalmap.gov http//www.co
lumbia.edu/acis/eds/outside_data/stategis.html htt
p//libinfo.uark.edu/GIS/us.asp