While this training session is setup for the planning staff on a major forest fire or some other major emergency that covers a large area it has applications for other users. A great deal can be learned by following the links in the lesson plans. The gps of choice for this training is the Garmin GPSMap76S, but do not be discourage. Garmin units use a common language and I am able to take the lessons learned from the training material and apply it to my old Garmin eTrex Legend, and to my 76C and 76Cx. Most likely some of the information would be useful using my fishfinder/gps. Garmin gps units have long been the choice of land management agencies, going back to the Garmin GPSIII Plus.
The instructors in this class need a “standard” model that will accomplish the job and at the best price. It would be difficult for instructors to present a class with ten different models from different manufactures in the classroom. It is no different then my old high school typing classroom, where every typewriter was the same. Or a standard infantry rifle in the military. It is unlikely that a beginning GPS user would be sent to this session. The candidate for the session my have expertise using a GPSIIIPlus or a Garmin V, or some other model.
You may not be an experience user, but if you set down with your unit and follow the difference material at the end of the day your knowledge level and the ability to use your gps in the field will be higher. Your advantage over the trainee in this session is that you do not have the pressure of having to perform under pressure. Just enjoy the learning experience.
Included in the list is some mapping software that land management agencies use. I believe the software will give a non-agency user an incomplete toy because it needs to work in conjunction with other password-protected agency mapping programs. I plan on downloading some of the software to what I call my Kamikaze Computer. I spent sometime bringing the old computer up to date with all the security updates, and fresh anti virus software, and downloaded the latest Adobe Reader.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.htmlDave in WV might lock on to the section regarding fly and mapping with your gps. As a side comment the root source for most great airtanker, and helicopter pilots used in fighting forest fires is the military. It is hard to beat flight crews coming on of the service with thousands of hours of experience.
There is a section on UTM that should make our friend “ victorcharlie” happy. And there is a section on Lat/Long.
I sent the link to a highly respected land management friend last night, and his reply is there is some good stuff here. By the way he is an “old” GPSIII Plus user who purchased a Garmin 60CSx last fall. He says it does everything. When asked about the accuracy of the altimeter he replies that it is inconsistent and the margin of error maybe close to the elevation numbers received by a standard unit receiving a 3-D lock.
SURVEVYOR and Awf Hand might take a look at this from a professional standpoint.
The intent of this training is to give the Incident Team on a large fire and accurate map of the fire perimeter for planning purposes, and for the ground and air support folks to take action on the incident. These maps are also used by other agencies providing disaster assistance to the victims of the fire. The maps provided are for emergency use and not survey quality.
This applies to the hunter and fisherman. When hunting and trolling with my boat I have the gps in track mode. From the data collect while in the field I create maps at home using software on my computer.
http://gis.nwcg.gov/training_gps.html
