Priory GPS Data Collection

Introduction

This week we were tasked with mapping features at the Eau Claire priory for the purpose of future planning. A long term goal for the Priory includes student housing, outdoor adventure center, as well as other multipurpose buildings. We were tasked with mapping features that may be of interest for future planners.

There are many methods to going about mapping an area, for this exercise we decided to use the Trimble Junos. These devices have ArcPad loaded so we can deploy a Geodatabse from ArcMap into the device. Then we can use the device to collect points in the field and eventually bring the data back into ArcMap after point collection had finished.


Figure 1: Trimble Juno 3D. We used the 3B edition, but they are essentially the same for our purposes.

 

Study Area

As mentioned earlier, we were once again at the UWEC Priory. The Priory is an area filled with many small hills and deep (for Wisconsin) gorges. It currently houses the children’s center and has a few buildings on the property.

 

Figure 2: Aerial photo of our study area at the UWEC Priory.

Methods

To begin this exercise we had to load a geodatabse onto our Trimble units. After checking out the Juno from our geospatial faciliatator, we started building a geodatabse in ArcCatalog. We decided we wanted to map a number of features along the trails at the Priory. We chose to map the benches, invasive species, and erosional areas. To make the mapping process easier we decided to set domains for each of these features. This would allow us to classify the features as we went along without typing out the long details. For example, with erosion we set domains of Low, Moderate, and Severe occurrences. Now while in the field, we could just select one of the domains from a dropdown menu.

After creating the same criteria for the other two features, we deployed the data to our Juno units and went into the field. As we walked the trails we kept our eyes open for our desired features. When we stumbled upon a feature we would discuss exactly how to classify the feature. We would normally come to a consensus then record the data in the Juno. Unfortunately, something went wrong with our deployment and we were not able to access the dropdown menu as we thought we would. This meant we had to write out our desired attributes for each feature occurrence. Also, my GPS unit was having a hard time taking points and doing the point averaging so my data was basically useless.

When we returned to the lab, we began uploading our data that we collected. My data was obviously pretty unusable so I had to copy the data from my group member, Zach. From here we can begin to make maps of the feature data we collected.

Results/Discussion

Figure 3: Map of all the feautre data collected with Trimble units. The repetative key is a product of our flawed data collection methods

It was frustrating to be working in the field and have your equipment fail on you. I think that I missed a step with deployment which caused my unit to be useless. I think it was still a good exercise, however we will just need more careful oversight and attention to detail when creating and deploying our geodatabses.

Overall this was a good exercise in how we can use geospatial tools to map an area for potential future land use planning.

 

 

HABL

Introduction

This week we launched our final balloon with the goal of putting it high into the atmosphere. Our HABL (High Altitude Balloon Launch) should reach an altitude of at least 60,000 feet in the atmosphere. This would put the balloon somewhere in the stratosphere. Once it reaches its maximum height, the gas inside the balloon will pop and unleash the parachute, bringing it back safely to earth. We are going to attach a camera to the balloon and hopefully get some good images of the launch and flight.

Methodology

Earlier in the year we worked on making a balloon rig while the weather kept us indoors. Reference that blog post for more instruction on the construction portions. I worked on the measurement of weights (which were unnecessary in the end) but my fellow classmates worked on the rig itself. Their blogs are available at:

http://people.uwec.edu/hupyjp/webdocs/geog336_Reports_spr13.htm

We finally got a good day on Friday April 26^th  with temps in the mid-upper 60s and winds at a minimum. Since this wasn’t the original class time only some of the students were able to attend. We carted the helium down from the chem department to the outdoor shed and began to fill the balloon. We determined when the balloon was full and then began to attach the rig to the balloon

The rig was primarily comprised of a Styrofoam box filled with insulation and hot handz hand warmers. The insulation and hand warmers were included in order to keep the camera warm enough to function. It gets quite cold as you get higher up in the atmosphere and the camera would have broken otherwise. Also included was a camera (obviously), a gps tracking device and a flash beacon.

We launched the balloon and it immediately took off upwards. After it cleared a crane on campus we knew the balloon wouldn’t encounter any more structures until it would land again.

A few hours later the gps tracking device notified us that the balloon had landed in nearby Marshfield (only 72) miles away. Our professor went to the location and climbed a tree to find the parachute and retrieved it successfully.

Results/Discussion

Here is a video of the launch

http://desi.uwec.edu/Geography/Hupyjp/Weather_Balloon_1024.asx

How neat is that?

There is another video floating around, however is too large to put here.  Instead, here are some still frames that the video produced.

Figure 1: Campus from the aerial balloon. Approx height of 1500ft

Figure 2: Aerial photo of the river from a much higher altitude

Figure 3: Here is a good photo where you can see the curvature of the earth. Pretty neat huh? Shows just how high our balloon was.

Overall, this was an important exercise in aerial mapping. We learned a lot by trial and error so far in this class and this exercise was on par with that. A lot of the footage captured by the camera was pretty shaky and unusable for mapping purposes. If we were to do the exercise again I think we could use multiple cameras and have a camera focused on the balloon itself, the ground, and then incorporate IR or other types of cameras. This would give a wide spectrum of images which would provide more useful in a mapping setting.