| Home | Portfolio | Resume | Photos |
Jim Kompanek
Introduction
For the purpose of mapping the location of structures, a consumer grade GPS (in this case, a Garmin eTrex VISTA) is more than adequate. While conducting fieldwork, the GPS unit reported a horizontal accuracy of less than 10 m. These points were verified when overlaid on a 1:4800 digital orthophoto. In the case of mapping extant structures, the waypoints taken were easily visible on the ground and on orthophotos, therefore negating the necessity of a survey-grade receiver. If it was necessary to map features not visible on the surface, such as buried utility lines, or where sub-meter accuracy was necessary (such as a construction datum), a survey-grade unit would be necessary.
Civic Structures
Figure 1 is consists of the location of civic structures as taken with a Garmin eTrex VISTA. The unit reported a horizontal accuracy of no greater than 10 m. This was verified when the points were overlaid on top of a recent orthophoto of the area. Points were uploaded using the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Garmin program (available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html), which converted the points into a shape file. In order to upload the points, it was also necessary to use a USB-to-Serial adapter.
Figure 1. Map of civic structures collected from a Garmin eTrex VISTA GPS Receiver. Click on image for full size map.
Geodetic Points
According to the National Geodetic Survey (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/), there were numerous control stations throughout the city (Figure 2). For this lesson, I was easily able to identify the two control points located on the Third Avenue bridge over the Guyandotte River. These were the closest control stations to my residence--It has also been my experience that urban control stations are generally easier to locate than rural ones. At work, in an ideal scenario, control stations are used for a backsight for our total station; or at the very least, shot in to tie an arbitrary site grid into real world coordinates.
Figure 2. Map of National Geodetic Survey Control Stations in Huntington, West Virginia. Click on image for full size map.
Geocaches
According to the Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site website (http://www.geocaching.com/) there are seven geocaches within one mile of my residence (Figure 3) and approximately 60 within 10 miles. I visited one geocache over Memorial Day weekend. It was relatively easy to find and was located at the former Huntington East High School. It consisted of an Altoid box with a log book and several trinkets.
Figure 3. Map of geocaches in the vicinity of the Highlawn neighborhood in Huntington, West Virginia. Click on image for full size map.
Degree Confluence Project
According to the Degree Confluence Project (http://www.confluence.org/), there are seven degree confluences in my state (Figure 4). Since 2001, all of the confluences have been visited. From reading the descriptions, all of them are located in extremely rural locals. It appears that outside of California (48 of 52 visited), every confluence has been visited in the continental United States (Figure 5). The only unvisited points in California are locate off the coast and have only been photographed from the shore. It appears that Alaska is the last frontier of the Degree Confluence project in the United States. This is likely due to the state's great size and rural nature (Figure 6). If I had the opportunity to visit Alaska (in the summer, that is), I would attempt to find 71°N 156°W. This confluence is the northern-most in the United States.
Figure 4. Screen shot of the Degree Confluence Project webpage indicating degree confluences in West Virginia (http://www.confluence.org/region.php?id=22).
Figure 5. Screen shot of the Degree Confluence Project webpage indicating degree confluences in California (http://www.confluence.org/region.php?id=26).
Figure 6. Screen shot of the Degree Confluence Project webpage indicating degree confluences in Alaska (http://www.confluence.org/region.php?id=82&showmap=true).
Student Hometowns (GPS Points)
Instead of making individual maps dedicated to my classmates GPS waypoints of civic structures, I simply plotted the plotted their hometowns (or at least their current towns) on a single layer with a map of the United States as the background (Figure 7). Ultimately, I find the geographic diversity of the World Campus much more fascinating than any individuals local civic structure!
Figure 6. Location of the hometowns of the students enrolled in GEOG 488.
This document is published in fulfillment of an assignment by a student enrolled in an educational offering of The Pennsylvania State University. The student, named above, retains all rights to the document and responsibility for its accuracy and originality.
