handheld gps training for municipal use

GPS for Municipal Use

Lead Instructor

•Fire Chief Tom Lozier•29 year member of the Athol Fire Dept.•GPS instructor for over 11 years•Have used GPS in the fire service for SAR and resource management

In Athol, over 450 fire Hydrants and 9 Lifeflight Landingzones and 6 RR mile markers have been markedwith a GPS

Assistant instructors

•Athol Deputy Fire Chief John Duguay•Petersham Police Chief Dana Cooley•Athol Police Detective Ron Cote•New Salem/Wendell Fire Chief Joe Cuneo•FRCOG GIS Specialist Ryan Clary•Athol FF/Paramedic Bruce Dubrule

In 2013, our GPS Instructional team taught over 150 Police, Fire and DPW personnel in Western Mass how to use GPS handheld units for Search and Rescue, brush fire acreage calculations, resource and debris management and most importantly “ACCOUNTABILITY”

If used correctly, crews equipped with a GPS can have their location and movement tracked at all times. This isimportant when crews request additional resources, manpower or need assistance

On June 30, 2013, a wildfire in Yarnell, Arizonakilled 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots

Yarnell Hill Fire report: Experts say report shows firefighter need of GPS trackingAssociated Press 2:02 PM, Sep 29, 20133:25 PM, Sep 29, 2013

The challenge now, experts say, is figuring out how to prevent another tragedy as the threat of wildfire shows no sign of diminishing in the nation's overgrown, drought-stricken forests and foothills. One way, they say, is to invest in GPS tracking technology for firefighters.

• When used properly, a GPS will have accuracy of up to 3 meters (9 feet). You must have a working knowledge of a GPS to use it safely and effectively. The more you train with it the better you will be at using it when you need it the most.

• The RINO 655t GPS does not have surveyors grade accuracy. It should be used as a reference point only

• When used properly, a GPS unit will allow you to track resources as well as collect valuable data for disaster recovery reports

• The RINO 655t GPS has a 2 way radio feature as well as a built in camera that allows the picture location to be saved as a waypoint (marked location)

• A GPS can be used to mark the location of hydrants, access gates, municipal buildings, debris piles after a disaster, Life-Flight landing zones and more

Topics of DiscussionWhat is GPSFeatures and

settings of the RINO 655tDemosField exercises

GPS – Just what is it?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System.

The system communicates with a number of satellites orbiting the Earth.

The satellites consistently transmit their location and time signals.

GPS receivers are receiving the signals and use them to calculate their present position.

There are enough satellites to provide continuous coverage around the globe.

Receiving satellite signals The GPS unit needs to see at least 3 satellites (preferably

more) in order to calculate the position The GPS unit can see only satellites that are above the

horizon Terrain obstructions and foliage can block or reduce

satellite signals If your receiver cannot lock on to three or more

satellites, change your position. Simple turning around to face the opposite direction may do the trick. On a cold start, let the GPS warm up for a few minutes

GPS accuracy and reliability

Most GPS units manufactured since 2005 have sensitive technology in them (SIRF)

These units can get a signal under heavy cover including indoors

GPS units sold for recreation use can at times attain accuracy with-in 3 meters (9’)

I have experienced accuracy of 3’ These GPS units will display it’s accuracy on the screen Some high end units costing thousands can give

accuracy within inches (surveyors grade Trimble)

GPS units are a electronic device and is subject to failure

Most GPS units can survive a lot of abuse

Most failures are from operator error or setup

Topics for basic use of the RINO 655t

Powering up the GPS

Changing the position format

Using the radio feature

Reviewing the map page

Calibrating the compass

Marking/finding waypoints

Area Calculation

Using laptops

Garmin 655t Youtube video

Turning on the GPS

When you turn it on the screen will look like this. It will search for satellites. Once it has locked onto 3 or more satellites, the bar graph on the bottom will show green bars.

Calibrating the compass Touch and hold the center of the compass to start

the calibration feature.

Position format The position format that is used by cell

phones are typically decimal degrees. See line 3 below

To set the device to decimal degrees • From the main screen, touch setup•Scroll the arrow down to position format•Touch position format•Touch position format again•Touch the desired format•Hit the arrow return and x button to go back to the main screen

Using your GPS

Marking locations- Making waypoints

To mark or create a location, from the main screenpress the Mark Waypoint Button. Once pressed the screen will look like this.

You can save it with the default name (001 etc) by touching save or touch save and edit to change the nameIf you just save it, write down what 001 is ie; hydrant, brush fire, subject etc.

Once you have marked all the waypoints you can access them later by going to the“Where To” icon on the main screen

You have received cell phone coordinates for a lost person and need to create a waypoint

Area calculation feature“How big is that brush fire”The easiest feature to use!

View the Youtube of the radio feature of the Rino 655t

The radio of the Rino 655t uses the FRS radioBand. You should never depend on the Rinoradio as your main mean of communications.

A professional radio should be used by personnelwhen they are working in an emergency environment.

Changing radio channels, channel code or radio name,Just touch the screen on the icon you want to change

After a break we will go outsideand practice using our GPS units

Getting the GPS information into a computer

GPS and PC’s

You can Transfer data from the GPS to a PC or laptop. A waypoint managing program such as EasyGPS is online and currently is a free program.

Once you have downloaded the EasyGPS program,open it up. You will have to add your GPS to thelist of GPS units on the program.

Plug the cable into the GPS and your PC

Your waypoints should be listed like this

Laptop/ GPS DEMO

• Importing GPS data• Customizing the EASYGPS page• Import data into Google Earth

The class you have just completed has givenyou a basic working knowledge of how to use A Rino 650 series GPS device. It is important for youto practice and use the GPS several times ayear or more so that you will stay familiar withhow to use it. The owners manual is available online and should be referred to as often as needed.