SAR Fundamentals/GPS practical

From PCSAR

Revision as of 06:48, 29 February 2012

SAR Fundamentals Manual: Ch.13 "Navigation"

Basic SAR Skills Manual: Ch.7 "Navigation"

1.25 hr

more material. See ~/sar/pc/training/subject/sar-fundamentals/components/subject/19-navigation-GPS

Objectives

Students will

• know how to read their current location on a specific model of GPS
• choose how long to wait for their current GPS location to settle
• build a visual/spacial sense of how the UTM grid overlays real land
• choose appropriate direction to walk to achieve intended changes to their current UTM

Advanced students will

• know how to enter waypoints into their GPS
• know how to get distance and bearing from their GPS
• for GPS's without magnetic sensors, get a sense of how far they need to travel for the GPS to know their current heading

Lesson plan

• Review how to set up GPS
  • Map Datum: NAD27 vs WGS84
  • Grid system: UTM (Canada)
• Review how to read UTM (Zone, Easting, Northing)
• Review how to determine accuracy (e.g. 11m)
  • waiting makes more accurate
• Distribute maps
• Have students break up into small groups
• Assign each group a radio and call sign
• Do a radio test
• Establish a return to class time
• Using the answer sheet, the instructor chooses a nearby Target Letter for row ii. All the students fill it in.
• Each group randomly chooses letters for rows iii to vi. They write them in and the instructor records them on his sheet.
• go outside the classroom and record the Zone, Easting, Northing and Accuracy
• Review how to compare Eastings and Northings to compare relative distance and direction
• as a class, walk to the UTM for the Target Letter of row ii.
• locate and go to the nearest feature.
• record the Feature Number, Zone, Easting, Northing and Accuracy for the feature.
• Compare accuracy of exercise sheet with current accuracy. How do the 2 errors combine?
• break up into assigned groups and proceed to the remaining 5 Target Letters they have chosen, find the nearest feature and record the Zone, Easting, Northing and Accuracy for the feature.
• Some groups will complete early, have them do additional targets

Aids

• GPS exercise sheet with answer key
  • Pincher Creek (odt) (pdf)
    • Image:Members:2011-03-25 23 21 03u-scan.pdf and corrections
    • Pincher Creek Street Map (with features highlighted)
  • Lethbridge (odt) (pdf)