Recall that I use five.epicollect for data entry of observations. I often want to find the distance from one observation point to another. This can be helpful when attempting to see the relationship of findings to one another, reference to a common point like a survey peg or to define boundaries and areas of a site.
Calculation of distances can be complicated when the right tools are not available. They can be really easy when you have the right tools. The referenced on-line calculator can be use and coordinated with maps.
I use this app in the Field Notes blog to document or refer to observations rather than old fashion way of carrying a 100 meter tape measure and compass. (What a pain that was underwater or deep in the field in a back pack ! )
Thanks to Jeff Boulter the calculations and maps are easy ! Go to boulter.com/GPS/ to access the app and other GPS tools. It is really simple and self explanatory.
The app looks like this:
GPS Coordinate Converter, Maps and Info
| Enter coordinates (like 37 23.516 -122 02.625, but it’s flexible) Decimal Degrees (WGS84) LatitudeLongitude Degrees, Minutes & Seconds LatitudeLongitude GPS LatitudeLongitude UTM XY Open links in a new windowSee also my Geocaching Quick Search and GPS Coordinate Grabber.Clicked At: DETAILED MAPS AT: |
The GPS locator in my cell phone indicates that it is accurate to 4 feet (1.2 m). For finer measurements I still use the tape measure and compass as seen in the Field Kit Blog.
In the Excel data analysis, I frequently simplify the data by keeping the sign and using only the last four coordinate numbers. This is sufficient because they are in relatively close proximity and it is unnecessary to locate it in a full global perspective.
#GPS #distances #measurements #Boulter #conversion
Everglades Ark 