Our method for gathering data is to
check and see what kind of data accuracy we will have with a program called
Quick Plan. We need to do this before we go out to the field station. When
we go out to the field station, we have to decide what land we have left
to map. Then, we have to decide what would be the most efficient area of
land to collect the data from . The first equipment we use is Quick Plan.
This program can tell us how many satellites will be available and how
fast we can receive data at any time of the day or night. After we find
out when there will be high and low levels of satellites, we can go to
the field station. We have two GPS receivers at our disposal to gather
data with. Then we take the data and download it onto a laptop computer.
After we download the data, we put it into our map. The two programs we
use are Pathfinder Office and Arc View. Pathfinder is a program that
lets us configure the GPS unit with data dictionaries and is used to take
the data off the GPS unit. Arc View is a powerful program that we use to
make a detailed map with. These are the two tools that you need to make
a professional looking map of high quality.