Standards
and Expectations |
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Overview
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| The
Canadian Ecology Centre Foundation is the author and provider
(evaluator) of certified GPS programs. It will register
participants, who have completed a certified course, in
a national/international data bank (those needing this
for professional,commercial,insurance or leadership reasons).
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The
course or program participant will be able to identify
and communicate a location on a map, in tandem with a
GPS unit. This will include the use of the map datum source,
the coordinate system (UTM and latitude/longitude) and
a compass. Additional navigation information, such as
direction and distance (scale), as related to a map or
"real" feature, would complement the identification. |
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Examples
include: reporting a location for any reason, such as
an accident or rescue location, a missing person, a discovered
bridge removed by flooding, downed power lines, a utility
(not functioning) etc… |
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Skills
and content requirements are included for the GPS unit,
the map, and the compass. These are applicable to certified
courses or general interest programs. A sample test question
is provided. |
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Overall
Expectation |
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| As
an overall expectation, by the end of the course or program
the participant will be able to explain or define a location
with the following location standards: |
- the map
datum source
- the coordinate
system (UTM and latitude/longitude)
- direction
in relation to a defined point (location) on a map
- details
(anecdotal) related to the location
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Note:
Using the NAD 83 (WGS 84) map datum source on the GPS
unit and identified on the map being used - a 1:50,000
(Canada, NTS) or 1:24,000 (USA, USGS) topographical map. |
Maps
in other countries would refer to the map ’s datum source
with the appropriate GPS setting on the GPS unit. |
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The
representative example answer would include the following: |
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Coordinates
are: |
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NAD
83 (WGS 84) |
UTM
Zone 17T |
E
0663576 |
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N 5129113 |
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Latitude
N 46° 17.870’ and Longitude W 78° 5.567’ |
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“The
location is 10 km east of the power generating station
and then north 4.5 km. The location is on the east side
of a small wetland which has a steep rock face on the
west side of the wetland. A utility corridor can be seen
to the south.” |
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For
the Map - Skills and Content |
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As
a general expectation, by the end of the course or program,
a participant will be able to examine a map to utilize
the following, basic map skills: |
- Identify
either a standard USGS 1:24,000 or Canadian 1:50,000
topographical map.
- Explain
the use of the scale on the map to determine distances
from two points, A to B.
- Identify
the map datum source on the map (required for the
GPS setting).
- Identify
the UTM and latitude/longitude grid "tick"
or indicator marks in the corners and margins of the
map.
- Demonstrate
and identify a location(s) on the map "rounded
off" to the nearest 100 m for the UTM system
(i.e. E 5129400) or to the nearest “tenth” of a decimal
minute for latitude/longitude (i.e. N 46° 17.700’).
Tolerances for UTM will be +/- 100m; for lat./long.
will be rounded off to the nearest 0.500 or one-half
minute.
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| For
the Compass - Skills and Content |
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As
a general expectation, by the end of the course or program,
the participant will be able to utilize the compass to
accomplish the following: |
- Identify
(and demonstrate where) Magnetic North is located,
as related to present location (surroundings).
- Recognize
and express the identified location in relation to
a north, east, south or west direction as related
to surroundings, for example the east side of the
road, the north side of the lake, the west fork of
the trail etc…
- Describe
the location (with coordinates) on the map and give
directional details or physical features to help with
location.
- Identify
component parts of a compass with adjustment to find
Magnetic North.
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For
the GPS - Skills and Content |
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As
a general expectation, by the end of the course or program,
a participant will be able to utilize the GPS unit to
accomplish the following for the setup and operation of
the unit: |
- Find the
Navigation setting on the GPS Setup menu.
- Enter
the map datum setting - WGS 84 (NAD 83) or NAD 27
according to map datum source on the 1:50 000 or 1:24
000 topographical map.
- Enter
either UTM and latitude/longitude coordinate system
as a setting.
- Read
the Position or Navigation page of the GPS unit (UTM
or latitude/longitude) in relation to the topographical
map.
- Mark a
Waypoint (GPS location) and identify the easting and
northing and the latitude and longitude coordinates.
- Save
a Waypoint (as above, with coordinates).
- Retrieve
a Waypoint (as above, with coordinates).
- Demonstrate
the function GoTo (a destination, as above, with coordinates).
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Evaluation |
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At
the conclusion of the course a test will be administered
to the participant. The successful candidate will be granted
a certificate (cardholder) and be entered in the national/international
data bank. This membership and certification will be valid
for three years. A renewed certification will be issued
at the completion of another test. |
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| Test
Example:
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From
the identified location on the map provided (a 1:50,000
topographical map or USGS 1:24,000 map), give the UTM
co-ordinates (rounded to the nearest 100 m, i.e. N5129600)
and latitude and longitude (rounded to the “tenth” of
a decimal minute, i.e. N 46° 17.200’). This map has
been updated to NAD 83. Tolerances for UTM will be +/-
100 m; for lat./long. will be rounded off to the nearest
0.500 or one-half minute. |
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Supplementary
questions could include for compass purposes; where is
north on the map? For GPS purposes; for which map datum
source would the GPS unit be set? |
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