Field Activity #8: Priory Navigation

Introduction

Figure1: Location of the Priory 

      The purpose of the lab was to use the navigation map previously created to locate 5 designated points within the Priory (Figure 1). The class was split into 6 groups. The locations of the points were given to the groups in UTM. Therefore, the UTM navigation map is used for the lab. The group decided to use the map created by Anneli Williams (Figure2).The map she created was very well put together. It had the proper projection, contour lines, and both a scale and representative fraction scale. The lab is important because basic navigation skills are very important to have. In today’s world, navigation and other basic skills are dominated by technology. Need to get somewhere you’ve never been before? Type the address into your phones GPS and you’re good to go. What happens if your phone dies, you don’t have service, or the company messed up their data and you end up on a pedestrian bridge in the middle of a college campus? Being able to navigate, whether on a street or through a forest, is a skill all people, especially geographers, should have. The following post will discuss the methods and tools used during the navigation process, the results of the track logs of all 6 groups, and a discussion on the results and the issues encountered.

Figure2: Map used by Group 5 to navigate the priory. Map has contour lines and a 50 meter grid interval 

Methods

Figure 3: Manually placed points on the map. 

      After arriving at the priory, each group was given a set of 5 points, their map, a compass, and a GPS unit. To begin, the groups found the set of points on their map, marked them, and connected them with an arrow showing direction of travel (Figure 3). Being group 5, we were assigned the following point.

1. 618011,4957883

2.618093,4957823

3.618107,4957942

4.618195,4957878

5. 618220,4957840

Figure 4: Professor Hupy showing the class how
 to use the compass and map to find direction

      Following the manual placement of the points the map, Professor Hupy provided the class with a quick tutorial on how to use the compass and map for navigation (Figure 4). We were then tasked with determining a pace count for each individual person. This was done by walking alongside a 50-meter measuring tape and counting each step. This number was different per person due to different stride lengths. Next the GPS unit was set to UTM and the track log was activated. This allows for the path of each group to be recorded. 

Figure 5: Alignment of the compass edge
 with the line of travel

      Beginning in the parking lot of Priory Hall, the edge of the compass was aligned with the line from the parking lot to point 1 (Figure 5). The compass face was then twisted until the lines within the face was lined up with the UTM grid lines.  This reading is then considered the “heading” is the direction in number of degrees from north. Once the direction of travel is determined, the next step is to find the distance. This is done once again by placing the edge of the compass, which has a ruler in cm, along the line from point A to point B. This measure, along with the RF scale on the map (1 cm=37 meters), was used to calculate the real world distance from starting point to the next point.

      Since you now have the direction and distance, the next step is to send a runner in the direction of the end point. The runner is sent in as straight a line as possible in the direction of the end point until they can no longer be seen or the point is reached (Figure 6). Next, the two pacers walked behind the runner, also in a straight line, while counting the paces to get a good idea of the distance traveled and therefore how much further is needed to go (Figure 7). Once the point was located, the coordinates were checked on the GPS to be sure it was from this years lab (Figure 8).This process was used from point to point. Though there were several issues the group ran into that will be discussed later. 

Figure 6: The runner making his way to the ending point

   

Figure 7: Pacers counting the steps to the runner.

Figure 8: Coordinates on the GPS at a point
double checked with those given to ensure accuracy

Results

The track logs from each group's GPS unit was uploaded onto the computer and added to a share folder. The logs were then brought into ArcMap for comparison (Figure 9). This allowed all groups to see the navigation route done by each group throughout the study area. Groups 5 is depicted by yellow (Figure 10). As seen, there was confusion with the second point. The point was no longer marked. The group walked around in circles looking for it and came across mice and a coyote.  In order to find the correct point the group used only the GS once in the correct area to find the exact location of the point where it was then marked (Figure 11).

Figure 9: Map showing the route by all groups

Figure 10: Zoomed in map of the route taken by group 5; notice the confusion near the bottom. 

Figure 11: Jeff marking the Priory with point 2

Because there were 6 groups, the 5th set of points were located by both group 5 and 6. However, group 6 did them in reverse. The results of the two groups' track log were interesting(Figure 12). It showed that group 6 did not find the second point (just like we could not at first) because they stop short of group 5 second point. 

Figure 11: Map of Group 5 and 6 track log at a larger scale. 

Discussion/Conclusion

The navigation lab through the priory proved to be a very helpful lab when it comes to both creating a navigation map and conducting the actual navigation itself. It is certain that the skills learned in this lab will come of help in the future endeavors by myself and peers. However, there were several issues reached by my group. It was difficult with the tough terrain to walk in a straight line and therefore get an accurate pace count to determine distance. This is something that, with more time and tools to cut dead branches, could be fixed in the future.