Science
Related: About this forumNeed a recommendation for a GPS device
Am planning a project with some relatives to create a map of an old rural settlement -- all gone now -- where we know the location of some early 19th century homesteads. We know where the ruins are but what we'd like to do is record an accurate location of each site and use the coordinates to plot them on a modern map. Could surely use some help and advice here. Later on we may go back with metal detectors to see if any artifacts can be retrieved for the local history museum. Can't afford that right now, though. The priority is to record the location of the old cabins before all trace of them is gone.
Thanks for any advice.
greyl
(22,990 posts)And the new version of the highest rated standalone GPS on Amazon, a Garmin 42LM.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Unless you really want a fairly pricey GPS that you will use often and keep for a long time.
"When used properly under ideal conditions, the CEP precisions for each method will depend on the quality of the GPS equipment in use and is approximated below:
Autonomous <10m
WADGPS 0.3-2m
RTK 0.05 - 0.5 m
Post Processed 0.02 - 0.25 m "
http://earthmeasurement.com/GPS_accuracy.html
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Recently hired a surveyor for a job at my mother's place. There's no way I could afford the prices they're charging these days! 2,000 bucks to recheck the survey of an old boundary line on one of her properties, about 1/2 acre total.
As I often explore old sites and burial grounds at least I would have the GPS for future projects.
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Uses ground based WAAS in conjunction with GPS satellites.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)Thanks... I like geek stuff like that.
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)I have one that you can upload various map sets into, including aerial imagery. Very rugged, and they come with pretty good software for post processing. Short of a pro grade unit like a Trimble they should do what you need. http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10460
eta: You should also check with your State Historic Preservation Office (or whatever they are designated as in your state) to see what their standards are for site reporting - they may be able to give you some helpful advice.
lastlib
(23,222 posts)I have a DeLorme Earthmate, about four yrs old, and it's very good. I use it for some things similar to what you do, as well as some geocaching. The one downside is, it's a serious battery-hog, so I would recommend getting a couple of rechargeables for it. And take them out when you're not using it.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Thanks much. I'm also bookmarking some of the links provided. This will all help with our planning. In a few months I should have some photos from our project posted to a website where you can view our efforts as well as some old photos & maps of the community we're looking for. We're working with a shoestring budget and a few volunteers but at least we'll be creating a record before everything is gone and the remaining few people who remember locations and names have passed on.
bananas
(27,509 posts)If you set the clock on your camera.
and have your gps with you when you take the photos,
there are programs which will look up the photo timestamp in the gps log and write a tag to the photo file.
edit to add http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotagged_photograph