Hi,
I've refrained from commenting on this thread until now but since it
overlaps with another recent thread about bird and animal lists, I will do
so now.
For my part, I use a Bluetooth GPS with my PDA. Although my Ipaq has a
built-in GPS, this drains batteries quickly. I use a BT338 which boasts a
battery life in excess of 9 hours continual use but 20+ hours on battery
saver mode. It clips nearly to my binocular strap and from a warm start,
gets a fix within a few seconds.
More recently I have been toying with customised databases for storing
wildlife records in the field. There is a fantastic piece of freeware called
Cybertracker (http://www.cybertracker.co.za) which was developed for South
African game researchers using EU funding. You just download it and
register. It is amazingly versatile, althoug somewhat difficult to learn as
a beginner. They include various simple formats but the real benefits are in
the customised databases. For instance, I have produced a database for
recording seabird and cetacean sightings offshore, which includes a moving
map and logs all information with time, date and position. It is amazingly
easy and sychronises with my PC enabling me to download and produce maps and
reports in minutes. I have done the same for dragonflies in Victoria and
would like to do the same for birds in due course. It would take no more
than a couple of hours for instance, to build a database that records data
in BA Atlas format*. Since I travel everywhere with my PDA / phone, I can
turn on and log data anytime any place. Previously I have depended on having
a notebook available and then finding the time later to record data in
electronic format. Ninety percent of what I collect never sees the light of
day but that is changing thanks to taking the effort out of processing the
written word**.
*Incidentally, I have had no luck finding an electronic list of birds from
BA including BA Atlas codes. BA have seemed reluctant to provide this,
although it would make me much more likely to regularly submit records. An
regularly updated list codes would be a useful resource. Similarly, I can't
believe that there are not complete lists of species available for other
groups. For instance, who keeps the current formal list of mammal taxonomy
in Australia? And herps, butterflies etc.?
**For those of you about to being a tawdry thread about the relative merits
of notebooks vs PDAs, please don't. It doesn't replace a field notebook, it
merely augments the process. My notebook is no longer full of lats and lons,
enabling me to use the space for sketches and descriptions instead.
I could continue on this topic for ages but won't. If anyone is interested
in getting into this themselves, then I would strongly recommend starting
with Cybertracker. You will however need to be familar with database design
and patiently work through various help and FAQ files. This and a lot of
trial and error and you will shortly be able to build a database that does
anything you need. I have only just scraped the surface of its uses to now.
For general mapping, Oziexplorer is cheap and incredibly versatile. You can
georeference any map - easily done with reasonable accuracy by pinning
locations in Google Earth (edit the properties of your pins and it gives you
the lat and lon) and using these as your geo-reference points in
Oziexplorer. Alternatively, you can scan and georeference any map whatsoever
or simply buy the CSIRO 1:250000 maps on CD. For the PDA you need a $10
add-on for Oziexplorer and you have to save maps in a separate format before
using them.
For what it is worth, on the more general question of using GPS's, I
completely agree with Chris Corben. For those luddites amongst us who may
prefer to avoid novel new technology, that it your choice. For the rest of
us, there is a wealth of inexpensive or freely available resources that can
make your life much easier, not least for the collection and submission of
wildlife data. It is also useful for safety purposes to have a GPS...better
than to get lost in the bush and cost the authorities and your family an
enormous amount of stress finding you. I don't care what anyone says, when
you're placed in an unfamilar location there are dangers. Environmental
conditions including fire and smoke could make it horrendously difficult to
make your way back to safety quickly enough. Of course, I always use a GPS
but also carry a compass and take note of my surroundings. Anyone with any
sense would not rely entirely on a single method.
If anyone wants to know more, please get in touch. Similarly, if anyone from
BA is willing to share a copy of their list with Atlas codes, I would be
grateful.
Regards,
Simon.
PS - I am too busy to respond to pointless gripes and unpleasant pedantry.
If however, you have a genuine interest in any of these things then please
don't hesitate to get in touch but I am away for most of the time until
Xmas. Have a great Xmas and New Year.
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