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  • From: "LF London" <lfljdirtfarm@gmail.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] GIS Revisited with permaculture, homesteading etc
  • Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:05:21 -0500

On Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 11:58 PM, Rich Blaha <rich@mossbackfarm.com> wrote:

> Roughed out answers below.....
>
>
>
> > I'd like to start a thread on GIS and try to uncover technology that can
> be applied
> > to farms and land on which permaculture systems have been built.
>
> > Is it affordable for the non-corporate world?
>
>
> I have heard good things about QGIS.org, which is a free, open source
> Geographic Information System package. I use ESRI products for my employer,
> which are top of the line, very powerful, and very expensive.
>
> I'll try to find out more about that QGIS; maybe that will do what I need.
>
> > Is there equipment and software available that a properly informed
> farmer or permaculturist can
> > use to log, with GIS coordinates plus calculated space within identified
> areas (with GIS device, walk off
> > the perimeter of an area such as a garden or a bed within a garden,
> calcuate the area within and give it an ID
> > corresponding to its GIS coordinates)? This data could be entered into a
> database as a record with an array of
> > appropriate fields.
>
>
> Most GPS's that you can download/upload data into will do this. GPS
> Trackmaker gpstm.com is a free (or upgradable) program that can help
> transfer the GPS point / track files into GIS
>
> That also looks promising.

>
> > It seems this technology could have unlimited uses. It would be a
> complex system or reduced to a fairly simple one.
>
> Yes. You can use it as a simple sketching tool, or model every raindrop
> trickling down through your keylines.
>

Nice. I was thinking of sampling soil moisture in production areas with
wireless electronic devices and having that data logged to a field in each
garden's
record along with its GPS coordinates and planting and harvest data. I
imagine a spreadsheet would be adequate software for this application.


> > What equipment is available?
>
> Garmin60Csx is common in our workplace...you could go lower-end if you
> don't have any trees to deal with. Just make sure there's a cable/usb
> option for computer connectivity
>

What about this one?

http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/gps/overview.asp?pronameid=104&lineid=8
LR9537

<javascript:MM_openBrWindow('pop.asp?pic=9537_1.jpg','','scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=480,height=336')>The
Leadtek 9537 Bluetooth GPS receiver is a Global Position System Receiver
with Bluetooth wireless technology. This Bluetooth GPS receiver allows you
to receive GPS data on mobile handhelds wirelessly. By sending GPS position
data over Bluetooth, you can position the receiver for the best possible
reception all without wires. The advent of Bluetooth GPS receiver will
become the next level of GPS receivers.

The Leadtek BT GPS receiver integrates Bluetooth module into GPS device. It
shows the high performance, low power consumption, easily portable,
rechargeable & removable battery function and wireless data transmission. If
you have a Pocket PC or other portable
What should I expect to pay for a unit that will do the job?

> What software is available?

>
> Listed above.
>
> > What can be done in house without hiring an outside specialist?
>
> I'm self taught, with people who are very skilled to fall back on / ask
> questions of. YMMV.
>
> > Can GIS data be exported to a laptop?
>
> Yes. You can also send data generated in the GIS to your GPS unit, so you
> know exactly where you want to put that trellis / pond / other element.
>

Could you explain that process further?
Send GIS data from your laptop to your GPS unit as in tell it the
coordinates for that pond so it can guide you there and beep when you arrive

at the perimeter?

>
> Cheers
> Rich
> http://www.mossbackfarm.com/journal
> or GIS categories
> http://www.mossbackfarm.com/archive/cat_gis.html
>

Very interesting Website/Blog. I enjoyed the market farming links.

LL




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