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  • From: "Rich Blaha" <rich@mossbackfarm.com>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] GIS Revisited with permaculture,homesteading,etc
  • Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:45:56 -0800

Hi Lawrence

I'm not certain if the Leadtek unit would do what you describe, but I don't
have any experience with it. Caveats of that particular unit are accuracy
(10m, which is a big distance on a farm scale), and the output format. GPS
Trackmaker can read a lot of formats, and the Leadtek supports NMEA 0183 (a
standard GPS format) which TM can read, but in my experience you'll be
scratching your head some making that work.

The Cybertracker link posted looks interesting...I'll be digging some into
that one myself

Here's a scenario.....

Take the GPS to your site, and map the elements of interest...property
corners, trees of note, tillage boundaries, ponds. On non-point elements
(polygons or lines), walk the perimeter, taking points along the way, or
engage a tracking function, if available (Garmin, and others have this)

Take the GPS to your computer and plug it in (or Bluetooth it), and open the
GPSTrackmaker software. Download all of your points and tracks, and save
them as a shapefile (a GIS standard file). Open the GIS software, and add
some new elements into a shapefile (new plantings, ponds, access roads).
Then open that file again in Trackmaker, and upload it into the GPS. Walk
the property with those points, and you will be able to pinpoint all of your
features on the site.

That's a real quick and dirty rundown. Let me know if it helps

Rich
http://www.mossbackfarm.com/journal

>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:05:21 -0500
> From: "LF London" <lfljdirtfarm@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] GIS Revisited with permaculture,
> homesteading etc
> To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Message-ID:
> <98ef06660811162205i436e7c69n7db974ca401b3e71@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> 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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> End of permaculture Digest, Vol 70, Issue 18
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