Operations Manual ADAPCO, Inc 2007

GEOTRACKER Software Manual

ADAPCO, Inc 2005. 1. Revisions.................................................................................................................. 1-2 2. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 2-3 3. Maps......................................................................................................................... 3-4

3.1. Change ............................................................................................................. 3-4 3.2. Edit................................................................................................................... 3-4

3.2.1. Adding Layers.......................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.2. Removing Layers ..................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.3. Changing Color of a Layer ...................................................................... 3-5 3.2.4. Moving Layers Up and Down.................................................................. 3-5 3.2.5. Info........................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.6. Coordinate System................................................................................... 3-5

3.3. New.................................................................................................................. 3-5 3.4. GeoFlow Maps................................................................................................. 3-6 3.5. Map Manipulation Tools.................................................................................. 3-6

3.5.1. Zoom In Mode ......................................................................................... 3-6 3.5.2. Zoom Out Mode....................................................................................... 3-7 3.5.3. Full Extent................................................................................................ 3-8 3.5.4. Pan Mode ................................................................................................. 3-8 3.5.5. Measuring Distance ................................................................................. 3-8

3.6. Printing............................................................................................................. 3-8 4. Routes ...................................................................................................................... 4-9

4.1. Importing a Route ............................................................................................ 4-9 4.2. Opening a Saved Route.................................................................................... 4-9 4.3. Inspecting a Route............................................................................................ 4-9

5. Chemicals............................................................................................................... 5-11 5.1. Add................................................................................................................. 5-11 5.2. Edit................................................................................................................. 5-11

6. Trucks .................................................................................................................... 6-12 7. Drivers ................................................................................................................... 7-14 8. Missions ................................................................................................................. 8-15

8.1. Exporting........................................................................................................ 8-15 8.2. Importing a Mission....................................................................................... 8-16 8.3. Opening a Mission ......................................................................................... 8-16 8.4. Displayed Mission ......................................................................................... 8-17

8.4.1. Map ........................................................................................................ 8-17 8.4.2. Buttons ................................................................................................... 8-18

9. Reports ................................................................................................................... 9-19 10. Realtime Tracking................................................................................................ 10-20

1. Revisions

Date Description Author 09/28/05 1.1.2. Added Real time. Synched with GeoFlow version

1.1.14 GFF

01/24/06 1.1.3 Added GeoFlow Maps. GeoFlow Version. 1.2.26 GeoTracker Version 1.2.20

GFF

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2. Introduction Every ground adulticiding mission can be broken down into 4 sections. Preparation, execution, post mission analysis, and record keeping. GeoTracker is essential to the mission preparation, post mission analysis, and record keeping complimenting GeoFlow’s mission execution. GeoTracker’s goal is to provide a user friendly yet functional interface between GeoFlow and the user. It is designed to run using Windows XP but can run on Windows 2000 / Me or even Windows 95 with some limitations (it needs USB functionality to read and write to compact flash). The higher the resolution of the monitor the better but at least 1024 x 768 is recommended. The faster the CPU the better as well, a Pentium 4 / 1GHz or better is recommended. GeoTracker enables the user to import a recorded route from a compact flash and save it. It enables the user to examine and modify the route to some extent. The user can stipulate several parameters for the truck, chemical, and driver, and then export a saved route to a compact flash for GeoFlow to use. Post mission, GeoTracker enables a user to import mission data which it stores automatically in a database. GeoTracker displays this mission data using in maps and other GIS tools.

3.

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Maps GoeTrackers' maps are constructed from ESRI shapes files or layers. ESRI is pretty much the standard now in GIS software so any maps used in GeoTracker or GeoFlow will be fully compatible with widely used programs such as the Arc View suite and MapInfo. 3.1. Change In most cases, only 1 map is needed to operate this system. However, if more than one map is needed, maps are changed using the Maps | Change menu. This will bring up a dialog with all the map sets that are available. The map set being used is displayed in the title bar. 3.2. Edit To add, remove or edit map layers, use the menu Maps | Edit The dialog below will be displayed.

Figure 3-1 Edit Map Dialog

3.2.1. Adding Layers To add a layer, click on the ‘Add…’ button in the Edit Map Dialog. GeoTracker will bring up an Open File Dialog. Use this to select a shape. Each shape consists of at least 3 files. (.shp, .shx, .dbf). The file open dialog will only show .shp files. Selecting the .shp file representing a layer will bring up the layer. Don’t worry about the other files. GeoTracker will then display a color dialog so the color of the layer can be selected. Keep in mind that a custom color can be selected if a suitable color does not exist in the palette. Next is the Coordinate System. This can get complicated. Unless you are certain of the coordinate system use the defaults and ask a GIS person for help if things don’t appear correct. . 3.2.2. Removing Layers

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In the Edit Map Dialog there is a list of layers. Click to select the layer you want to remove and then click the Remove button. Note: It does not ask if you are sure you want to remove the layer. It just does it. If a layer is removed by accident it can simply be added again. The Remove All button obviously removes all layers. 3.2.3. Changing Color of a Layer To change the color of a layer, select the layer in the list of layers in the Edit Map Dialog and press the Color button. The color in the square next to the Color button is the present color of the layer. The Color button brings up a Color dialog which can be used to select a color for the selected layer. Keep in mind that if there is no suitable color in the palette, a custom color can be created. 3.2.4. Moving Layers Up and Down It is important that layers be in the correct sequence if a layer is not transparent, it will cover another layer below it. To avoid this and position layers in their correct sequence, use the Move Up and Move Down buttons. 3.2.5. Info In the .dbf file pertaining to a particular layer, there may be fields with values associated with them. (For example: In a streets layer there may be a field called “Street Name” with values of each street name in the layer. Or a rivers layer man have name field for each river etc.) To display this data, select the pertinent layer in the layers list and click the Info button. This will bring up another dialog with a list of fields. Select the field the values of which you want to display. This is called “Rendering”. To show or hide the data, use the Map | Show Info menu. 3.2.6. Coordinate System The coordinate system can be edited in this dialog by using the appropriate combo boxes. Coordinate systems can get complicated. Unless you are certain of the coordinate system use the defaults and ask a GIS person for help if things don’t appear correct. 3.3. New To create a new map set, use the Map | New menu. Simply enter a name in the dialog that appears and a new directory is created for a new map set. 3.4.

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GeoFlow Maps To setup maps for the GeoFlow create a new map set (see 3.3 above) called ‘GeoFlow’. Pay attention to capitalization (i.e. capital G and capital F in GeoFlow). Set up the maps as they need to be seen on the GeoFlow. When exporting the next mission check the ‘Update GeoFlow Map’ Checkbox. When the GeoFlow re-boots the new maps will be in place.

Figure 3-2 ‘Update GeoFlow Map’ Checkbox

3.5. Map Manipulation Tools The scale and position of the map can be modified by using the menus or buttons on the toolbar shown in the figure below.

MenuFull Extent

Zoom InZoom Out

Pan

Figure 3-3 Map Manipulation Tools

3.5.1. Zoom In Mode Zoom In Mode can be initiated by the menu View | Zoom In or by pressing the Zoom In button on the toolbar. While in Zoom In mode when the left mouse button is clicked on a

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position on the map, the map centers around that position and the scale is adjusted so that the map zooms in. Note: Zoom In mode cannot be initiated while editing waypoints (described in 4.3 below). When the menu or the button is activated while editing way points, the scale changes without needing to click on the map and the map does not re-center. Pan and the scroll bars are used to re-center while editing waypoints. 3.5.2. Zoom Out Mode Zoom Out Mode can be initiated by the menu View | Zoom Out or by pressing the Zoom Out button on the toolbar. While in Zoom Out mode when the left mouse button is clicked on a position on the map, the map centers around that position and the scale is adjusted so that the map zooms out. Note: Zoom Out mode cannot be initiated while editing waypoints (described in 4.3 below). When the menu or the button is activated while editing way points, the scale changes without needing to click on the map and the map does not re-center. Pan and the scroll bars are used to re-center while editing waypoints.

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3.5.3. Full Extent By using the menu View | Full Extent or the Full Extent button in toolbar shown in Figure 3-3, the scale of the map can be adjusted so all of the maps in the map set can be seen in totality. 3.5.4. Pan Mode Pan Mode can be initiated by the menu View | Pan or by pressing the Pan button shown in Figure 3-3. While in Pan Mode, the cursor changes to a hand icon and when the left mouse button is pressed and held, the map can be moved around by moving the mouse. 3.5.5. Measuring Distance To measure distance, select the View | Measure menu. The mouse pointer changes to cross hairs. Click on the beginning of the line to be measured, click on all the vertices and finally double click at the end of the line. A dialog is displayed with the distance in several units. 3.6. Printing Maps can be printed. GeoTracker will print the map in Landscape with a Title of the TruckID, Date and Time in the left hand top corner.

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4. Routes 4.1. Importing a Route There are multiple ways to import a route recorded on GeoFlow. The 2 that should be used are:

Mission | Import Route menu. Routes | Import From Compact Flash menu

Both methods will ask for a name for the route. This name should be something practical and must be more than 3 characters long. The other methods of importing routes are not fully functional at this writing. 4.2. Opening a Saved Route To open a saved route simply select the menu Routes | Open Saved Route and then enter the name of the route you want to open. 4.3. Inspecting a Route To inspect an open route and its waypoints, select the menu Waypoints | Show Index Order This will show the route with its waypoints as in the figure below.

Figure 4-1 Route Waypoints

Here we can see how the guidance works. GeoFlow will guide the vehicle to each of these waypoints in turn. When it reaches a threshold distance from the active waypoint it will make the next waypoint the active one. Here waypoints can be deleted, added and the order modified. When a waypoint is deleted the order of all the other waypoints are adjusted automatically. When adding a waypoint, GeoTracker asks for the waypoint number (index) and the track. The track is the direction the vehicle is traveling when reaching this waypoint. It only needs to be approximate. Turn direction is ignored and

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will be removed in future versions. Ignore the menu Waypoints | Show Thresholds, it is no longer used. Modifications to the waypoints need to be saved by selecting Waypoints | Save Waypoint Data

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Chemicals GeoTracker keeps a database of chemical. Note: GeoTracker will not check for other records with the same or similar names. Care is needed to enter the chemical once only. If a duplicate record is created, it can be deleted with the Delete button in the Chemical Edit Dialog. 5.1. Add To add a new chemical, select the Chemicals | Add menu which brings up the dialog shown below. Enter the name of the chemical and the other required data. Manual Flow is the flow rate when GeoFlow is in Manual Mode.

Figure 5-1 Chemical Add Dialog

5.2. Edit To edit an existing chemical, select the Chemicals | Edit menu which brings up the dialog show below. Everything here is self explanatory. The Save button saves data while keeping the dialog up if several records need to be edit. The OK button saves data and closes the dialog.

Figure 5-2 Chemical Edit Dialog

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Trucks GeoTracker has a database of trucks. To enter a new truck to the database use the Trucks | Add menu which will show the dialog below. The Spray On and Spray Off colors allow the user to choose the colors that will represent the Truck while it is spraying and not spraying respectively. The Show Flow Rate / Show Stops option is for Real-time Tracking. Show Flow Rate will show the trucks flow rate and volume sprayed (turning red) when the high speed limit set in the truck parameters are reached. The Show Stops option will show the length of time a truck has been stopped and will turn red when the truck has been stopped for longer than the short stop time set in dialog below. If a truck has been stopped for longer than the short stop time, the truck symbol on the map will turn red and when it moves again it will leave behind a small red triangle for a short stop or a large red triangle if it has been stopped for a period longer than that set in the long stop field in the dialog below. Note: The Truck ID must be less than 8 characters. The Truck | Edit menu will show a similar dialog but with the extra buttons to select which truck to edit and a delete button.

Figure 6-1 Add Truck Dialog

A set of parameters that will govern the behavior of all the trucks can be edited. Selecting the Trucks | Parameters menu will bring up the dialog below. The fields should be self explanatory. The Low Alarm is not being used in GeoFlow at the moment and may be removed. In time, this data may be stored in the database on a per truck basis, each truck having its own set of parameters.

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The alarm will sound while the vehicle is over the top limit and is spraying or would be spraying if the speed was within the parameters given below. In other words if the vehicle is traveling over the high speed limit but the switch is off, (or is not on the Route, or is going backwards on the route etc…) the alarm would not sound.

Figure 6-2Truck Parameters Dialog

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7. Drivers GeoTracker has a database for drivers. To add a driver select the Drivers | Add menu this will bring up the dialog shown below. Note: GeoTracker does not monitor for duplicate records (the same driver entered more than once with the same or similar name). The PIN enables the driver to get into the system. Each driver has a set of privileges which enable different features on the GeoFlow. Examples are Spray Override to spray off the route, Calibration, Manual Flow etc… The Drivers | Edit menu shows a similar dialog with extra buttons to edit and delete selected drivers.

Figure 7-1Add Driver Dialog

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8. Missions A mission in this system is the data collected from when a mission is exported from GeoTracker to a compact flash card to when the data is imported from the compact flash to GeoTracker and deleted from the compact flash. In other words, all data gathered between mission exports in GeoTracker belongs to the same mission. GeoFlow can be shutdown and restarted an unlimited number of times in one mission. 8.1. Exporting After setting the parameters for the Truck, Chemical and Driver, the mission can be exported by using the Mission | Export menu which will bring up the dialog shown below. The fields are self explanatory. If the required value for a driver or truck does not exist, it needs to be added to the data base by the methods used in sections 5.1, 6 and 7 above. The Drive specifies which drive the compact flash is in. This will change on different computers. If the Update Routes on CF checkbox is checked, GeoTracker will synchronize the routes database on the CF with the routes in the county folder. This needs to be done after importing newly recorded routes into GeoTracker.

. Figure 8-1 Mission Data Dialog

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8.2. Importing a Mission To import a mission from the compact flash card, use the Mission | Import menu. A progress bar will appear on the bottom status bar of the main window displaying the progress. When all the data is downloaded, the mission will be displayed automatically and is saved so that it can be re-examined at a later date as explained below. Note: GeoTracker looks for a mission to import from whatever drive is selected as the CF Drive (CF for Compact Flash). To change the default CF drives use the Preferences | CF Drive menu and select the drive to become the default CF drive. There are menus for importing STAB and Monitor III data. Monitor III data needs a serial communications port which must be selected. 8.3. Opening a Mission To open an existing mission use the Mission | Open menu this will bring up the dialog box shown below. The dates that have one or more missions are shown in bold. If that date is highlighted a drop box with the title Select a Mission is displayed. If there is more than one mission, choose the mission to be displayed and click OK. The mission will be displayed.

Figure 8-2 Open Mission Dialog

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8.4. Displayed Mission 8.4.1. Map The figure shown below is an example of how a mission is displayed. The blue line is the route. The orange line is where the truck sprayed. The arrows portray where the truck drove. In this instance, the arrows are green where the truck was not spraying and red where it was, but these colors can be changed to suit the user’s preference. See 6 above The orange line is where the truck sprayed and the blue is the route. When the Run checkbox is checked as it is in the example below, details from each point can be examined. The point to be examined can be selected by clicking the right mouse button close to the point. Sequential and previous points can be selected by pressing the ‘F’ and ‘B’ key respectively. The ‘A’ key starts an automatic sequencing and ‘S’ stops it. If the run checkbox is not checked, a right click of the mouse button on the map will select the closest point for examination automatically. The flow meter and speedometer can be hidden or displayed independently and the stop times can be displayed by right clicking on the red triangle.

Figure 8-3 Displayed Mission

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8.4.2. Buttons The buttons below are placed on the top right corner of the map. The top left check box is used to show or hide the tracks, route and spray lines for the whole mission. Following the check box is the truck ID, the date of the mission and the time it started. Below this are rows of buttons, each row represents one trip. The Pts check box shows or hides the arrows representing the trucks position, track and spray status. The Route checkbox shows or hides the route for that trip and the Lines button shows or hides the spray line for that trip. The Run checkbox is selected to display data on the flow meter and speedometer and stops. The Report button is used to display a report and the close button is used to remove or close the mission.

Figure 8-4 Open Mission Buttons

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9. Reports When a mission is imported two report files are created in the mission folder under C:\Ground\County\. The comma delimited file is designed to be easily imported into Microsoft Excel, Access etc. It is called reportdl.txt and looks like:

The formatted reports in called report.txt and looks like:

Clicking the REPORT button in Figure 8-4 will start Notepad.exe and show Report.txt which can be printed. Note: Print in Landscape or it won’t fit. The fields should be self explanatory: Driver Driver Route Route Miles Miles Traveled MSprayed Miles Sprayed Acres Acres Sprayed Ounces Ounces Sprayed AvgSpd Average Spray Speed Start Time Trip was started On Time of First Spray On Off Time of Last Spray Off End Time Trip was ended MaxSpd Maximum Speed of truck during trip MaxFlo Maximum Flow Rate during trip AppRte Average Application Rate (this should be close to the App Rate in

the report header)

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10. Real-time Tracking To start real time tracking there must be no missions open. Use the menu Preferences | ServerIP to enter the IP Address of the server. The server must be set up by ADAPCO Inc. before real time tracking can be used. Once the server IP is entered correctly, use the Mission | Real Time Tracking menu to enable real time tracking.

Figure 10-1 Real-time Tracking Truck Data

While in Real Time Tracking mode, two clocks will appear. The system clock is the system time of the computer running GeoTracker. The truck clock keeps track of the time when the most recent packet of data was received from the truck in focus. The button with truck ID (5 in this case) can be depressed or not to show or hide the trucks track. The radio button to the right (under the None button) shows this truck is in focus which means the truck clock, flow meter and speedometer are showing data pertaining to that truck. The red and green display the colors selected to represent the truck while it is and is not spraying respectively. The first 0.0 is the speed of the truck in m.p.h. The second 0.0 is the flow rate the 0.2 in square brackets is the volume sprayed on this mission so far. The button with the x clears this truck’s tracks and stops. The XAll button will clear all the trucks’ tracks and stops.

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