Taking NRDA Photography

Validate field sample photos

Provide a Visual Description of Field Conditions and Operations

Home > TrusteesONLY > Sample Data > 0_Instructions_and_Forms > Field_Photo_Validation_Documents

Helpful GPS/Photo Documents on Trustee FTP:

NRDA_Field_Photography_Guidance Basic_GPS_Skills Garmin MapSource

Why?

What do you need?Digital

Camera

GPS Unit

1) 2)

Requisite GPS Settings:

1) GPS/Camera must be set to local time (Set to 24-hour Military Time) Garmin GPS: Turn On GPS > Menu > Setup > Time > Time Format = “24 hours”

2) Datum = “WGS 84”Turn On GPS > Menu > Setup > Units > Map Datum = “WGS 84”

Tracks (or “Track Log”): The “breadcrumb trail”; a stream of continuous data points recorded when the unit’s Track Log is turned on, saved to GPS’ memory (ex. overflight path, extent of assessed shoreline)

GPS Terms: Tracks and Waypoints

Waypoints: A specific location manually captured by the user and saved to GPS’ memory (ex. location of marine debris object, location of sample).

3) Set Track Log to “Wrap When Full”Turn On GPS > Menu > Tracks > Track Log (Track Log = “On”) > Setup > Check “Wrap When Full”

When using GPS in the field:

1) Take a photo of your GPS unit with the Date/Time

(with seconds!) Clearly Visible

“Menu + Menu”2) Record a Waypoint when

you take a sample

When taking photos in the field:1) Remember to take multiple photos at each sample point – perspective is

important! Take a photo zoomed into the area of interest and then take it in context of the surrounding area.

2) Take photos to the “tell a story” of the sampling effort (i.e., record other events,

other activities of interest)

Returning from the Field:

1) Connect your GPS unit to your computer (remember your cables)

2) Start Garmin MapSource

a) Click on the “Receive from Device” icon.b) Click Find Device (the name of your GPS unit will appear)c) Under “What To Receive” > Click only Waypoints and Tracksd) Click “Receive” (you will now see the tracks/waypoints for that day)

3) Save .gdb and .gpx filesa) File > Save As… > “YYYY_MMDD_LastName_FirstName” (Save as type: .gdb)b) File > Save As… > “YYYY_MMDD_LastName_FirstName” (Save as type: .gpx)

4) Provide Comments on Photos where desired (MS word, Excel, txt., etc.)

ExampleFields:•Photo ID•Comment•Key (y/n)•Data (y/n)

2010_0515_Herter_John.zip

•COC Form•FedEx Labels•NRDA Sample Collection Form•Log Book entries related to samples

ScannedCOC Documents

•Field Sampling form.xls (either from NOAA Field Sampling

Form or “Flat-File” Form)

Sample Data

• Photos•.gpx + .gdb file• Doc with Photo Comments

Photos

Post to FTP