Barebones introduction to pda/gps in the classroom and field

Elements: Screen, stylus, power button

1. 
   Turn on the PDA: this unit runs Microsoft PocketPC and has the initial look of the layout of a desktop computer running a windows operating system. In the upper left is the start menu button. On the screen should appear the time/date, owner, calendar, inbox, and tasks.
   

2. 
   Maneuvering:
   

1. 
   The PDA has a touch screen. You use the stylus for touching the screen, not pencil, pen, etc. There is a protective static cover on the screen – it’s somewhat cheaper to replace these than a whole unit. Pleas be careful.
   
2. 
   Much like your desktop computer, the PDA requires some processing time when you ask it to do a task – if it doesn’t respond right away (especially in GIS mode, don’t keep clicking!).
   
3. 
   Consider your stylus to be the mouse – you can click the mouse by touching the screen. Touching and holding on the screen is like the right mouse button click – it will often (depending what program you are in) bring up a menu. Most times in PocketPC, you do not need to double click! This will just freeze up the machine. Screen dragging is also done with the stylus.
   

3. 
   First task: TIME. I have done some pre-setting on the PDA. However, there is still some work that needs to be done. First task is to set the time. Touch on the time/date with the stylus and we will adjust the clock to the current time.
   

4. 
   Second task: SWITCHER BAR. The switcher bar is kind of like the Taskbar along the bottom of a Windows desktop – it tells you what programs are open and running. Default for the PDA is to have the switcher bar off – we will turn it on.
   
   1. 
      Touch the start button.
      
   2. 
      Touch the settings button.
      
   3. 
      Along the bottom tabs of this screen, touch the system tab.
      
   4. 
      Scroll down and touch “switcher bar. This will make three icons show at the top of the screen – a window, a light bulb, and a battery – this is the switcher bar.
      
   5. 
      Click the X at the top left, this closes the setting window.
      
   6. 
      Now click the window icon in the swticher bar and see what programs are operating. The uppermost one is the current program, the others are queued. Clicking on a program will bring it to the front. Click anywhere else on the screen to close the switcher bar.
      

This is your brief introduction to getting around in the PDA environment. Now we’ll explore the GPS/GIS software.

We will work in the program briefly in the classroom then go to a field site to practice. Among us we have a variety of skill levels with GPS and GIS. Currently these units are loaded with ESRI’s ArcPad GIS software for PDAs. Additionally, you have a GPS antenna that plugs into the PDA flash socket. The exercise component will get you into the program and working with some of the settings. The intent here is not to teach GIS or GPS, we will have a different lecture set to address this. Be sure to re-read this lecture if this doesn’t make sense.

1. 
   In the start menu, click on ArcPad. One click will do. This program has a slight delay in start-up due to size but one click will start it.
   

2. 
   A blank screen with two toolbars appears along the top. Note that the switcher bar and start button are now on the bottom.
   

3. 
   You need to set the file path for ArcPad – this will tell ArcPad where to look on the PDA for data. Click the hammer/wrench button – this is the options button. The options menu for ArcPad shows up. We will be using the WGS 1984 Datum, make sure the unit is set to this. Scroll to the right with the arrows till you get to PATHS. Click on that tab. Click on the folder icon nest to the first box. Select GIS folder and click OK. Click OK again. ArcPad will now use GIS as the default data folder.
   

4. 
   Your PDA has been loaded with two road layers for Deschutes County, roads1, roads2. Roads1 are the local named roads. Roads2 are the unnamed roads, such as USFS roads. We will add them to the background. The Plus icon in the top tool bar is used to add layers. Click it. Click the + next to basemaps and then the + next to Deschutes and the two layer names will appear. Touch the empty boxes next to the layer names and this will put a check mark in the box. Click OK. The screen should redraw with the two road layers.
   

5. 
   Time to head outside. To activate the GPS, click the little satellite icon on the top bar. A position window will show up – the GPS is now attempting to track satellites. You can close the position window if you want but some cool stuff shows up there. Visible satellites are in blue and red in the window. Those being tracked turn red. Once the GPS is using a satellites data the satellite turns black. Once three or more satellites are being logged, the position will display in Lat and Long in the position window, as will altitude in meters. Touch the altitude with the stylus and you are given the option of displaying altitude in feet. You are also given options for position (UTM, etc) when you touch the Lat Long.
   

6. 
   While in the field, we’ll work on creating a shapefile and capturing data points.