Using a Handheld GPS.

We were contacted by an existing customer, who had bought a handheld GPS, and was using it for species recording. He recorded each species as a new waypoint, and wondered if it was possible to upload this information to his PC via a serial cable, to save lots of typing.

Now, this has two elements that are just our kind of thing:

It saves re-entering data – boring enough at the best of times, but also subject to associated transcription errors.

There was some doubt as to feasibility. If you really want to get a computer person to do something, you tell him that you have been reliably informed that it is not possible. Failing that, asking if it is possible with some doubt in your voice, works fairly well.

We had already developed a basic module for communicating with GPS devices using the NMEA standard (in collaboration with Alphabet Soup who develop software for Mountain Rescue groups), and could reliably read current position, altitude, etc, but to access waypoints, we needed to look more closely at the manufacturer’s own communications protocol.

The box in question was a Garmin GPS 12. Garmin have a proprietary protocol which is fairly well documented (definition available on the web), and within a day or two we were able to develop a small Garmin-specific module.

Waypoints have a maximum of six characters, and while this was sufficient for the user to distinguish between various species, it created a minor problem in terms of automatic data loading. For most species the short search string could be used, and where this was not unique, the user was simply prompted to select from the alternatives.

The picture shows the standard data input screen, with the uploaded waypoints.

Now, what else could we usefully get from the GPS?

Most modern handheld GPS systems automatically record changes in current position as a ‘track’. The usefulness of the track obviously depends on where you have been, but if for instance, you walked around the boundary of a reserve or study area, the track would be the boundary. Upload the track to AditMap – instant boundary map.

What about sending information the other way?

You have responsibility for monitoring a large number of bat boxes and badger sets. Some are fairly easy to find, but others are deep in woodland. You regularly wander about trying to find specific locations – sometimes completely in vain. Possible solution – download the position of the sites to the GPS, and use the GOTO function on the GPS to guide you to the right spot.

This all sounds great, but your GPS is not made by Garmin?

We are looking at supporting a number of protocols, and have already had success with Magellan systems. Just let us know if you have hardware from another manufacturer.