Fo r. A Guide. October 21, 2009 Created by: Duane Miller, TCGSAR

Transcription

1 Fo r Searches A Guide October 21, 2009 Created by: Duane Miller, TCGSAR This material was made possible through funding from the SAR NEW INIATIVES FUND 2009

2 Table of Contents 1 Objectives Setup Software requirements Ozi Configuration SAR Status Mapping Symbols Trail Classification System Calibrate exported.tif file in Ozi Explorer Using the Map for a Search First Items to put on the Map Append Track and Join Function Attaching Files to the Map Waypoints Measuring Distances and Bearings on the Map Tracks Managing Data Printing Maps Backing Up Files GIS Material - Version

3 Only features required for a search will be discussed in this document. Features like moving map will not be used. 1 Objectives At the completion of the OziExplorer training, the student will be able to: 1. Load, calibrate and geo-reference a photo tif image. 2. Place MGRS grid lines at 1 sq km intervals. 3. Load and refine the PLS distance rings for the subject category. 4. Download/upload Gpsmap 60/76Cx waypoints and tracks. 5. Manage, manipulate, modify, save, waypoints and tracks in separate files with proper naming convention (e.g. Alpha waypoint as A1251, signifying Alpha s waypoint called in at 12:51.) 6. Print: a. Field ready maps one page in size. b. Full map to be glued together for operations backup. 7. Backup key data files in support of a search or training exercise. 2 Setup 3.1 Software requirements a. OziExplorer i. MGRS and MrSID dlls b. NB Orthophoto maps- georeferenced for OziExplorer or Tif image created in ArcGIS. c. PLS utility d. SAR bmp symbols (see others below) 3.2 Ozi Configuration i. IPP Initial Planning Point (Initial Planning Point.bmp) ii. PLS/LKP as per ASTM (pls.bmp) iii. CP as per ASTM (cp.bmp) Either: right click on the map, enter Alt+C, or from File Menu and choose configuration. The following screen will appear. (Note: there are multiple ways of performing the same action) GIS Material - Version

4 The Map file path will be different for each search, as it should be kept in a separate folder. Shows basic setup as WGS84, MGRS and Deg, Min and metric distances. Using Garmin 60 setting will work with the GPSMAP 60Cx. If a different GPS model is used, then this configuration will have to be changed before downloading from the GPS. Make sure a check mark is in Garmin USB. The USB connection is the only one used on the CP computer to upload/download GPSs. GIS Material - Version

5 The default track colour can be set. When downloading tracks from team GPSs, raw track data (and waypoints) are first saved by team, and then later edited to be coded using the Trail Classification system (Type 1-4) with their respective colour codes. To set MGRS grid lines on the map perform the following. Right click on the map and select Grid Line Setup. Then Select the tab Other Grid. Once the choices are made, select Save and the grid line setup will be stored with the Ozi map file. The normal setup is to have grid lines displayed every 1 km and labels displayed every 1 km. The normal choices of colour for grid lines are either yellow or blue depending on the background of the map. It is important that the grid lines are visible on field maps. 3.3 SAR Status Mapping Symbols The following table Figure 1, shows the ASTM symbols normally used when placing key SAR status information on the map for a search. Some of these symbols are kept in a separate directory and can be accessed in Ozi by selecting Map Feature and then editing the symbol. 12 GIS Material - Version

6 Proceed to select one of the Symbols. Note: Create a separate waypoint for the ICP, as the waypoint entered with the symbol DOES NOT show on the waypoint list. Examples of existing map symbols. 3.4 Trail Classification System Type Description Sample 1 Walking (Trail Bike) (Marked as turquoise on the map) 2 ATV (Marked as yellow on the map) GIS Material - Version

7 3 Off-road Vehicle (4 x 4) (Marked as orange on the map) 4 On-road Vehicle (Marked as red the map) on Figure 1 - ASTM Map Symbols GIS Material - Version

8 3.5 Calibrate exported.tif file in Ozi Explorer A map in OziExplorer is an image of a map, which has been calibrated (georeferenced) so OziExplorer can use any pixel position on the map to determine the true geographic position. When you calibrate a map OziExplorer creates a.map file that contains the calibration information and a link to the image you are using. The other method of creating maps is to import them. There are maps and charts available in digital form which have the calibration (georeferencing) for the map included either directly in the file or provided as information in an additional file. Importing these maps reads the calibration information from the map files and creates an OziExplorer map file. SETUP MENU: Start Ozi Explorer: File > Load & Calibrate Map Image navigate to the target.tif file, Select it > open > Click on setup tab > Map Datum WGS 84, Map Projection UTM GIS Material - Version

9 Click on Point 1 Tab, place mouse curser on intersection of gridlines in the UPPER LEFT corner of the.tif image. Click once, red circle displays over area that corresponds to UTM grid coordinates boxes (you are about to fill in). o o enter UTM Zone 19 (or 20 depending where Search has occurred in NB). enter the grid coordinates corresponding for that intersection (6 digits for EASTINGS, 7 digits for NORTHINGS) Click on Point 2 Tab, place #2 (red) bulls eye on intersection of gridlines in the UPPER RIGHT corner of the.tif image- enter the grid coordinates corresponding for that intersection (6 digits for EASTINGS, 7 digits for NORTHINGS). Click on Point 3 Tab, place #3 (red) bulls eye on one intersection of gridlines in the LOWER LEFT or RIGHT of the.tif image- enter the grid coordinates corresponding for that intersection (6 digits for EASTINGS, 7 digits for NORTHINGS). When in calibration mode the calibration points (circles) can be adjusted by holding down the shift key and using the arrow keys. GIS Material - Version

10 After grid coordinates have been entered for all 3 Points. Click the Save button. Ozi is now ready for use. Note: both the Map Features and Comments are saved with the Map file. Waypoints and tracks are saved in separate files. GIS Material - Version

11 3 Using the Map for a Search 3.1 First Items to put on the Map Now that the map is georeferenced and represents the area where the search will be conducted, there a number of positions that needs to be placed on the map: 1.1. The coordinate position of the CP use this symbol 1.2. The coordinate position of the IPP Initial Planning Point use this symbol 1.3. The next item to be placed on the map is the distance circles representing the 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% radius for the particular Lost Person Behaviour e.g. hiker, despondent, etc. The Plans Section Chief will choose the LPB category. There is a program called PLS that is a separate utility that runs with Oziexplorer. Ozi must be running with the actual map loaded. Start the PLS program. Note: you will need the IPP coordinate in degrees, decimal minutes. For example, N W The PLS program will now place a number of rings on the map centered on the coordinate entered. GIS Material - Version

12 The rings will be filled with grid squares on the map. These need to be cleanedup. Perform the following: Open the track control. The rings are really tracks in Ozi. They are always placed in Track # 28, 29 etc. Next highlight track 28, and click on Show Track List on the tool bar (red circle). Go to row 361 and highlight from 361 back to row 1 using the Shift key and left click with the mouse. Then click on the delete button. Close this screen. This will remove all the clutter from inside the rings. GIS Material - Version

13 Go back to the track control box and double click on track 28. This will bring up the window at left. Change line colour to black, Type to line and Fill Type to clear and Width to 2. Save the track in the same folder as the search data. Repeat the above processes for each ring and save them. 3.2 Append Track and Join Function After each ring is cleaned up and saved, they can be merged into one track by using either the Append or Join function in Ozi. Appending Tracks Move one of the saved tracks to the No 1 position in Track Control. Select Append Track from file, either from the File menu or from the Load button on the Tool Bar. GIS Material - Version

14 Gives a warning for what you are going to do. Select the file containing the 2 nd ring you want to Append to the first saved file. Repeat the process to add the 3 rd, 4 th ring. Save the file with all the tracks contained in the one file. If you open the Track List and scroll down, it will show the three different track segments contained within the single track file. Joining Tracks Use the cleaned up tracks (from 3.1) Select the + button. It displays a number of options. Choose: Join Tracks GIS Material - Version

15 In this window join track 29 to 28. Repeat to join track 30 to 28. Now that all tracks have been amalgamated into one track in this case track 28, rename it to indicate that it represents all the PLS track rings for the particular search. Save the track with an appropriate name. Now only one track needs to be used to show all the rings. 3.3 Attaching Files to the Map Tracks, waypoints and events can be attached to the map. They will show on the map but not be active in the Track Control list etc. This is a good method for adding the distance rings or new roads to a map without having to deal with them in the track control. With the current map open. Choose, check Calibration of Map from the File Menu. Select the Options button. Choose the file(s) to attach to the map. Click on the +Add button. Click on Save on the right hand column. The tracks will now show on the map each time it is loaded. Note: the track can be cleared from the Track Control box. GIS Material - Version

16 The map is now ready to add search information such as: Planning waypoints Planning tracks Perimeters outlining search areas Comments Waypoints and tracks downloaded from field teams 3.4 Waypoints Select the Position & Set Waypoints button on the toolbar. The cursor will change to a cross hair when it is in the map area. Select the position on the map where you want to place the Waypoint and press the left mouse button. For example, if it is a waypoint called in from the field: - Enter as Team Name A for Alpha and the time Then click on Edit Position Enter the MGRS coordinates as given by the field member. Save waypoint. GIS Material - Version

17 Waypoints should be continually accumulated and saved in one file during the search. A file name such as All Waypoints1050 indicates the waypoints placed on the map up to 10:50 on that day. As more waypoints are added to the map save a separate file as All Waypoints This provides a backup or fallback file in case one of the files gets deleted. By opening the Waypoint List, particular waypoints can be highlighted and either Save to a separate file, or Appended to another file. This feature will depend on how waypoint data is managed, and is at the discretion of the Plans Section Chief. Waypoints can be uploaded to the GPS. The example at left shows selected waypoints being sent to the GPS for a team setting out a datum line. Only the waypoints highlighted in blue will be uploaded. 3.5 Measuring Distances and Bearings on the Map There are two main methods of measuring distance and bearings. Method 1 Show the distance & bearing display On the Tool Bar select Show the distance and bearing display button. The two windows at left will appear. Left click the mouse on Point A. Then hold the mouse over Point B and it will give you the; distance, true bearing & magnetic bearing. To calculate a path, click the left B mouse at A, B, C, etc. and the A individual legs will show in the left panel and the total distance will GIS Material - Version

18 Method 2 Distance Between Waypoints display in the right panel. The distance is always calculated from the last point clicked with the mouse. There must be waypoints present on the map. Select the button on the Tool Bar. Choose the From and To waypoints, and the display will show distance, true and magnetic bearing. 3.6 Tracks Tracks can be downloaded from the GPS or manually created and uploaded to the GPS. Tracks that have been downloaded from the GPS can also be modified manually. OziExplorer can display multiple tracks on a map at the same time but with the following conditions. Track 1 can always be considered the Active Track for the following reasons. A Track downloaded from the GPS always loads into track number 1. The track can then be saved to disk and reloaded from disk into any track number. When uploading to the GPS it is always Track number 1 which is uploaded so you must load the track from disk into track 1 first. There is the ability to append a track from a file to the currently loaded track. When manually creating a track you are always working with Track number 1 and all the buttons for manually entering tracks only apply to track 1. Special keys which can be used when Creating Track Features For efficient creating of map features the use of these key combinations is essential. Holding the Alt key down when creating a new track point will automatically start a new track section. GIS Material - Version

19 Holding the Shift key down when creating a new track point will "snap" onto the closest track point to the point where you clicked. Holding the Shift & Ctrl keys down together when creating a new track point will "snap" onto the closest track line to the point where you clicked. Holding the Shift & Alt keys down together will create a new track section and "snap" to the nearest track point. Holding the Shift & Ctrl & Alt keys down together will create a new track section and "snap" to the nearest track line. These options are also available on the right click menu of "Active" track points. This shows some raw tracks downloaded at a search. Each track can be loaded and portions deleted (such as unneeded segment from home to search site). Once cleaned up, the track can be saved as a new track. Should always keep the original raw data from the GPS. Separate tracks can be loaded using this series of windows. GIS Material - Version

20 Special use of Track 1. From the menu bar select Options>Area Calculation. Then paint the area required for searching. It will provide the number of hectares for that area. Then save the track as Segment A etc. Using Track 1 and the Manually Create Track points from the Tool Bar, the Plans Section Chief can break the map into searchable segments. As each segment is drawn, it is then pushed down to Track 2 through 75 and saved as Seg 1, 2, etc. To modify, or move the position of a segment created above: Unlock the map (the picture of a padlock on the toolbar). Move the track to be modified into Track 1. Depress the button (4 th from left). Now draw a rectangle around the track point to be moved. Select the point and move it. When finished lock the map again. GIS Material - Version

21 4 Managing Data Waypoint and track data can be saved and displayed in various ways. If a search runs into more than one operational period data could be saved in separate sub-folders. When teams come back from the field an easy way to deal with only their data is to first save all current waypoints and tracks, then select Map from the menu bar, and Clear all Above Data. Download the data from the GPS and save it as alpha raw waypoints etc. See folder graphic below. Connect the GPS to the USB port of the computer. Turn on the GPS. Select the Receive from GPS buttons for waypoints and tracks. This will load the field data onto the current map. Save the raw data and clean it up later. This shows some of the data files under the sub-folder for the search. 5 Printing Maps There are two reasons to print maps: 1. To provide an 8 ½ x 11 map of the particular area FTLs are responsible for. If all the area will fit print it to 1: 10,000 scale, otherwise, print it as Selected fit to page. 2. To provide a paper map of the entire search area. Select Map to scale. This will print the entire map on 8 ½ x 11 paper. It will need to be taped together. GIS Material - Version

22 To print either Selected-Fit to page(s), or Selected to Scale depress the icon circled in red. Then drag the cursor around the rectangular area on the map you want to print. Click on the preview button to confirm the selection to be printed. 6 Backing Up Files Periodically during the search backup all map, tif, waypoint and track files to a flash drive. At the end of the search again back up all search files under the folder name to a flash drive, external hard drive or CD/DVD. GIS Material - Version