GPS (Global Positioning Systems) available for checkout/loan through MIT GIS Services

• Type of GPS units available
• Software for getting the data off the GPS unit
• Example projects for which people have checked out the GPS units for extended periods of time
• Putting free basemaps onto a GPS unit and sharing data through OpenStreetMap.org

MIT GIS Services provides GPS units available for checkout by the MIT community, from the Rotch Library circulation desk. Units come in a carrying case, with documentation, and are available for one day. If a unit is needed for a longer period of time email gishelp@mit.edu to explain why and request an extension. 2 AA batteries are required to run each unit. Batteries are not provided by the library.

Type of GPS Units available:

Garmin GPSMAP62s
	Position accuracy	WAAS enabled 3 meters (high sensitivity quad helix antenna)
	Routes	200
	Waypoints (total)	2000
	Memory	1.7 gigabytes (microSD slot for expandable memory)
	PC Compatible	Yes (USB connector)
	Color Screen	Yes
	Compass	Yes
	Altimeter	Yes
	Display size	2.2 x 1.6 inches (sunlight and night time readable)
	Battery life at 70 degrees	20 hours
	Dimensions	6.3 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches
	Weight	9.2 ounces

There are 12 of these GPS units available.

City Navigator

City Navigator North America is available on select GPS units. It includes detailed information about streets and points of interest and can be used to provide turn by turn directions. More information about this software is available on the Garmin website.

If you will be working in North America and would like a unit with City Navigator installed, let us know when submitting a request.

Free Software for getting the data off the GPS unit and converting to shapefile, Google Earth and other formats:

A recommended free software package, that enables downloading data from Garmin GPS units and selecting from several format options, including Shapefile (ESRI - ArcMap), KML (Google Earth), Landview, .txt or as a graphic, is the "DNR Garmin GPS Application" available from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html

Example projects for which people have checked out the GPS units for extended periods of time:

• Nitrogen sampling, turbidity/TSS sampling, and coral reef inspection in the Virgin Islands
• Collection and Representation of GIS Data to Aid Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Technology Implementation in the Northern Region of Ghana
• Water Quality testing in Ghana
• Tracking water sources and water quality in Singapore
• Wastewater treatment project in Honduras
• Tracking human motion using sensors that give relative positions of several points on the body, and gps to get a global reference
• Mapping places in India where no existing maps can be found
• Helping MIT participants in Engineers Without Borders do a mission in Uganda
• Supporting MIT graduate students teaching kids in the MIT@Lawrence Project about GPS

Putting free basemaps onto a GPS unit and sharing data through OpenStreetMap.org

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, editable map of the whole world. It allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth, and it is made by people like you. You can use data from OSM to add basemaps to a GPS unit and help in your navigating and data collection. You can find extracts of maps from different countries around the world and easily download them in different formats from: http://downloads.cloudmade.com/

GPX format data can be read by Garmin GPS units as vectors, so it can be read as tracks and waypoints. The .img format is recognizable as a basemap on the GPS units.

Information about how to contribute data you've collected to OpenStreetMap by uploading it can be found at: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginner's_guide