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Best Setup for Mapping in Undeveloped Countries?

Posted by Cliff on from the mapping-the-unmapped dept.

Floodimus asks: "My girlfriend lives and works in West Africa and on my next visit she has asked me to help her do some mapping of uncharted villages. I want to make this study really accurate and useful, so I am thinking about using high tech and low tech resources such as GPS and good old fashioned compasses, but I was wondering what the Slashdot crowd would recommend for GPS hardware (does GPS equipment from the US work over there?), field equipment, mapping software etc. I use both PCs and Macs and would like the software to run on the Mac, but it doesn't have to. What's the best, most rugged stuff you've used? Where are some resources that would help me out?"

22 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Hello? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 5, Funny

    does GPS equipment from the US work over there?

    Ok, a quick explanation of how this stuff works is in order. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The system consists of 24 or so satellites that provide nearly complete coverage of the globe at any given time. By capturing signals from more than one of these satellites, your receiver can calculate your position based on the last known position of the sats. Thanks to the precision and accuracy of modern electronic hardware, this calculation can be accurate to within 20 meters or less.

    More info here

    So to answer your question, of course GPS equipment can't be used over there! They use 220V AC and we use 110V AC. Where do you think you're going to find a charger? You need to get yourself a step down transformer, or you'll never be able to charge the equipment! Yeash, what are they teaching you kids these days?

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    1. Re:Hello? by BJH · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, cause every uncharted village has a ready supply of alkaline batteries in AA, AAA and AAAA sizes.

    2. Re:Hello? by Mr2cents · · Score: 3, Funny

      Where is this so called "globe" and is it a part of the USA?

      --
      "It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
    3. Re:Hello? by Mr2cents · · Score: 2, Funny

      > now, if the military found that the enemy was using GPS to deliver bombs and such, of course they'd turn it off,

      I wouldn't turn it off, I would re-route it 8-)

      --
      "It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
    4. Re:Hello? by Moofie · · Score: 2, Funny

      They have the sun in Canada? Who knew?

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    5. Re:Hello? by StarsAreAlsoFire · · Score: 2, Funny

      Positioned conveniently at eye level when driving south.

  2. No by smileyy · · Score: 4, Funny

    does GPS equipment from the US work over there?

    No. We made sure to send Africa very very degraded signals. How much does a meter of accuracy matter in a desert or jungle anyway?

    --
    pooptruck
  3. Obligatory Fanboy Response by fembots · · Score: 2, Funny

    Google Map, Google Earth or Google Satellite?

    Wait, and it'll be built.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
  4. Don't take your GPS "everywhere" by jaredmauch · · Score: 5, Funny

    I travel in the US with a GPS in my laptop bag (Garmin GPS V), but depending on where you travel in the world, you may want to insure it doesn't violate any local laws. For example in (don't mod me funny) Ex-Soviet Russia it is illegal in most cases to have GPS equipment. You can be thrown in jail and it may not be pleasant.

    1. Re:Don't take your GPS "everywhere" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm not sure why two mods decided this was Funny.

      Because of this choice line of his:

      For example in (don't mod me funny)

      So the mods (being an ever predictable bunch) decided to go against his wishes and mod him funny! Hilarious, isn't it? A real knee-slapper!

    2. Re:Don't take your GPS "everywhere" by centauri · · Score: 4, Funny

      In Soviet Russia, satellite locks on to YOU!

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Durga.
    3. Re:Don't take your GPS "everywhere" by JoshRosenbaum · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hilarious, isn't it? A real knee-slapper!

      I blame it on getting off work. At that point you're just begging for something to be funny and you'll accept anything. ;) For example I laughed at what you said. Then again, making fun of someone else's crappy joke is a true formula for funny, right? :) Too bad I have no mod points. ;)

    4. Re:Don't take your GPS "everywhere" by KevlarTheSleepinator · · Score: 2, Funny

      oops, i forgot to ask everyone to not mod me funny on my parent post

      --
      Move Sig, for great justice.
  5. It should work by CKnight · · Score: 5, Funny

    unless you get the discounted Global -except West Africa- Possitioning System.

    --
    http://www.watacrackaz.com
    1. Re:It should work by identity0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Cut him some slack, Floodimus (npflood@alumni.cedarville.edu) is obviously a graduate student. He can't be expected to use common sense or logic, he's college educated.

  6. Southern Hemisphere GPS Usage by webdan · · Score: 4, Funny

    To use a GPS device in the southern hemisphere, (ie south of the equator) you have to hold it upside down.

  7. GPS in West Africa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    My girlfriend lives and works in West Africa
    Were you the guy in high school who had the girlfriend who went to "another school" and no one had ever met?
    Just joshing....

  8. Don't. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Forget it. It won't last. Long distance relationships never do. She'll only break your heart.

  9. Re:Political considerations by cayenne8 · · Score: 1, Funny
    "You should also be careful of the impression you make on local police or military personel. I don't doubt that many of them would be suspicious of an American (since you asked about U.S. equipment) wandering around with electronic devices to map villages or roads. "

    You've got to be kidding....why would this bother them?

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  10. Re:Be careful!! by machinegunhand · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, indeed you must be careful. Anyone who's ever watched Gilligan's Island knows there's a lost tribe of headhunting canibals out there somewhere, just waiting for some well-meaning city folks to wander into their territory.

  11. Region coding... by jemenake · · Score: 2, Funny
    My girlfriend lives and works in West Africa and on my next visit...
    You travel to Africa to get to your girlfriend?!? Dude, either you are TOTALLY pussy-whipped, or she's totally hot and you're a genius for getting her away from any potential competition by sticking her out in the boondocks. ("A 'bird' out in the bush is worth two in a developed country', I guess they could say).
    (does GPS equipment from the US work over there?)
    Fortunately, the Motion Picture Assoc. of America didn't forsee GPS's ever being used for any kind of movie viewing... so they didn't press to get region-coding into GPS's, like they do with DVD players. :)
  12. Re:Power suggestions... by BackInIraq · · Score: 2, Funny

    For the price of two regular laptops, get a Panasonic Toughbook. It will still be useable after exiting the far end of the digestive tract of the alligator that eats you.

    Are you kidding? I'm writing this from a Panasonic CF-29...you could close it, beat the alligator to death with it, open it back up, and continue working. They're pricey, but great computers.

    And yes, if one has the money for it, I would heartily recommend one of these for such a trip.