September 18 - Using GPS for Monitoring and Mapping Land Trust Holdings

This one-day introductory training will cover the basics of using a handheld GPS unit for improved conservation easement monitoring and enforcement. Learn how to choose and map property boundaries and specific locations that can be revisited year after year to determine and record compliance with easement restrictions. The skills learned are also applicable to fee property stewardship, including monitoring of boundaries, and mapping trails or areas for management activities. Course participants will be taught how to download demonstrative GPS data on interactive online maps that can be saved, shared and embedded on land trust websites. Specific software programs will be discussed, but this course will use software that is readily accessible and free to the public.

The course includes the following modules:

• Introduction to monitoring techniques and challenges.
• Hands-on instruction on data collection using a Garmin GPSMap76CSx receiver.
• Extensive hands-on practice collecting geospatial field data including waypoints and tracks.
• Techniques for transferring data between aGPS receiver and a desktop computer.
• Instruction on accessing and using CT's public domain mapping data online.
• Introduction to several free software tools (DNRGarmin, ArcGIS Online) to manage and display GPS data.
• Instruction on how to "link" digital photographs to GPS locations.
• Hands-on experience in creating interactive web maps.
• Sharing and embedding maps on the web.

Class size is limited to 16 students.

Course fee is $90 for CLCC members, $110 for non-members. Payment options include check, credit card, purchase order or transfer voucher. Mail checks to the address below. Please indicate which course you are paying for.

Make checks payable to the University of Connecticut. We accept Mastercard, Visa and Discover. We do not accept American Express.

Middlesex County Extension Center
1066 Saybrook Road, Box 70
Haddam, CT 06438
Attn: Cary Chadwick