7.1 GNSS Projects
Learning Objectives
On the successful completion of this chapter you should be able to:
- explain what kinds of metadata should be collected for GNSS projects
- discuss what features, attributes and attributes values are, and how these are used in GNSS projects
- explain and describe basic data types
- outline and explain the considerations for preparing for GNSS project field work, including selection and management of equipment
- outline and explain the considerations in undertaking GNSS project field work, including advanced data collection techniques and finishing field work.
In the beginning…
Maps have been annotated with information about a location since the first ones were produced. Linking the location of something to the information about it meant that people could understand what was at a location, how to get there and why they might go there. This information is generically referred to as location or spatial intelligence.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders maintained this information about the land through stories, and connected these stories to the land through paintings, effectively creating the first location intelligence databases.
Before computers, this location intelligence was captured in field books, diaries and other records of explorers and surveyors, and linked to maps and plans through filling systems and library records. Anyone wanting to access it would have to physically visit a library or records store and pour over pages and pages of information.
Combining GNSS for accurate positioning with field computing power to collect location intelligence has streamed lined the data collection process significantly, and the inclusion of photos and even 360 degree scans has made the capacity for data collection virtually limitless.
This integrated capacity requires significant planning and preparation for field work – where teams of 20 or more people used to accompany surveyors in undertaking project field work, now days it’s more likely to be one or two people.