Transferring GPS data to computer using DNR Garmin software.

1.    Introduction

DNR Garmin is an easy‐to‐use software application that allows you to manage, manipulate and save your GPS information for use in GIS programs such as ArcMap. This program integrates GIS Software with all types of Garmin brand GPS’s. It uses a serial/USB port allowing GIS users to transfer Waypoints, Tracks, and Routes from a Garmin GPS to GIS system and can also be uploaded from GIS software to the GPS and used as tracks or waypoints. 

There are a number of things that DNR Garmin software can do, some of the functions most applicable to extension agents include the following:

·        Educators can use this software package to transfer GPS data between a Garmin GPS receiver and a PC.

·        DNR Garmin can save GPS data as projected (or unprotected) shape files for use in ArcMap, as graphics, as a database files, or as text files for use in other programs.

·        The program allows for initial projection of GPS data (i.e. waypoints, routes, etc.) to many different map datum (Lat/Long, UTM/UPS, coun‐ try grids etc.).

·        Information can be filtered in various ways and waypoints sorted according to specified criteria. Route and track statistics are available and can be transferred into other programs for analysis (i.e. spreadsheet programs).

DNR Garmin unfortunately does not have any mapping software that allows you to view your data before you save it to your computer. DNR Garmin is designed specifically for Garmin GPS units. This guide is written using the Garmin Legend GPS receiver. All other Garmin GPS receivers will follow the same protocols.

DNR Garmin can be run stand-alone, outside of a GIS and can save shapefiles, dBase files, KML, GPX, or text files with projected coordinates.

  2.    Installing the software

·        Double click the folder called DNR Garmin software then

·        Double click on the icon called DNR Garmin and follow the wizard and click finish button

              3.  Starting DNR Garmin software

When you finish the installation, the DNR Garmin icon will appear on your desktop.

1.      Click on the DNR Garmin icon from the desktop

2.     The following window will appear on your desktop

 3.    Setting the port

If a serial port connection is being used, DNR Garmin will prompt you to retry to find a USBconnection. Cancel this prompt.

  

The default port during installation is serial/COM port. But if you are using the USP port you have to set the communication port to USP.

To set port:

1.      Click on GPS

2.     Click on Set port

3.     If you are using a USB cable, select USB or If you are using a Serial/COM cable select one of the COM ports.

4.    Click on Open port /This is not always/

N.B Inactive ports are grayed out.

4. Set Projection

      i.        Click File

     ii.        Click Set Projection

3. The Properties dialog box will appear with several tabs. Select the “Projection” tab. Here you are al‐ lowed to choose from a wide range of datum/ projections< from the pull‐down menu under “Datums/Projections,” that your GPS data will be projected to once downloaded to DNR Garmin. Once a projection is selected, click “OK.” -- change the datum in ‘WGS 84’

    iv.        Choose ‘UTM Zone 37 N’

     v.        Leave the rest option as it is and click ‘OK’

Or type 32637 under POSC code and press enter key

NB: POSC (petrotechnical open standards consortium are unique codes assigned to specific projection

5.     Check connection to DNRGarmin

Connect your GPS receiver to the computer using the data cable provided with your GPS
receiver. Make sure that your GPS receiver is turned on automatically /manually depends on the type of GPS unit used.

DNR Garmin will also list the type of Garmin unit you are using and the projection that your data will projected into once downloaded.

      

Your GPS should now be properly communicating with your PC through the DNR Garmin Software

DNRGarmin’s status bar should indicate “Connected”, as above. If it doesn’t, check these items:

        i.        Click GPS – Set Port. Typical port choices include USB (a USB port) or Port 1 (a serial port).

       ii.        Click GPS – Set Baud Rate. Garmin’s default baud rate is 9600.

      iii.        If using a serial connection, confirm that the receiver’s protocol (on the receiver’s Interface Setup page) is set to Garmin, and not to NMEA.

      iv.        Try to determine if the Garmin USB driver was installed successfully

        i.        If you have not properly connected your GPS unit or the unit is not turned on, the following message will appear:

                     ii.        Correct the problem. Then restart the DNR Garmin software:

Or if still not solved : Install << USBDrivers_23>>

   Then restart the DNR Garmin software:

5.  Download data from the GPS

Always note in the lower left-hand corner of the window that the software is ‘Connected’ to you GPS unit and you have the right projection.

There are basically 2 steps to downloading data from your GPS into the PC:

A)   Unfortunately, DNR Garmin does not allow you to download more than one type of data at the same time. You must download waypoints, track points, and routes individually. However, the same method is used. Depending on which type of data you have, you go to the corresponding menu (<Waypoint>, <Track>, or <Route>) and then <Download>. DNR Garmin will automatically download the selected type of data and will display the data as shown below.

       Review of terms:

A)   Waypoints: These are “virtual points” or marks that you have saved in individually. Waypoints can be assigned customized names (the GPS receiver assigns them numerical names [001, 002] by de‐ fault).

B)    Tracks: Tracks are a previous path of travel. Basically, you turn on your GPS receiver, and it will start to “map your movements”. Trackpoints are individual points that are used to create a track (if you connect these points, with a line, you would have a track)

C)   Routes: A route is a “path to a destination with intermediate stops along the way”. The “stops” along the way are defined by Waypoints.

       

·         The points (or tracks if you use the Track Menu) from the GPS unit will download and a dialog box will pop up telling you how many records were downloaded.

B)    In some GPS you cannot directly download data from your GPS. Therefore:

1.      Click File

2.     Click on Load From

3.     Click on file  /New window will appear

4.    Choose the GPS exchange Format form File of Type box

5.     Double Click Garmin GPSMap 62 from My computer, and Double click on Garmin Folder the double click on GPX folder and choose the file you want to download.

Create a polygon feature from waypoints: Waypoints can be converted into track points, a series of track points are equivalent to a track segment, and a track segment can be converted into a polygon (or line) GIS feature.

1. Download GPS waypoints.
2. Click the Track radio button, and notice that each waypoint record has been converted to a track record.
3. Click File – Save To – ArcMap – Shapefile Layer…. Be sure to select ArcView projected
shapefile and specify the shape type as Polygon

6.   Save data to a file

You can save the data that you have collected on your GPS receiver directly to a “GIS readable” file (i.e. shape file) or to other formats! Make sure the data that you want to save (i.e. Waypoints, Tracks, etc.) is “visible” and no selection unless necessary.

At this point, you will be prompted
1. Where to save the file,
2. What name you want to call the file, and
3. What file type you want the file to be.

                                          i.    Click on Save To

                                         ii.    Click on File

                                       iii.    On the new window that appear on the desktop, select the destination folder

                                        iv.    Enter a <Filename>

1. 2. Under the <Save As Type>, option, choose either:

i.      To save in a GIS compatible format

·     ArcView Shapefile (Projected)(*.shp)‐ this option saves data directly to a GIS‐compatible shapefile according to the user‐defined projection.

·     ArcView Shapefile (Unprojected)(*.shp)‐ this option saves data directly to a GIS‐compatible shapefile as well, but according to the unprojected coordinates directly from the GPS unit.

ii.      To save in an open source, common format,

·     Under the <Save As Type>, option, choose

·     GPS eXhange Format (*.gpx)‐ this option enables you to share your GPS file with other GPS users (& GPS receivers).

iii.      Visualize your GPS data in Google Earth

·     Under the <Save As Type>, option, choose

·     Google Earth Format (*.kml) ‐ this option allows you to display and share your data with others on Google Earth.

iv.      Save as a text file & bring your data into other software programs (Excel, etc.)

6.1 Save only the portion of waypoints

·        If, however, you do not want to transfer all of the Waypoints into ArcGIS (for example, because someone else previously collected points and you did not delete them when you started collecting your points), then you can select the unwanted points within the DNR Garmin window by clicking the number on the left side of the screen and then using the Delete button on the far left side of the screen.

6.2 Save tracks

The procedures described above are for downloading Waypoints from a GPS unit and saving them in a format that can be used with ArcGIS is the same procedure for downloading and saving Tracks, with one exception.

The exception to the procedures is that when you save the shapefile for Tracks data you will be prompted to determine what type of data you want to store

·        Normally, you will want to store Tracks as a Line (which is the default value). You can, however, store tracks as Points or Polygons if you so desire.

7.    Setting Up Your Data Table

·        One feature of DNR Garmin is that it allows you to choose what fields you would like to have in your data table once it has been saved. To do this,

·        access DNR Garmin’s Property dialog box

·        Go to the tab that is related to the type of data you are working with (e.g. tracks).

·        Under “Fields to Use” is your list of fields for your data. You can uncheck/check any combination of fields that you want, or just choose to leave all fields checked. The checked fields will be the fields in your attribute table and database once you have saved the data.

·        Note: Some fields, such as x and y coordinate fields are required by DNR Garmin and cannot be unchecked...you will be prompted with a message telling you if it is required though.

8.   Create a polygon feature from a combination of a track segment and waypoints

In this exercise, you’ll create a polygon GIS feature from a combination of waypoints and the meandering track segment.

        i.    Make each Track field visible by clicking Track – Track Properties…, and placing a check mark in each box.

       ii.    Download GPS waypoints.

     iii.    Click the Track radio button to convert the waypoints to track points.

      iv.    Select the ordered track points using the Click and Shift – Click method, and Copy them to DNRGarmin’s clipboard .

       v.    Download GPS track logs.

      vi.    Add empty track records to the end of DNRGarmin’s table by clicking the Add Record button , once for each of the clipboard’s track points.

    vii.    Click in the far left cell of the first added (empty) record, and click Paste .

   viii.    Change the first added record’s new_seg value from True to False.

      ix.    Click File – Save To – ArcMap – Shapefile Layer…. Be sure to select ArcView projected shapefile and specify the shape type as Polygon.

 Thanks