Magellan MobileMapper 6 GPS – Part 1

SED recently bought a Magellan MobileMapper 6 handheld.  It collects data with 2-5m real time accuracy, which can be improved to 1-2m with post-processing. The other day I tested it in the Peak District, under pretty ideal conditions, and with post-processing I got accuracy well below 1m.  I am very impressed by the GPS positioning accuracy and also by the ease of use of the device, I think it is ideal for the occasional professional user!

The MobileMapper 6  can be borrowed by staff and students. Here are some basic instructions on how to use it:

Part1: Before you go into the field

Get the Magellan MobileMapper 6

Contact geography lab staff to borrow the Magellan. There is quite some demand, so plan well ahead.

Switch on and off

Switch the unit on by pressing the power key on the top right. After a few seconds it displays the Start Screen.

To switch the unit off, hold the power key until the display clears.  When you switch it off your data will be preserved.

Batteries

Check the battery status on the top right of the screen. A brindled battery symbol indicates full batteries; a hollow symbol indicates empty batteries. Tap the symbol with the stylus for a detailed battery status.

Always take spare batteries. The unit operates on two AA batteries. Full batteries should last for about a day of continuous operation. Use rechargeable batteries if possible, these do not last as long as disposable ones but are less harmful to the environment.  Changing batteries does not delete your data.

To change batteries:

1. Switch the unit off.
2. On the back of the unit, lift the D-ring, turn it 1/4 turn counter clockwise, and then pull the battery cover away.
3. Change the batteries, observing proper polarity.
4. Reinstall the battery cover.
5. Recycle empty batteries.

Prepare your data

With the MobileMapper you can not only determine your location, but you also can create and edit GIS data in the field.

1. You probably already have some GIS data, like OS Mastermap data for a basemap. We assume this data is in a designated folder, say C:\dissertation\GIS.
2. You probably also have one or more datasets that you want to update in the field, e.g. sample site locations.  If you don’t have such a dataset yet, create a Shapefile in ArcCatalog with all required attributes, e.g. samplesites.shp.
3. Identify all datasets that you need to take into the field, e.g.  your sample sites dataset, aerial photography, OS base maps, etc.
4. All your data has to have the same spatial reference system, e.g. British National Grid. Use ArcCatalog to check. If the spatial reference systems vary, project all data into a common system.
5. All vector data has to be in Shapefile format, rasters in GeoTIFF format. If it is is different formats, convert your vector data to Shapefile and rasters to GeoTIFF.

Load data onto the Magellan

• If your PC/Laptop has an SD Card reader, just take the SD card out of the Magellan and put it into your PC. Then create a folder with your name on the card, e.g. karl, and copy your data from C:\dissertation\GIS into the folder karl. Finally, put the card back into the GPS.
• If your PC/Laptop does not have an SD Card reader:
  1. On Windows XP install Microsoft Active Sync,  on Vista install Windows Mobile Device Center . The following steps assume XP.
  2. Connect the Magellan to your PC with the USB cable and switch it on.
  3. In the Active Sync Window click Explore. In the explorer window open My Windows Based Mobile Device > Storage Card
  4. Create a folder with your name, e.g. karl.
  5. Copy your Shapefiles and GeoTIFFs into the folder karl.
  6. Switch the Magellan off.

Please only transfer your data, but do not install or uninstall any software applications on the MobileMapper!

Create a map for your fieldwork

1. You should have a GPS signal for the following, so take the MobileMapper outside. When it gets a sufficient GPS signal it displays your location as a small arrow.
2. Tap Start > Mobile Mapping. A blank map canvas appears.
3. Tap Menu > New to create a new map. Set:
   1. Name: <YourName><date>, e.g. karl260609 (Tap the keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen to show and hide the keyboard.)
   2. Location: Storage Card
   3. Folder: <YourName>, e.g. karl
   4. Tap Save. This places the map into your folder on the storage card.
4. In the next screen add map layers:
   1. You already copied your existing data onto the storage card, so tap Select an existing layer.
      1. Select Folder: <YourName>, e.g. karl
      2. Select the file type (Shape or GeoTIFF)
      3. Select the layer to add from the list.
      4. Specify a display symbol for the layer. Depending on the type of layer you have various options:  for point layers you can set a symbol, for line layers a color and width, and for polygon layers you can set a color and fill pattern.  Tap OK.
      5. Add layers until your map is ready. Note that although you loaded layers containing data, the MobileMapper may not display them, this is because you either don’t have a GPS signal, or in the case of raster layers, because the MobileMapper displays rasters only at an adequate zoom level.

Navigate the map

• Pan the map by taping into the canvas and pulling it in the desired direction
• Tap Menu > Zoom In and Zoom Out
• Tap Menu > Layers and set layers visible/hidden
• Tap Menu > Go To to zoom to a specific item, based on it’s attribute values
• Tap Menu > GPS > Status
• Tap Menu > Exit to exit the Mobile Mapping software. Note that your map is saved automatically. The next time you start the mapping software it will automatically load the latest map.

Check device settings

Check the following settings and potentially adapt them to your requirements:

• On the MobileMapper tap Start > Mobile Mapping
• In the Mobile Mapping software, tap Menu > Options. You get various tabs:
  • In the Logging tab:
    • For logging points, set the time during which the receiver will average the GPS signal. The longer this time the more accurate the reading, but you must not move the device while a point feature is being logged. Usually 10 seconds is reasonable.
    • For line and area logging: set how often you want a vertex of the line to be taken, based on time (every 5 seconds) or distance (every 5m), or manually.
  • In the DGPS tab: make sure SBAS is activated.
  • In the Raw Data tab: if you are going to post-process your data back in the office to increase accuracy, make sure raw data recording is activated and set the location to Memory Card.

When you are finished, exit the mapping software (Menu > Exit).

That’s it!

You should switch the device off when it is not in use. If you leave it on, the screen goes dark after a few minutes, but it continues consuming battery power.

If you need more detailed guidance on the device see Magellan’s Getting Started Guide, for details on using the mapping software see the Mobile Mapping Software Guide.

In part 2 we will guide you through using the Mobile Mapper in the field. Continue to part 2