The GPS Kit

The Vanderbilt Library lends a Garmin GPSmap 76CSx to faculty, staff, and students from the Peabody Library. The Unit contains a base layer with interstates, major streets, and water bodies for navigational use and is WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) enabled for 3 to 5 meter accuracy. The points and tracks you collect with the unit can be imported into Google Maps, Google Earth, ArcMap, and other mapping and GIS applications for farther analysis and display capabilities. The kit lent by the library also contains a carrying case, extra batteries, a data cable, the user manual and a quick reference guide to the unit.

Saving Your Data

Software for downloading data from the GPS unit (Easy GPS and DNR Garmin) is available on computers 'H' and 'I' in the Peaboy Library Learning Commons, room 304. Data can be exported to text, gpx, or shapefile formats. The software is also available free online (See Reccomended links, below).

The Circulation Policy

    ~ The unit circulates for five days and can be renewed once per check out.
    ~ The unit is available to faculty, staff, and students of Vanderbilt University.
    ~ A 15 minute orientation is required prior to first time checkout.
    ~ Overdue fees for the unit are 50 cents/hour.
    ~ The maximum overdue and/or replacement fee is $400.

Recomended GPS Links and Tools

Easy GPS
Easy GPS is a freeware download for importing points and tracks collected by the unit to your computer.
http://www.easygps.com

GPS Visualizer
GPS Vizualiser.com is a website that reads your GPS data file and interprets and imports it into a usable format such as Google maps or Google Earth.
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com

DNR Garmin (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
DNR Garmin is a freeware download for converting Garmin GPS data to shapefile format for use with GIS software such as ArcView.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html

Garmin GPSmap 76CSx
Owners Maunal
http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/GPSMAP76CSx_OwnersManual.pdf

Quick Reference Guide
http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/GPSMAP76CSx_QuickReferenceGuide.pdf

Geocaching
Fun for all ages - GPS aided scavenger hunts.
http://www.geocaching.com/