In reply to Howard Beverly's suggestion for a surveying/GPS training
session at the next SHA meeting:  Howard (and others) might be pleased to
know that we  have recently talked with some folks about presenting such a
workshop in Mobile.  The details of hands-on mapping/training in a field
situation versus a more general overview type of presentation in the
conference hotel have not been worked out, but we are hoping for a mix of
the two.  Any suggestions are welcome, please send to Kim McBride at
[log in to unmask] Thanks.

Kim and Steve McBride, SHA Continuing Education Coordinators



>There are the Community Base Stations (CBS) that already serves this
>purpose.  Most are free and there are others that offer a subscription.  Go
>here http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/links/gps_servers.html#base%20stations and
>here http://www.trimble.com/trs/trslist.htm for links to some of the CBS
>available.
>
>
>Suggestion, how about a Surveying/GPS training session at the next SHA
>meeting?
>
>
>Howard Beverly
>GIS Analyst
>Archaeologist
>System Administrator
>Wilbur Smith Associates
>Lexington, Kentucky
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
>> Daniel H. Weiskotten
>> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 1:16 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: GPS
>>
>>
>> Heather wrote:
>> >Perhaps each of you with concerns regarding coordinate accuracy
>> have already
>> >considered this option, but have you thought about using a total station?
>> >Their accuracy cannot be beaten and while they are not as convenient as
>> >handheld GPSes, their accuracy would be worth it for those concerned with
>> >its compromise in using a GPS.
>>
>>
>> What someone needs to invent is a system in which the numerous USGS datum
>> points scattered across this continent are used as stations from which a
>> portable hand-held instrument is used to record field data, rather than
>> some satelite some whatever miles away.  Oh, wait, they already have!
>>         Seriously, though, with all this wonder of having
>> accuracy within 50
>> meters thrills some of us, it is telling the rest of us, who are used to
>> dealing with mere centimeters, that we have no use of such far out
>> "precision."  Is there any sort of system that could be available in which
>> transmitters are placed at three USGS points (at three obtuse
>> points from a
>> site) and then readings are taken from the site.  Each transmitter will
>> give a very divergent reading rather than trying to calculate angles and
>> distances that vary no more than a few degrees.  Any surveyor worth his
>> salt would tell you that putting your reference points in a tight pattern
>> or too far away will give you imprecise or rough results.
>>         It reminds me of an archaeologist that I worked with a
>> while ago who
>> placed their transit up on the edge of the field over 500 feet from the
>> site, shot back at several hundred piece-plots of an artifact
>> scatter, then
>> expected useful results.  The difference in a single minute of
>> angle can be
>> many many feet in a long shot like that and there isn't an instrument made
>> that can reliably provide that type of accuaracy.  That is why we will
>> continue to use the more "manual" proceeduress to assure accuracy in our
>> recording and that is why we need trained people in the field who know how
>> to survey properly and get the right results.  This technology is truly a
>> wonderful thing, but if we have no idea of how to use it properly
>> it can be
>> dangerous to what we are trying to do.
>>         I'm sticking with the Theodolite or EDM.  (What we really
>> need are more
>> archaeologists who have had a few full-fledged courses in
>> surveying - it is
>> not something you learn in a 6 week field school - learn the concepts not
>> just the proceedures.)  (I'm also not saying that GPS does not have its
>> place in archaeology, for it does, just make sure it is suited for the
>> purpose and used in the right circumstances) (oh, and I reserve a cut in
>> any profits from the development of such a system using transmitters at
>> USGS points, lord knows that archaeology doesn't pay, so I gotta
>> make money
>> somehow)

Kim McBride, Ph.D., Co-Director
Kentucky Archaeological Survey
1020A Export Street, Univ. of Kentucky
Lexington, KY  40506-9854
phone: 859-257-5173 office, 859-233-4690 home
fax: 859-323-1968
email: [log in to unmask]