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
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> -----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)