ITC conducts short courses on Global Position Systems
By Jenna Smith
For more information regarding this subject, contact:
Eric Leigh
(956) 968-5581
e-leigh@tamu.edu
Extension specialists conducted two beginners’ Global Position Systems (GPS) short courses April 27 and 28 at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. The course, Introduction to Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Surveying, covered GPS fundamentals, demonstrated surveying techniques and provided hands-on training with Trimble 5700 GPS Total Station equipment for mapping and surveying.
"We wanted to give the irrigation district personnel and other participants the opportunity to evaluate GPS technology and learn innovative ways for GPS to serve them," said Eric Leigh, extension associate with Texas Cooperative Extension.
GPS technology can measure, with centimeter-level precision, a given position on the earth’s surface. Thus, location (x,y) and elevation (z) data can be quickly and accurately collected for use by mapping and design software packages, such as CAD and GIS programs.
Leigh said that participants gained a basic knowledge of the use and capabilities of a survey-grade GPS unit and many benefits of GPS technology in daily operations.
This course was presented by the Irrigation Technology Center with support from the Rio Grande Basin Initiative.
