usfsgpsdatastandardforgis.docVIP

DRAFT GPS Data Standard for GIS US Forest Service July 15, 2002 The GPS Data Standard for GIS consists of the following sections. Section 1: Introduction Section 2: GPS Accuracy Testing Guidelines Section 3: Table of Tested GPS Accuracy Section 4: GPS Accuracy Reporting and Metadata References Appendices 1-5 Section 1: Introduction The GPS Data Standard provides direction on matching GPS equipment and field procedures to the various GIS accuracy requirements of the agency. The Standard is intended to provide agency direction for testing and reporting GPS accuracy in a consistent and statistically meaningful way. The Standard is based on a review of past agency and federal accuracy standards with the intent of providing direction that is consistent with current federal standards. The GPS Data Standard does not define threshold accuracy values nor define the minimum accuracy required for a given data theme or application. The data steward or application manager is responsible for deciding the accuracy values that are acceptable on a theme-by-theme basis. The GPS Data Standard provides GPS Accuracy Testing Guidelines (Section 2) for consistent and repeatable testing and accuracy reporting. The test procedures will be used by the Forest Service to test and report the accuracy of GPS equipment and/or procedures at designated GPS test networks. The results will be published in a Table of Tested GPS Accuracies (Section 3) that lists tested accuracies under various canopy conditions. GPS users can use this Table to select the GPS equipment and field procedures that meet the accuracy requirements set by the data steward. This Table also allows the reporting of “expected accuracy” of GPS data for projects that use similar equipment, field procedures, and have similar canopy conditions, thus eliminating the need for costly testing of each data set. When data is logged using untested GPS equipment, procedures or canopy conditions, users should test their own da