Reporting GPS Information

This streamlined template (on the back) should be considered for inclusion with your reporting forms.  This could be used for all locations including accidents, incidents, monitoring stations, home bases, etc…  This initiative should be part of safety training and emergency plans (guidelines and procedures).

Why?

The availability of GPS units promotes a standard to ensure the ease of transferring and communicating information to others. 

Recommended Standards

·        WGS 84 is the international map datum standard as defined by GPS.  GPS units should be used with this setting.  The exception is when using a topographical map for location, the map datum on the map (usually NAD 27 or NAD 83) should be utilized by the GPS unit.

·        Latitude and longitude are extensively used to define locations (all locations in North America will be North  – latitude and West – longitude, with degrees (°) and decimal minutes (‘). For example proper reporting N 46° 17.870’ and W 78° 52.567’.   And

·        Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) based on the metric, grid system.  These co-ordinates are easily located on a grid.  Using eastings (vertical lines, 6 digits) and northings (horizontal lines, 7 digits).  For example proper reporting E 663576 and N 5129113.  Including the UTM zone 17 T (referring to one of the 60, vertical  zones across the world – the letter refers to the horizontal bands in each vertical zone.   These numbers are in metres.

·        Map bases.   Recommended and easily available, 1:50 000 scale topographical maps (digital and paper) as created by Natural Resources Canada.

·        Other.  This refers to additional quantitative and qualitative, descriptive information, such as direction (using magnetic north to avoid declination confusion), distance (km), landmarks from the map, the map being used.  This may involve the destination “to” (location of a incident, accident, base etc…) and the “origin” (home base, trailhead, airport…a location “from…” More details, provides for a better description of the location.   This will help in time and access requirements.    For example the location is 2.5 km, 45° northeast of the La Cave Dam, there are steep hills in the area…

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