Field Activity 8: Final Land Navigation

Introduction
This was the final activity in a large span of navigation activities. We began this learning experience by creating topographic maps of our study area. After this, we proceeded to learn how to navigate using the topographic map and a compass, and finally with a GPS unit. During this activity, we were to navigate to every single checkpoint on the property (15 points total), using a GPS and our maps with each checkpoint plotted. To add to the fun, each participant got an extra piece of equipment: a paintball gun. Throughout the activity we had to avoid being ambushed by other teams (or try to attack other teams), all while navigating to the checkpoints.

Study Area
For each of these activities, the class met at the University's Priory. This property is off campus and is on a 112 acre plot of forested land, perfect for navigation activities. While this location was perfect to learn these navigation techniques, it is also home to the University's Children's Center. Because we were outfitted with a paintball gun and a full face mask, we had to be careful where we navigated during the activity. Even though all the necessary authorities were notified of this activity, we did not wish to start any panic or cause any concern. Our professor stressed how important it was to avoid any areas within sight of the priory during the activity. He also advised us to stay clear of areas within sight of the highway to the north of priory, and the house to the southeast (See Figure 1 for restricted zones). With all of this in mind, as well as the massive amounts of snow on the ground, it was quite a terrain to navigate.




Figure 1: Highlighted areas were the restricted zones during this activity

Methodology
Throughout this activity, we used skills that we had learned from the previous three weeks of field activities. We used navigation techniques learned from prior activities to navigate the terrain for one last time, this time trying to locate each checkpoint. For starters, we used the same map that we had made in the first navigation exersize, though it was slightly modified. This time we had to deal with restricted zones, but we also had the locations of each checkpoint on our map (Figure 2).



Figure 2: Our Starting Map

Just by looking at the map, it is easy to tell that each team would have a lot of ground to cover. After preparing for the trek (familiarizing ourselves with the paintball guns and the masks), we met up with our teams to try and come up with a strategy. Each participant used a tracklog feature on their GPS to track their navigation route once the activity was complete. Looking at Figure 2 for reference, each team started at point 1A. Our team decided to avoid traffic by going to point 6b first and then navigating around the priory to complete the course in a counter-clockwise direction. However, we were not the only team to come up with this plan. Our professor instructed us to wait 5 minutes before we could open fire, so we got to the first point with no conflict. However, after reaching that point our team lost our map so we negotiated with another team and began to work together. We then navigated by using our GPS units and our map. The basic navigation technique that we used was just looking at the lay of the land and comparing that with the topographic map to find each point. Once we were certain that we were close, we utilized the GPS units to compare more exact coordinates with the points on the map. At each checkpoint, we took a waypoint with our GPS units to mark that we had successfully navigated to that checkpoint. Figure 3 shows our teams route, as well as the waypoints at each checkpoint that we successfully navigated to. Figure 4 shows my individual tracklog, and Figure 5 shows the tracklogs of the entire class.

 

 

 

Figure 3: Team Tracklog

Figure 4: My Tracklog. As can be seen in the image, my GPS had some PDOP issues

because sometimes the points of the tracklog weren't quite accurate.

 

Figure 5: The tracklog of the entire class. Several different routes can be seen,

though they all seem to make the same loop.

 

Discussion
Throughout the activity, our team encountered several problems. The first and most significant problem was the loss of our map after reaching our first point. Without a map to use, we would have been quite hopeless. The map was so important because it marked where each point was, and it had a coordinate grid as well. With nothing but a GPS unit, we would have been clueless as to where to navigate. Luckily, another team agreed to help, and we continued the activity together. Not long after this, as we were navigating from point 2B to 6, we ran into another group and got into a firefight. Other than this, we ran into few other groups. Another big problem that occurred was that we were in a crunch for time towards the end of the navigation. As we navigated from point 3a to 3, we realized that there wasn't much time left. For some reason, we had trouble finding point 3 as well, so this didn't add to the situation. In the end, we decided to take a waypoint because we knew that we were quite close (this is why there is a waypoint between 3 and 2a in Figure 3). We then traveled to point 2a and then back to 1A just to find out that we still had a couple minute, and probably could have still made it to the remaining two points. I think that we relied too heavily on the map and didn't use the coordinate grid and GPS coordinates to their full potential. Also, if we had brought along the exact coordinates of the checkpoints, it would have been much easier to compare to the GPS location and we could have navigated more accurately.

Conclusion
Overall, I thought that this was a fun activity to be a part of. The addition of the paintball guns transformed the activity entirely. Not only were our navigational skills required, but we also had to stay alert for other teams that may cross our path. It added a little excitement, and I think the bruises and paint splatters that were compared afterwards can attest to that fact.