CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
Search Results
Author : Fenton, M.M; Waters, E.J.; Weiss, J.A.; Pawlowicz, J.G.; and Campbell, J.E.
Date : 2001.
Title : Use of Palm IIIs to collect quaternary field data.
Publication : St. John's 2001. Geological Association of Canada - Mineralogical Association of Canada 2001 Joint Annual Meeting / l'Association géologique du Canada - l'Association minéralogique du Canada réunion annuelle conjointe. Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, May 27-30 2001.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
A major efforts of the Quaternary group at the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) is the continued development of digital systems for field sampling and mapping, to be in keeping with Survey plans to move toward a digital database approach to storing, analyzing and distributing geologic information. This group is utilizing advances in data management and communications technology, including the internet, to make our geological information more readily and rapidly available. One problem has always been to quickly and efficiently transform data, collected during the Quaternary mapping into digital form. Over the past three year trials have been run using various other devices, including the Newton (with Field Worker software) and the Zarus. Primary problem was the inability to get a cheap, compact and easily programmable and customizable tool into the hands of the field geologist. This presentation will outline our use of the Palm to collect field data and quickly move it into an easily distributable medium. A related Poster Session provides additional information and a demonstration. The mapping team successfully used Palm IIIxe hand held computers to collect most of its field data during the 2000 field season. Software available from Pendragon Software Corp. was used to deploy data collection forms to the handhelds. Reasons for selecting the Palm/ Pendragon Forms system include obsolescence of existing tools, low cost of the Palms and a high degree of ease and flexibility in designing and using the new system. Each evening the days data were transferred to an Access database and relevant files updated in ArcView. Users were trained to operate the Palm system in the field in about a day, and had relatively few difficulties learning the tool. Scheduling time for the programmer to participate in the first few days of fieldwork proved of great benefit, both for hands-on training "under field conditions" for the geologists and in refining the various data input forms to make them more efficient and easier to use. Immediate benefits of the Palm include; time (overtime) saved during evening data transfer, up to date field maps each morning, and having the digital field notes, sample site maps and database available when we returned to the office. AGS plans to continue developing its digital systems for field sampling and mapping, including expansion of the types of data collected with the Palm.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology