Advice & information on using geographical information for fieldwork.

Fieldworkers use many conventional survey and recording techniques. They can also benefit from technologies, such as: 

  GPS (global positioning system) to record positions and to navigate
  remote sensing provides environmental information
  GIS (geographic information systems) to record, process and display all kinds of spatial data

The uses of GIS range from:
  logistics (planning navigation, communication etc.)
  to research (vegetation change, field patterns, animal distributions etc.)
  and conservation applications (predicting biodiversity, park zonation, impact assessment, etc.).

The Expedition Mapping Unit exists to share expertise in these techniques.

Those involved in expeditions or fieldwork are welcome to contact us.

The emphasis is on low-cost, reliable, and relatively simple approaches, appropriate for most non-profit research and conservation endeavours.

The Unit is run by Nicholas McWilliam (Anglia Polytchnic University) and Richard Teeuw (University of Portsmouth) among others.

Other resources:

  Expedition Field Techniques: GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing Manual (N. McWilliam, R. Teeuw, M. Whiteside & P. Zukowskyj. RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre, 2005).
The Mapping Unit compiled this manual to provide details of fieldwork techniques, from ‘traditional’ compass-based surveying, through to the use of GIS to show GPS-located sites on satellite images displayed on a laptop screen in diverse places.

The manual illustrates how GIS can help with different aspects of fieldwork projects, for example, logistics, research, monitoring, conservation applications, technology transfer and education.

  GIS training for expeditions & fieldwork
This course is run in March annually.
The Unit runs a three-day hands-on workshop for those keen to get practical experience of using these technologies for fieldwork.

  Google Earth training for teachers and educators
Courses for both beginners and more advanced users are offered on a regular basis
These practical workshops show teachers and expedition organisers how to create virtual fieldwork using Google Earth.

Participants get hands-on experience with digital cameras and GPS units, creating mini-fieldwork projects, and transformed data into a Google Earth virtual journey.

For more details please see the link on the right.

  t4cd
This website provides an exciting new resource for the conservation community. It explores the links between technology, wildlife conservation and development. See the link on the right to find out more.