Abstract

Picture This! Construction and GPS Photos
Track: Tribal/Indigenous GIS programs
Authors: John Janzen

What began as a rather simple solution for capturing utility locations with a GPS unit has evolved into a highly useful supplement to as-built data. Like many communities and municipalities around the country, the Ak-Chin Indian Community frequently had difficulty locating underground utilities. Utilizing the locating services of the different local utilities, GPS points could be collected and accurately depict the positions within the Community's GIS database.
With the start of construction on a multi-million dollar waste-water treatment plant, the GIS Office jumped at the opportunity to gather this information while trenches were open. A newly acquired GPS camera provides additional perspective not available with any previous as-built information.
This presentation will describe how these photographs have changed the way Ak-Chin approaches construction projects. Topics covered will be non-technical and deal with the equipment used, processing and attributing of the photos, and making them available to non-GIS users.