Which accurate rugged GPS device for surveying is good?

[Daniish]

Hello,

I'm headed to Africa later this year where i'm hoping to do some asset surveying for a English charity that operates in Malawi.

Since i also work in the GIS industry, i think it would be a good investment to buy an accurate GPS device so that i can start collecting my own data. While i'd like to have DGPS, but cost is big factor so i'd like to hear your views on the best options out there.

Rugged/Waterproof with good viewing in bright sunlight distinct advantages.

To give you an idea, at present i'm considering:
http://pro.magellangps.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=1293


Many thanks

[robertn]

I don't know the unit, but Magellan have been making outdoor GPS systems for years. On paper it looks perfect for the job, and no consumer level GPS will give measurably more accurate results.

How accurate do you really have to be. One option (with software support) is to log for a long time - hours if required, and average the reported GPS positions. Not survey quality, but almost certainly sub 1
metre.

So if sub 1 to 2 meter accuracy is OK and it's not mission/life critical, consumer products will be fine, otherwise, go for survey quality (And price). This seems to be a bit in between.

I like that it runs of AA batteries - in the back blocks of Africa (or London), you can always find a pack of AA's. It's often harder to find a power socket, charger and cable, all with matching plugs and sockets and voltages.

[Prodnose]

Just to add a few additional comments to those of Robertn.
The accuracy of the device will be the same as for other consumer handheld devices. This will be +- 15 metres although most reading will be better than that. The 2-5 metres which they quote is for SBAS. You are very unlikely to have SBAS data for Africa. I have done a fair amount of work, purely out of interest, on improving accuracy by averaging. One needs a time period of about 24 hours. I get reproducibility of slightly better than 1 metre.
Make your choice on the features offered. As far as viewing in bright light is concerned, many basic units use reflective displays where the contrast can be adjusted to suit the conditions. Of course, you can't view the display in dark so you will need a GPS with a backlight or use a torch.

[Skippy]

Looks like a nice unit. Basically a rugged Windows Mobile PDA with a GPS receiver.

Not sure what the price is but bear in mind that you could get yourself a mobile phone with Windows Mobile 6 and GPS which would do a similar job. It wouldn't be as durable though and this is going to be important in rough conditions.

As Prodnose says - it's just a SiRFstar III chipset so the accuracy won't be any better or worse than the vast majority of consumer GPS units on the market and there ain't no SBAS in Africa!

Have a look at the Garmin units too, they do some very nice outdoors GPS units.

Good luck!
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