SRDI Training Instructions Map and Compass

Transcription

1 The purpose of this instruction is to standardize the training for all SRDI personnel for using map & compass, and establishes the minimum level of proficiency for each SRDI member. 1. Introduction: Map, compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) skills are essential for SRDI Full and Candidate Members. In this training, we will be working with Map & Compass training only. SRDI works with multiple component groups, sheriff's departments, in and out of Arizona. In this day and age, with the advanced technology now available, GPS is the prime source of location information used by rescue teams. The problem with using GPS units alone, there are no visible features, just a bunch of numbers. You need a map to place these numbers on to make sense. SRDI has chosen the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system as it's mapping coordinate system. Example: I'm lost and call Search & Rescue; I have a GPS and give the following coordinates as to my location (Easting: 12S ) & (Northing: ), where am I? You have no idea. At the end of this course, with the map (Mt. Lemmon - Marshall Gulch) and the UTM Grid Tool provided, you will be able to: 1) Locate the patient. 2) Know the area your going into. 3) Know what equipment is needed. 4) Know the number of personnel required and the personnel skills required. 5) Know the approximate time required to reach the patient. 6) Depending on the reported patient condition, know the method of evacuation. 7) Locate your position on the map or supply your position to other rescue members. 8) Locate other SRDI / Rescue teams that are in the field on the map. 2. Magnetic Compass: There are three uses for a magnetic compass in SRDI: Caution, as the name says, magnetic compass. This means that anything metal near the compass will affect the accuracy of the compass. Do not use a compass on the hood of a vehicle; be careful if you are wearing a ring or watch. Note: a one degree error in heading will cause a 92 foot error at a distance of one mile, therefore for SRDI purposes, only an orienteering style compass will be used. a) Orientating a Map: 1) When using a map in the outdoors, it would be virtually impossible to navigate the area without orientating the map. Orientating the map means, setting the map so it is a true representation of the area around you, North is North, South is South, etc. SRDI Training Map & Compass Page 1 of 5 Revised 01/30/2003

2 2) How To Orientate a Map: Using the map provided. (Mt. Lemmon - Marshall Gulch), locate the True North (TN) / Magnetic North (MN) tool at the bottom left corner of the map. Under the (MN) there is a number Eleven and a half degrees (11½ ); this is the magnetic declination for this map. Magnetic declination is defined as: The difference in degrees between the bearing of the compass needle and the bearing of true north is called variation, or declination. Declination in many parts of the world has been measured, and charts have been prepared that show by connected points of equal declination, or isogonic lines, the approximate east or west declination for any area. On such charts, the line of no declination, along which the compass points true north, is called an agonic line. 3) Set your compass to 0, subtract the 11½ of declination. (Turn your compass dial clockwise eleven and a half degrees, it should now read 349 ½. Lay the compass against the left most edge of the map, making sure it's straight. Without touching the compass, turn the map till the North arrow of the compass line up with zero (0) on your compass dial, your map is now orientated. Tape your map down. b) To acquire a heading for map use or travel: Once the map in orientated it is ready for use. Let's say you're at the cross section of the four trails at Marshall Saddle and you need to go to the gaging station in Sabino Canyon below Marshall Gulch. Place a straight edge between the two locations and hold it in place, lay the compass with the heading indicator (long end) toward the direction you wish to travel against the straight edge and rotate the compass dial to line up with the north needle. You can now read the intended heading at the intersection of the compass dial and the heading indicator mark. (109 degrees) c) To get a general sense of direction: Which way are you heading, North, South, East or West? 3. Maps: There are many types of maps you will have to use as a SRDI member, road maps, recreation maps, forest service, etc. The following two are required as the minimum field skills proficiency standard: a) Map - 1: 62,500 scale: This means that for every one inch on the map, it is actually 62,500 inches on the earth. Being that a mile is equal to 63,360 inches, it is close enough to consider every inch on this scale map is equal to one mile. This is a small-scale map; it shows a large area, but not much detail. This scale map is sometimes referred to as a hiking or trail map. b) Map - 1:24,000 scale: This means that for every one inch on the map, it is actually 24,000 inches on the earth. This is a large-scale map; it covers a smaller area on the map but show extreme detailed information. SRDI Training Map & Compass Page 2 of 5 Revised 01/30/2003

3 In general, if detailed topography and map documentation of the area is not needed, a 1:62,500 scale map may be adequate. If documentation will be recorded, such as waypoints, team positions; areas covered by grid searches, then the 1:24,000 scale map will be needed. 4. Map - General Information: On either scale map listed above, there is certain information you must know to actually use the map. Locally produced maps may not contain enough information to be useful, without the needed information, a map is just a picture. a) In the maps top right corner is the following information: 1) Name of the map (area covered) 2) It is a 7 ½ minute map (the map covers 7 ½ minutes of latitude) 3) It is a topographical map (specially designed to cover geographical landscape) b) In the maps bottom left hand corner is the following information: 1) Publisher information 2) When the map was originally photographed, field checked for accuracy 3) When it was edited (printed) 4) The datum and grid that it is printed in: a) 1,000 meter UTM grid b) Is UTM Zone 12 c) The map datum is (1927 North American Datum) - NAD27 d) The correction factor needed to convert to the (North American Datum 1983), NAD83, which is the same as WGS84. e) True North and Magnetic declination information c) At the maps bottom center is the following information for distance measurements: 1) The scale in which the map is printed 2) Tables to determine miles, feet and kilometers 3) The elevation contour interval d) The maps bottom right corner contains the following information: 1) Road classification symbols 2) Name of the map and the Quadrangle designation. 3) The year the map was printed, again. 5. Contour Lines: What do all those little lines mean (hand out the illustration): a) Contour Lines - are the thin brown lines that connect equal points of elevation, each map may have different contour intervals, check the bottom of your map for the contour interval. Contour intervals of 20 or 40 feet are common for topographical maps. SRDI Training Map & Compass Page 3 of 5 Revised 01/30/2003

4 b) Contour Index Lines - Every fifth contour line is heavier and darker, these are called Index Contour Lines. These lines list the elevation in 100 or 200 foot elevation intervals. If the map you are using does not give the elevation contour interval at the bottom of the map, you can look at two Contour Index Lines and figure out the elevation interval. c) Contour line exercise - Give each student the following: 1) SRDI elevation contour exercise - Landforms 2) SRDI elevation exercise - Landforms 6. Ridges and Drainages: Ridges are sharp outward facing angles that project toward the surrounding landscape. Drainage's are sharp inward facing angles that project away from the surrounding landscape. Using the map provided (SRDI Map & Compass - Ridges & Drainages) locate the ridges and drainages. 7. Distance Measuring: Measuring distance on a map is easy. Use a piece of paper like a straight edge between the location you want to know the distance between. Make a mark on the paper at each location, using the conversion scales at the bottom of the map, measure the distance between your two marks. (Perform a few exercises with one of the provided maps) 8. Maps: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM): The two maps of interest for this course is the 1:62,500 and the 1:24,000 scale maps. Both of these maps can be purchased (printed in UTM Grid). However, the 1:62,500 scale maps do not provide enough detail to be used as a general information map. It is the 1:24,000 scale map, printed with 1000 meter quadrangles, UTM Grid that we will be learning about. 9. What is UTM: UTM is a global coordinate system that can be used for many purposes; orienteering, back packers and hunters. UTM was adopted by the military in 1947 as the accepted Global Positioning System (GPS) for targeting coordinates. UTM is easy to use and very little to remember. Unlike using the Latitude and Longitude system where everyone s asking if we are using DD,DDDDD, DD,MM,MM or DD,MM,SS.S and for which there are no specific measurements. Here's how UTM works (use the UTM Flat World - Zone Matrix provided for this class). UTM Zones are numbered 1 through 60, starting with the International Date Line (180 degrees of Longitude) and proceeds east across the world in 1,000 meter intervals. Each Zone covers 6 degrees of longitude. SRDI Training Map & Compass Page 4 of 5 Revised 01/30/2003

5 Zones are also divided into horizontal Bands, which covers 8 of latitude, except for band X that spans 12 in the polar region. These Bands are lettered, south to north, beginning at 80 south with the letter C, and ending at 80 north with the letter X. The letters I and O are not used so not to be confused with numbers. Note: The regions above and below 80 north and south, in the Polar Regions, utilize the Universal Polar Stereographic (UPS) grid system for navigation. (This will not be discussed) 10. Using the UTM - Map Coordinate System: Using the map provided (Sheriff's Sub-Station 106), the UTM Quadrangles are identified by vertical and horizontal red dash lines (------). These quadrangles cover 1,000 square meters. a) Let's start with a coordinate, and break it down so it's easy to understand. (12 S ) Easting & ( ) Northing 1) 12 S = Zone 12 Band S 2) 0 = 1,000,000 meters east of the International Date Line 3) 5 = 100,000 meters east of the International Date Line 4) 1 = 10,000 meters east of the International Date Line 5) 8 = 1,000 meters east of the International Date Line 6) 8 = 100 meters east of the International Date Line 7) 7 = 10 meters east of the International Date Line 8) 0 = 1 meters east of the International Date Line Read the coordinates (items 2-8) like it's a money value, only it's in meters. Easting: 518 thousand, 870 meters east. Northing: 3 million, 569 thousand, and 050 meters north. Look at the bottom of your map. There are UTM ticks every 1,000 meters from east to west. Locate the tick mark on your map, now locate tick mark on your map, and follow the two lines across the map until they intersect. Using the 100 meter UTM grid tool overlay provided (this tool breaks down the 1000 meter quadrangles into 100 meter segments), place the bottom grid corner of the overlay at the two intersecting points and locate the above coordinate on your map. 11) Have you learned anything? Remember that list of eight items at the beginning of the course? Let s go back and answer them. 12) Question and Answer Session: SRDI Training Map & Compass Page 5 of 5 Revised 01/30/2003