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Find
latitude and longitude of any town in
Australia
Latitude, Longitude, AMG etc etc
etc:
I get many requests to explain the different numbers used by different GPS at
the same location. This is a valid and sensible question, and there are easily
understood answers. You may also wonder about terms such as UTM, GDA, MGA, datum,
position format, grid, and true north. My customers get free assistance with
these, and any other matter relating to their purchase, and the use of the GPS.
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Applications for GPS in Australia 
 National
Awards for Innovation in Local Government
- Overall winner- GPS and Mobile
Computing in Fire Prevention
As reported in the Australian Magazine, Dec 9-10 2000, published by
Nationwide News Pty Ltd
The Federal Minister for Regional Services, Territories
and Local Government , the Hon Ian Macdonald announced the winners
from a record 387 entries. Here is the text in full from the Australian
Magazine.
NATIONAL OVERALL WINNER .
Whittlesea City Council Information Technology GPS and Mobile Computing
in Fire Prevention
Fire has always been a major force
in shaping the Australia ian continent, and its management has been
an essential skill long recognized by those who make it their home.
By harnessing a variety of readily accessible computer capabilities,
the City of Whittlesea, which lies just to the north of Melbourne,
has developed a system for quickly identifying the location of potential
fire hazards. The scenario involves capturing the information and
generating fire hazard notices so preventive steps can be speedily
taken. |
Basically Whittlesea linked GPS (Global Positioning System) technology
to a property database using a mobile version of the GIS (Geographic
Information System) configured to a GPS.
 It developed software allowing
a portable version of its geographic information system to accept real
time GPS readings. Field officers could pinpoint a fire hazard, identify
the landowner and generate a fire warning notice in a matter of keystrokes.
Fire prevention officers can now visit up to three times as many properties
in a day than was previously possible.
The Council says it has dramatically improved summer fire prevention
enforcement. Each summer, the City issues fire prevention notices to
several thousand landowners.
Whittlesea says that administrative
time in producing fire hazard notices has been reduced from two days
per 50 notices to 15 minutes per 150 notices. The cost savings have
been enormous. Whittlesea can issue fire warning notices in seconds,
saving $150,000 a year in costs for an outlay of less than $50,000.
Local fire brigades also get accurate reports on the progress of
fire prevention in their areas. |
The Council found that the technology could be extended
to other projects, such as property-number checks, weed inspection and
septic tank mapping,
saving tens of thousands of dollars. Whittlesea's experience in harnessing
technology is being made available to other councils in northern Victoria
and southern NSW.
Less than 5 metre to 0.3 metre
accuracy, obtained by differentially correcting the GPS location. This
correction may be achieved by post-processing data in a computer, or
can be done in real time by radio or satellite link (DGPS).
| 1. Understanding and management of soil drifts and wind erosion
in less habited areas of Australia may contribute to progress in
using these areas for human activity. Geo-scientists have found ways
of collecting wind driven samples to effectively measure rates of
transport, and to what height wind can drive soil particles. Location
of sample stations by GPS is important in the final analysis of data.
This data will also contribute to an understanding of the movement
of sandhills in desert like areas, and the ability of certain vegetation
to stabilize soil particles. Griffith University, School of Environment
in Brisbane, has been involved in studies in western Queensland. |
2.
Habitat for creatures as diverse as marine worms for fishing, to
bilbys (an Australian long eared mammal about the size of a rabbit),
can be mapped precisely for an understanding of their environment.
Over harvesting of worms may be detrimental to future fishing, and
GPS position and harvest counts over a period can indicate health
and migratory patterns of these creatures. (Acknowledgement to University
of Maine USA).
In the bilby example, this once common mammal's complex burrows in far western
Queensland, were extensively mapped as an aid to ensuring their survival. In
addition, introduced predator populations can be monitored with the assistance
of GPS. |
| 3. Electricity and telephone companies rely on distance measurements
to calculate the cost of building lines to new locations. GPS can
effectively locate the take off point, and the end use point of a
line, and in conjunction with suitable mapping, can more efficiently
quote price to the intended client. |
4. A local council
or government utility, may wish to create a database of particular
assets, for accounting or management purposes. Position as well as
attributes of assets such as culverts, street signs, storm water
systems, road surfaces and large tree specimens can be logged, and
downloaded to mapping or GIS (Geographic Information Systems) on
a computer. See Leica GIS-capable GPS. |
What is GPS? (Explaining the
system of satellites and how it works)
The theory of positioning (How Sir
Isaac Newton and others made GPS possible)
How to purchase a Magic Carpet for 40 purses
(and win the hand of a Princess/Prince)
Find latitude and longitude of any town in Australia
With this comprehensive on-line tool, just enter the name of the town,
and the latitude and longitude will be be calculated for you. Then
simply input this information as a waypoint to even the most basic
GPS. That way, it will always be accessible as a destination, or
simply a record.
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Johnny Appleseed GPS