GPS and Lidar Drone Training: Transdisciplinary Collaboration at Streethouse Farm

Last week, our Streethouse team received GPS training, and learned about the process of Lidar drone scanning on-site by a third party called Tri-Tech Surveys, out of North Yorkshire. Throughout the process, our representative named Johnny, supported our team in learning the basics to capturing GPS location data, and had students mastering the skill of using a surveying GPS in preparation for sedimentary core sampling which would begin the next day. This is a skillset that would also later be applied to archaeological field work with Dr. Stephen Sherlock.

[Left to Right] Johnny (Try-Tech Surveys), Erin Kurian, Stephen Sherlock, John Loudfoot, Kian Drew 

The day began with our team getting familiar with the GPS equipment, such as the GPS itself, as well as the surveying stand it is intended to be used with. Johnny was happy to answer any questions our team had, and provided in-depth support as folks from various different disciplines learned how to navigate the equipment. Going into this training only one person in the group had prior experience in utilizing GPS equipment for in-field use, although the equipment they previously used was for different data collection purposes. All other students were receiving this training for the first time, and accepted the challenge of gaining a new invaluable skillset.

University of Waterloo graduate students Kian Drew and Gillian Wagenaar

Toward the end of the day, Johnny brought out the Lidar drone. Although our team were not certified to fly it in the North Yorkshire region in England, everyone was informed of the process of getting the drone up and running. Additionally, Johnny made a flight path on his computer and demonstrated how he created the path using Google maps prior to setting the drone up for flight. The flight path was approximately 45 minutes long, and during that time our team watched as it flew above Streethouse Farms to capture Lidar data for the area.

Learning about the GPS device. 

Once training had concluded, we were shown how to end GPS tracking points for the day. This is a skill that would be needed to begin and end each subsequent day in the field, whether it be for sedimentary coring, or for the archaeological process. All of our student team members thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to gain a new skill that could be later applied to other research projects or opportunities beyond their wheel-house. Thank you to Dr. Steve Sherlock for establishing this learning opportunity for our team!