-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fwd: Worthwile use of old gps hand-helds in Haiti
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:31:05 -0500
From: Frank Lopresti <[log in to unmask]>
To: Angie Cope <[log in to unmask]>


Subj: Worthwile use of old gps hand-helds in Haiti

Hi I've sent this note to several orgs like boat clubs whose members
might have hand-held GPS units. In my LI area and I am starting to get
some interested contacts but, since I'm on your mailing list and get
some of your emails I thought that my quest might interest you and
perhaps others you reach and might be worth mentioning on your list.

I am a math/stat/mapping scientist and work with statistical sampling
and collecting data.  I work in a group that supports research projects
at NYU (see
http://www.nyu.edu/its/pubs/connect/spring08/pdfs/gisgoesgreen.pdf for
an academic article introducing me) .  I just started technically
supporting a group at NYU Law school collecting data about Haiti. This
research center an NYU Law school - the Center for Human Rights - (see
http://www.chrgj.org/ ) does small funded research/data collection  on
Haiti to allow their situation to be understood. They collect data  on
the water and violence and conditions. They map it and present reports
about conditions in the 2000 or so camps that house 1.3 million
displaced persons.

Since we don't have street addresses, for statistical sampling in these
situations we rely on lat/lon and create rules like "go to this location
and go to the first shelter and give the questionnaire (which asks about
water, crime, etc)

What drove me to sending this out was I realized that for research that
doesn't require "sup-meter" accuracy, old gps hand-helds would be
wonderful.... this important Haiti project involves a few NYU faculty
and students and uses local students for data collection.  It is limited
in its number of local data collectors by lack of gps units...At NYU and
with our budget, my mindset from past projects was limited to expensive
eqpt (over $800/unit) because we usually got very accurate units (like
for archaeological digs) but for this type of data collection 50 meter
accuracy is great...

As part of the data collection for sampling issues they can use cheap
hand-held GPS units like some of us have sitting around.  On my boat I
have a unit with a small screen and keep a hand-held as a back-up.
Before my chart plotter, over the years I bought a series of the $150
type - Garmins,etc that allow for way-points and show lat/lon.  I have
several of these which are useless. Working  Lat/lon is all they need
for data collection.  I bet some of you have old unused hand-helds you
don't need.... email me   ([log in to unmask]) call me at NYU if you
want to chat about this outreach.or just ship them to my office @ NYU....

Frank Lopresti
New York University
Bobst Library 5th Floor Room 508
70 Washington Square South
NY, NY 10012


[log in to unmask]
Senior Faculty Technology Specialist
Data Service Studio
Statistics & Mapping
Bobst Library/Faculty Technology Services
(212)998-3398