GMS-2
TRAINING MANUAL
FOR
GEOSPATIAL MAPPING
COASTAL
COMMUNITIES
Page 1
TABLE of CONTENTS
1.)
Topcon Overview - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 3
2.)
Product Overview - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 3
3.)
GMS-2 Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 4
4.)
Unit Identification - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 5
5.)
Step-by-step - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 7
6.)
Collecting Points - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 10
7.)
Recovering Points - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page: 11
8.)
Potential Problems and Solutions - - - Page: 14
9.)
Appendix A: Infrastructure - - - - - - - - - -Page: 16
Page 2
Topcon Overview
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., provides surveyors,
engineers, construction contractors, and many others in
similar fields with innovative positioning technology.
The Topcon hand-held devices, including the GMS-2,
incorporate a graphical Windows operating system on a
color touch-screen. It contains anything a hand-held GPS
would need.
Product Overview
The GMS-2 is Topcon’s industry leading integrated imaging
and 50-channel dual constellation satellite tracking small
hand-held GPS receiver. This system incorporates an
integrated electronic compass, replaceable/ rechargeable
battery, and an expandable memory slot. The internal GMS-2
digital camera allows users to take digital photos of GIS
features while in the field. The picture is automatically
linked to the GIS feature and the photo itself can even be
geo-tagged with the GPS coordinate.
Page 3
GMS-2 Specifications
Physical:
Dim ensions
W eight
Power:
Battery Life
Internal Battery
External Po wer Po rt
Internal:
Microprocessor
O perating System
Digital Cam era
LCD Display
Internal Mem ory
Tracking:
Channels
W AAS/EGNOS
CO RS Bea co n
A ccuracy:
L1 Static
L1 PP Kinem atic
Enviromental:
W aterpro of
O perating Tem perature
-with cam era
Storage Tem perature
197 x 90 x 46 m m
0.68 kg
7 operating hours
Li-Ion ba ttery (rechargeable)
DC Jack Type A O DU
Intel PXA270 Bulverde
Microsoft W indows CE 5.0
Yes
3.5" 240x320 color Q VGA w/
touch scree n
SDRAM 128 MB
50 GP S, Glonass L1 tracking
Yes
BR -1
H: 3.0 mm + 0.8 ppm
V: 4.0 m m + 1.0 ppm
H: 10.0 m m + 1.0 ppm
V: 15.0 mm + 1.0 ppm
IP66
betwee n -4 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit
betwee n -14 and 122 degrees Fahrenhe it
betwee n -22 and 140 degrees Fahrenhe it
Page 4
IDENTIFICATION
The front of the GMS-2 is the primary interface with its components and installed software.






The internal GPS antenna detects signals from GPS+ satellites and sends them to the GPS
receiver for processing.
The display screen and touch panel provides a graphical and tactile user interface for the unit.
The power button turns the receiver on and off.
The ESC (escape) button exits from the current screen or function. Pressing this button for one
second or more opens the Microsoft Windows Start menu.
The ENT (enter) button applies settings, numerical values, and records points (depending on the
setting of the internal software).
The charging LED indicates the level of charges in the battery:
- Green: battery has a full charge
- Red: Battery is charging
- Red blinking: charging error
Page 5
IDENTIFICATION
FEATURES
- 1.3 MP camera (used for taking pictures in the field)
- Self storing Stylus used for the touch screen
- Rechargeable/ Replicable battery (included)
- Built in SD card insert
Page 6
STEP by STEP
Turn on:
1. Press power button
Setup Job:
1. After turning unit on, double click the TopSURV icon
2. If there is not a TopSurv Icon, double click My Devices, then click on
the following icons:
a. Flash Disk
b. TPS
c. TopSurv
d. Scroll down to TopSurv icon and double click.
Double-Click
the TopSURV
Shortcut using
the stylus.
Select New to
create a new job
for data
collection.
3. Open the jobs tab
Page 7
4. Select New Job
5. Type the job’s name in the space provided with the pop up keyboard.
6. Enter the names of your team members and yourself in the “Created
By” blank and click “Next”.
7. Set the GPS+ Config (GPS configurations) to WAAS DGPS, then click
“Next”.
8. Set the Projections to the area you will be using the TOPCON GMS-2
(for the coastal job)
a. Set SP83 – Alabama (West)
9. Set Dantum to NAD83
10.
Set Geoid to G2003U07, and then click next
11.
Set the settings to your preference (suggested use):
a. Distance to US Feet
b. Angle to DMS
c. Coord Type (Coordinate Type) to Grid
d. Coordinate order to Northing, Easting, Elevation
e. Azimuth origin to North
f. Disp Dir (Display Direction) to azimuth
12. To finish creating a new job click the finish button on the top of
the screen
13. Once steps 1 – 19 have been carried out, the unit will open a
screen with a main menu and title bar (which should contain the title
of the job name you have just created). Similar to image on following
page.
Page 8
14. To add different data codes and attributes, click Edit Job, then
Codes.
15.
The top panel is for codes, and the bottom panel is for attributes.
16. Click Add next to the top panel for additional codes, and the Add
button next to the bottom panel for additional attributes.
17. If drop down menus are necessary for the attribute, ensure the
menu next to Type says Menu.
18. Once this is set, another panel will open where you should type
the name next to Add and then click the Add button for each
additional attribute for that code.
19. If the screen appears similar to the picture above, you may
proceed to the “Collecting Data Points” section below.
20. However, if the screen does not appear the same, try the steps
once more.
Page 9
Collecting Points:
1. After selecting the proper job, select the “collect” icon
2. Then select the “collect feature” icon
3. Once you are in location to collect a point click the “code” drop down
tab and select or type in (using pop up keyboard) the object you are
recording
4. Select the feature or features (in the case of a cluster) being
plotted. (ex. Fire Hydrant, Water valves, Sewer/Manhole, Electric
Transformers and Gas Utilities).
5. On the top right of the screen, the H & V symbol will show the
accuracy of the satellite signal at the current time.
a. Wait about 10 seconds before collecting a data point, so that
these numbers will potentially get better.
b. The lower the number at the time of “Data Collection” the
better the accuracy of the collection.
6. The color in the box next to the “H” MUST BE GREEN in order to
collect data…
a. If it is RED you have a BAD signal. Wait a few minutes for it to
get a better signal.
7. Place the GPS directly over the data point or as close to the object
being plotted as possible, in order to get the most accurate readings
possible.
8. Once the satellite strength is good (the color is GREEN and there is a
LOW “H&V”), Select “Start” or Press the Blue ENT button to collect
the data points.
Page 10
9. Now, find the next closest point, and continue collecting data.
10. Keep track of the items plotted on the notebook paper provided,
in case of equipment malfunction.
a. To properly keep a paper copy of the points plotted, be sure to
number each point made.
b. Write down the feature being plotted at each point.
Recovering Points:
1. Once you have selected the correct job click the “navigate” icon from
the main screen.
2. Click “points” icon.
3. Enter what point # point you want to begin to recover.
4. Click the navigate button at the bottom right of the display screen.
5. Follow the compass arrow on the display screen to be lead to your
point location (hint: at times it can be much easier to just use the
horizontal distance to find our way to the point because the arrow
can move around due to signal interruption)
Page 11
6. The arrow changes to a crosshair when you get within 10 feet of the
data point.
7. When you locate the data point, MARK the point with color marking
tape and flags. The color of the tape can be determined by the list
below:
a. Fire Hydrant – BLUE
b. Water Valve – BLUE
c. Sewer/Manhole – GREEN
d. Electric Transformer – RED
e. Gas utilities – YELLOW
8. To find the next collected point click the right arrow () next to the
store button
Page 12
9. Repeat steps above to recover all collected location points.
* For best results stay in open spaces away from covered areas and large
buildings.
Page 13
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Warning: Do not attempt to repair technical equipment yourself, contact your
Project Supervisor for any extreme problems with the GMS-2 hardware.
Check This First!
 If the software is not working, reset the software. To do this, see
“Resetting the Software” below.
 Check all external connections.
 Check all power sources. Is the battery drained or incorrectly
connected?
 Check to see that the software is current.
Resetting the Software
The following steps can be used to reset the software, however: only attempt
if you are competent to work on this device.
To perform a software reset, use the stylus to push in the software reset
button (see Figure 6-1, below).
Figure 6-1
Page 14
Charging/Powering Problems
If the GMS-2 does not power up…
 The batteries may be discharged.
o Connect the GMS-2 to a ground outlet.
o Or if given an extra battery, insert the extra fully charged battery.
 The charging cable may be disconnected or damaged.
 The GMS-2 may have a defective charger or defective internal battery.
o If, after charging the battery, the GMS-2 still does not power up,
you must get a new battery.
GMS-2 Problems
The following are just a few of the problems that most commonly are
encountered while working with the GMS-2.
The GMS-2 is not finding the satellite signal to collect the data point.
 There may be a structure (such as a building) deterring the GPS unit
from connecting with satellites. Try to face a different direction in order
to potentially connect with another satellite and move away from the
tall structure.
 If there is cloudy weather, it may take longer to retrieve data points and
gain satellite signals. BE PATIENT!!!
 If neither of the above are the case, and your GMS-2 will still not connect
to a satellite, contact your Project Supervisor.
Installed software and other data have been erased.
 The battery in the GMS-2 has been completely drained or a hardware
reset has been unintentionally preformed.
o Reinstall all software. Contact the Project Supervisor to do this!
Page 15
Appendix A:
Infrastructure
The following pages contain many of the infrastructure items that will be
points in utility units. The different items will be broken down by utility type.
Each utility has a color that identifies it in the field. The color of each table
distinguishes that utility’s field color. However, all the items contained in
these tables may not be of interest to your team.
Utility Reference Guide
Water and Storm Water Utilities
Infrastructure
Fire Hydrant
Description
Picture
an upright hydrant for
drawing water to use in
fighting a fire
Valves
device for controlling the
passage of water through a
pipe
Meters
meter for measuring the
quantity of water passing
through an outlet
Page 16
Backflow
Preventer
protects water supplies
from contamination or
pollution
Fire Department
Connection
piping connection through
which the fire
department can pump
water into a standpipe
system or sprinkler
Grate Inlets
opening in the gutter
covered by one or more
grates
Yard Inlets
openings in a yard
covered by a grate
Curb Inlets
vertical openings in the
curb covered by a top slab
Page 17
Sewer Utilities
Infrastructure
Description
Manholes
small covered opening
in the pavement to
allow a person to enter
Pump/Lift Stations
point in the sewer
system where the
wastewater needs to be
pumped (lifted) to a
higher elevation
Picture
Page 18
Gas Utilities
Infrastructure
Description
Valves
device for controlling
the passage of gas
through a pipe
Meters
meter for measuring the
amount of gas flowing
through a particular
pipe
Regulators
Picture
device for controlling
the delivery of gas at
some substantially
constant pressure
Page 19
Telecommunications Utilities
Infrastructure
Switching
Station/Cabinet
Description
Picture
An assembly of
switching and control
devices
Pedestal
Elevated containers that
provide easy access to
branch and drop splice
while protecting and
storing loose Cables
Cable/Fiber Box
interface device used in
connecting backbone
cables and distributing
cables
Communications
Manhole
small covered opening
in the pavement to allow
a person to enter
Page 20
Electric Utilities
Infrastructure
Electric Poles
Electric Meter
Electric Transformer
Description
pole used to support
overhead power lines
and various other public
utilities and related
equipment such as
transformers and street
lights
Picture
meter for measuring the
amount of electricity
flowing through a
particular pipe
device that transfers
electrical energy from
one circuit to another
through inductively
coupled conductors
Page 21