In This Issue

Version 4.5 Has Been Released
Printers for the New Large Book Maps
GPS Use on the Increase
New Users Manual Nears Completion
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Version 4.5 Has Been Released:

BG-Map Version has been shipped to all current members of the BG-
Map Software Maintenance Program.  You should have received your 
upgrade CD along with installation instructions.  
If you need assistance with installation or have not received 
your upgrade, please contact BG-Map.

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Printers for the New Large Book Maps:

BG-Map version 4.5 includes the ability to print Large Book Maps 
in 11" x 17" (A3) format.  This format is very useful for doing 
field checks on plants because an entire quadrant can be shown on 
one piece of paper WITH PLANT NAMES.

But, to use this feature, you must have a printer that can print 
on 11" x 17" (A3) paper.  Of the currently available printers, 
the following could be used:

Epson Stylus Color 1520, color inkjet - advertised at 
$499.00

Hewlett Packard 1120C, color inkjet - advertised at $499.00

Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5000, monochrome laser - advertised at 
$1,473

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GPS Use on the Increase

GPS technology continues to improve and decrease in cost.  In 
January, Boyce Thompson Arboretum will become the second BG-Map 
user institution to adopt the GPS Interface.  GPS offers the 
advantage of efficient single person mapping - just roam around 
the garden with the GPS receiver.  The BG-Map GPS interface 
allows you to import GPS data directly into BG-Map for automatic 
mapping of plants and non-plant objects.

GPS equipment with sub-meter accuracy currently costs about 
$10,000 (with educational discount).

Some factors to consider before adopting GPS:

1) Availability of Post-Processing Data

The U.S. government still scrambles GPS signals, reducing their 
accuracy.  To overcome this, the data must be post-processed.  
This requires a source of correction data.  It could be one of 
the following:

a)	Coast Guard Base Stations - if you are within 100-200 miles 
of an ocean or the Great Lakes you will be able to receive 
correction data from a U.S. Coast Guard radio beacon. (Curious 
thing - one branch of the government scrambles the GPS data while 
another provides unscrambling assistance!)

b)	Community Base stations - located throughout the U.S. and 
some other countries - correction data can be accessed via the 
Internet.

c) Satellite Data Provider - Correction data can be delivered 
to you via satellite for an annual subscription fee.
 
d)	Your Own Base Station - if a) - c) are not available or not 
practical, you could set up your own base station at a known 
position on or near your grounds.  This means purchasing 2 GPS 
units, one to serve as a base station and one to be used for 
mapping.  Trimble, a major GPS vendor, offers special pricing 
when you buy 2 GPS units, so the cost is not doubled.

2) Effects of Tree Canopies and Dense Vegetation

Tree Canopies, especially if wet, can affect GPS measurements, 
reducing their accuracy or increasing the time it takes to 
measure.  The GPS receiver will warn you if reliable data is not 
available at a certain position.  You can move to the side and 
take a measurement, specifying an offset - a distance and an 
angle - between the point you are at and the actual location of 
the plant.  A laser rangefinder and a compass can be used to 
assist in this.

3) Practicality of Use

Experience gained so far at the University of Delaware indicates 
that GPS is practical in a college campus setting.  
Before investing in this technology, it would be prudent to set 
up demonstrations with one or more GPS vendors to see just how 
well GPS would work for you.

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New Users Manual Nears Completion

A new, expanded, and improved BG-Map Users Manual will be 
available in January.  It will be up-to-date with the current BG-
Map release - Version 4.5 for Windows.

Featured in the new manual will be an improved layout and loads 
of screen shots from both OpenInsight and AutoCAD.  It will be 
shipped to all members in good standing of the BG-Map Software 
Maintenance Program.

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Visit the BG-Map USERS AREA at www.bg-map.com/userdata
BG-Map Botanical Garden Mapping System
E-mail:  glicks@bg-map.com
Tel:  1.215.887.1100	Fax: 1.215.887.1470