GPS, GIS and Surveying

Bucknell's Geology Program heavily emphasizes field applications in geology, and mapping is a very important part of that program. We have acquired a wide range of equipment to help us in our mapping projects from standard transits, plane table and alidade, to Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Please scan throught the page below to look at our wide range of equipment and facilities:

 

GPS (Global Positioning System) Instrumentation:

Leica GPS System 300/9500 Real Time DGPS and Post-processing package, including:

SR399 & SR9500 sensors, AT302 external antenna, 2-CR344 controllers with memory cards, kinematic backpack, 2 stop-and-go kinematic poles, project planning and post-processing software.

Magellan Pro-Mark V Handheld GPS Unit including:

2 battery packs, cigarette lighter adapter, 2' antenna cable and suction mount, Pelican waterproof case, download cable and post-processing software.

Eagle Accunav Marine GPS Instrument for water surveys and navigation.


Dr. Craig Kochel leveling
the Leica AT302 Antenna.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Laboratory:

Since 1994 Bucknell's Geology Department has been building a University GIS lab capable of filling the faculty and students's teaching and research needs. New hardware and software is being added each year in order to keep up with this rapidly-changing technology and as more faculty and students discover what the tools of GIS can do for them.

The current instrumentation of the GIS Lab includes:

7 Dell Optiplex GX-1 computers, running Windows NT and ArcView GIS, with 17" IBM G74 17" Monitors;

Iomega Zip and Jaz Drives;

GTCO Accutab Backlit Digitizing Board;

HP ScanJet 6200C Color Flatbed Scanner;

HP DesignJet 350C Color Ink Jet Plotter;

Epson Stylus 3000 wide format Color Ink-Jet Printer;

LexMark Optra Black & Wbite Laser Printer;

Also coming for the year '99-'00 is a high-resolution computer projector to aid GIS lectures and presentations.

Data can be downloaded and post-processed in the field setting using the Geology Department's Dell Latitude Laptop loaded with Leica GPS software and ArcView GIS.


The University GIS Lab is housed in Geology's Carnegie Building

Total Electronic Station:

This Total Station, co-owned by the Department's of Geology and Geography has been used heavily for projects in Geomorphology, Hydrogeology Engineering Senior Design projects and has been a key instrument for research in the Montandon Wetlands, Virginia Barrier Islands and to map the debris flows in Madison County, Virginia. Survey information is collected by an HP calculator and can be downloaded onto a computer back at the lab for further analysis.

Our Total Station Package includes:

Topcon GTS301D laser surverying "gun" and tripod, 2 batteries, 3 single lens prisms, prism poles and prism tripods, HP 48GX calculator with RAM and Survey cards, data download cable and transfer software.


Don Helms trys not to get wet as he works on a class project on (and in) Buffalo Creek using our Total Electronic Station.

Standard Surveying Equipment:

The Geology Department also maintains a number of standard surveying instruments for use in appropriate circumstances.

Our selection of standard surveying instruments include:

Topcon DT20B Digital Transit;

2 Teledyne-Gurley 400W standard transits

4 Plane Table and Alidade packages;

A large number of Brunton pocket transits and Silva Ranger compasses.


Ted Ressler taking a reading with the Teledyne-Gurley standard transit.