A Map & Compass or a GPS for Overland Navigation?

A Map & Compass or a GPS for Overland Navigation?

Recently, a LinkedIn post made me smile about something that, even now, is largely misunderstood. If you ask the vast majority of hikers that own a GPS what they use it for, they'll more than likely say, “I use it to navigate!” and really, that's pretty much what you'd expect them to say. In reality, you cannot navigate with a GPS in the wilderness, you can find your way from A to B with it, and then from B to C, but that's not navigating! We're exceptionally fortunate here in the UK because our Ordnance Survey mapping system is one of the best in the world, even so, any reasonable mapping system will easily outperform the most advanced GPS units available today. To many, these statements may seem absolutely ridiculous, but the sad reality is, that attempting to use a GPS to 'navigate' through open country is likely to get you into situations that you're unable to deal with. The few that know me and read my ramblings will know that I wouldn't dream of writing the above unless I could justify it. As with most things, this is quite a complicated subject and space is somewhat limited, all the same, I'll do my best to justify the statements and any thoughts may be addressed in the comments. Before we get going, I wish to make it clear that I'm not against GPS in any way, indeed, I own one! They are an incredible piece of equipment and invaluable in certain environments. Right then! Let's make a start.


Straight Lines!

GPS uses straight line navigation to take you from A to B, and as such you could be forgiven for thinking that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line; however, it's not unusual for it to be further in distance and longer in time, not to mention much more dangerous and energy consuming! Straight line A to B navigation is great on a two-dimensional landscape, unfortunately we don't have one. Some would argue that the modern GPS units use the same 'paper' mapping system but in digital format, so there's no difference and, on the periphery, that's perfectly true. One of the problems is the size of the screen, and although all the detail is there, the area covered is tiny, isolating you from the bigger picture. Any changes to a 'leg' often need to take into account the entire route, not just the problem area; this is almost impossible with a GPS. Modern software will split your route into hundreds, or even thousands of waypoints to make it appear like a winding path, but every single one is a straight line! This type of programming is impractical outside of the office, and not only uses battery power, time and patience, it also promotes errors due to the conditions.

Easy in these conditions, but what about the above?

More Accurate than a Human?

Let's just take a look at that statement. If I were to be blindfolded, taken to somewhere on the planet and then asked to give my position with the blindfold still on, what would you expect the accuracy to be? If I told you that I could give that position more accurately than the most advanced GPS unit, what would you say? Don't bother, I can imagine! All the same, it's perfectly true! My answer would be, “I'm here.” and, in reality, no GPS unit will ever be that accurate. The prime function of any GPS unit is to know where it is, and that piece of information to the navigator is absolutely worthless! Why? Your position on it's own, no matter how accurate, is only of use when it can be used in relation to all the other things around you.


The Advantage of GPS

Where GPS really does shine is in the air, on the sea and when crossing vast, completely featureless areas; in these environments the tables really are turned! GPS in these areas have increased safety more than many can even imagine. Even in our cars, we now rely on our inboard GPS system more and more, as it's linked to other information systems enabling smarter navigation. So why is it the best here but almost the worst in the wilderness? That's easy! Fewer variables. The GPS in your car gives your position, the mapping overlay is fully predictable and the radio traffic information updates the system to find the best route based on the available information along with the programmed options.



GPS and the Wilderness

Let's keep it quite basic in order to make the point. If we grab our rucksack, turn on our GPS and put in the position of a small hut where we wish to spend the night before returning the next day, the unit will calculate the direction and distance; once we start walking it will offer an estimated time of arrival or time en-route depending on how it is set. The unit knows absolutely nothing about what's between our start point and the hut! It also knows nothing about what the weather is doing at the time of our journey. It knows nothing about our fitness or indeed, our technical ability. It knows nothing of our clothing, the weight of our rucksack, or indeed the ground conditions. It doesn't know if it's 45 deg. Celsius or if there's 5ft of snow under foot. It doesn't know if it's completely calm or blowing a gale. In fact, it knows absolutely nothing about any of the things that need to be considered when planning a route! If we need to undertake the trip say twelve times over twelve months, and we give the job to a navigator to plan the route, it's likely that we may have four or five different routes that maintain the correct safety margins relevant to the conditions at that time of year, the ability of the people undertaking the trip, along with all the other variables. If we then do the same with the GPS we'll end up with the same route every time!


What's the Solution?

Use the GPS as a tool and, like any other tool, use it only when it's the best tool for the job! A screwdriver is a fantastic tool for driving screws; however, if you need to undo a nut it's worse than useless! At certain times of the year visibility can be in extremely short supply; I can think of numerous occasions when I've been out and covered more than 30km over rough, open, pathless terrain with visibility never more than ten metres. Navigating with a map and compass in conditions like these is mentally draining, especially when the terrain is relatively featureless; dead reckoning, pacing, timing, handrailing and aiming-off all come together to ensure accuracy but this requires extremely high, extended levels of concentration. That said, on the odd occasion, you'll get to a position and things just won't feel right, that's the time to bring out the GPS; use it for a quick positional check and then put it away again.


The Last Word

This is quite a short article on a subject that's very involved. As humans, we tend to latch onto something, think that it's the best thing since sliced bread and then disregard everything else. I tend to look on all types of knowledge and equipment as 'tools' in a toolbox. While we're often quite restricted in terms of weight and room, physical tools, like a GPS unit, must be chosen carefully. However, knowledge weighs nothing and takes up no room at all, so it makes sense to take as much as we can! One final point is that a GPS unit is, predominantly, an electronic device that can stop working at any time. While I have a GPS unit, I have to say that it's way, way down the list of essential gear that I would normally consider packing. Maybe I'm just 'old school' but I'm a believer in 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!' Everyone likes gadgets, and I'm certainly no different. Use it to enhance your navigational skills, not replace them.



DEBLONVILLE .

Photography: Art, Portraits, Architecture. Author: Savage Coast

4 个月

Here's a little-known navigation fact, discovered by my French Arctic explorer friends Jo?lle?and?Janusz Kurbiel. When travelling through fog at sea it is impossible to use the sun for navigation as it can't be seen. But what the Vikings discovered is that a well-polished knife blade can in fact reflect the centre of the sun, as a small bright spot. My friends learned of this lifesaving navigational trick from an old sailor in the remnant Viking Faroe Islands. So, always polish your blade if expecting fog.

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Rob Stacey

underwater treasure hunter at Lizard marine salvage

5 个月

Probably get one of those new swiss army ,sherpas with all the atatchments

Gary Delaney

|MSc(Nav Tech)-FRIN-Lt NS(Ret'd)||GNSS/Geospatial Innovator||Founder/CEO||Geospatial Forensics||Data Analytics||Navigation Expert (incl Emergency Response)||Ex Navy||NB- Location Intelligence ≠ Navigation Intelligence|

5 个月

Navigation is a discipline which requires cross-checking between all available location sources. It is important to umderstand that location imtelligence is not the same as navigation intelligence!

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