GetSET Summer Week�GPS Workshop

July 21, 2026

Gwen Byard

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Agenda for July 21 2026��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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Agenda for July 21 2025��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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GPS tells you where you are on Earth

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• GPS = Global Positioning System
• Every point on and above the Earth has a unique address
• GPS tells you what your location is

Images courtesy of www.faa.gov

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GPS is a Huge Investment

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• GPS is a public utility
• Over $50 billion has been spent by the U.S. government to create and maintain GPS
• BUT…it has many benefits

A 2019 study estimated that between 2007 and 2017, GPS helped Americans save 52 billion gallons of fuel and drive over one trillion fewer miles. (https://aerospace.org/article/brief-history-gps)

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Limitations of GPS

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• Doesn’t work as well indoors
• Doesn’t work as well under trees
• Problems in big cities
• Jamming

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GPS in Agriculture

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• GPS receivers guide tractors so they drive in precise rows, to get the most use out of the land.

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GPS in Construction

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GPS receivers guide bulldozers so they make straight and even roads. Surveyors use them to read accurate positions.

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GPS for mapping

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GPS receivers help engineers to make maps or keep track of assets.

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GPS for Navigation

GPS navigation systems guide airplanes and other vehicles.

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Agenda for July 21 2025��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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Google Earth Scavenger Hunt

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Find the coordinates of famous sites around the world!

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Latitude and Longitude

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Coordinates - Latitude

Latitude of a point can be written different ways:

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1. N43°38'19.39“

�   2. 43°38'19.39"N

�   3. 43 38 19.39

�   4. 43.63871944444445

��If written as a decimal, northern latitudes are

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positive, southern latitudes are negative.

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Coordinates - Longitude

Longitude of a point can be written different ways:

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1. W116°14'28.86“

�  2. 116°14'28.86"W

�   3. -116 14 28.86

�   4. -116.2413513485235��

If written as a decimal, eastern longitudes are

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positive, western longitudes are negative.

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Your Task

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Go to Google Earth or Google Maps and start searching for landmarks based on the information in the handout

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We will go through an example in class

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See how many landmarks you can find!

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Write your answers on the worksheet.

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Agenda for July 21 2025��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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Introduction to Geocaching (source: geocaching.com)

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GEOCACHING IS A

REAL-WORLD

OUTDOOR TREASURE

HUNTING GAME.

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Millions of players use the

Geocaching® app or a GPS to find

cleverly hidden containers called

geocaches and log their experiences

online.

With over 3 million geocaches placed

by enthusiasts worldwide,

geocaching inspires and enables

exploration, discovery, and

adventure. (source: geocaching.com)

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A geocache is a physical

container containing a

logbook.

Geocaches come in

many shapes and sizes.

(source: geocaching.com)

GEOCACHE SIZES

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HOW DO I FIND A

GEOCACHE?

● Download the free Geocaching®

app (or use GPS or Google Maps)

to see the geocaches near you.

● Select a geocache on the map

and the app will help you navigate

to it!

● Once you are near the geocache,

start looking for it. If you need

help, view the cache description,

photos, and hints. (source: geocaching.com)

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I FOUND A

GEOCACHE!

Now what? (source: geocaching.com)

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SIGN THE

LOGBOOK

Like geocaches, logbooks come in different

shapes and sizes. (source: geocaching.com)

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SWAG (Stuff We All Get) + Trackables (source: geocaching.com)

SWAG items are small toys, knick-knacks,

and other treasures people leave in a

geocache. SWAG is meant to be traded.

Trackables have a unique code

engraved on them and move from

geocache to geocache towards a

goal, such as visiting every state in

the US.

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PUT THE

GEOCACHE

BACK

Place the geocache back

exactly as you found it, even if

you think you see a better spot

for it. (source geocaching.com)

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Geocaching Activity

• Label your geocache with your team number
• Find good hiding spots on campus for your group’s geocaches
• Use the Google Earth or Google maps on your phone to mark this hiding spot and record the coordinates. Write down a hint.
• Trade coordinates with another team
• Find the other team’s caches!

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How do I find my Latitude/ Longitude?

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• Google Earth app: the latitude/ longitude appears at the bottom of the screen
• Google Maps: Tap on your current location, your latitude and longitude will be visible lower down on your screen

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Geocaching Activity

• Put the cache in a safe spot – don’t make it too hard to find or get to!
• For example, don’t put the caches inside a bush or buried under rocks
• Keep the caches outdoors and on the SFSU campus
• Don’t forget to record the coordinates of your hiding spot!
• Write down a hint to help the other team!
• Let everyone on the team participate

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Agenda for July 21 2025��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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Satellites

• Satellites make GPS possible – they provide their location and other data so we can tell where we are on earth
• Satellites are orbiting around the earth and 24 are needed for a complete GPS system

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Satellites

What are the main parts of a satellite?

• Power System
• A way to control its attitude (orientation)
• An antenna to transmit and receive information
• A payload to collect information

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Satellites

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• Let’s make a satellite – out of Legos
• What are the different parts of a satellite that we can see in this kit?
• Share your satellite with the class when you’re done

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Agenda for July 21 2025��Volunteer Introductions�Introduction to GPS�Google Earth Scavenger Hunt�Geocaching�Satellites�Polls

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Poll – PollEV.com/gwenbyard017 or text GWENBYARD017 to 22333 to join

Who created GPS?

• United States Government
• Chinese Government
• A group of computer software companies

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Poll

Where does GPS work best?

• Inside a building
• Outside in a wide open place
• In a downtown area of a city with many skyscrapers

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Poll

How many satellites do you need at a minimum to get a good three dimensional position?

• 1
• 2
• 4
• 7

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Poll

In what direction does Latitude and Longitude show your position?

• Latitude is North – South, Longitude is East - West
• Latitude is East – West, Longitude is North - South
• Latitude is North – East, Longitude is South - East

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Poll

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Longitude has what range of degrees?

• -180 degrees to 180 degrees
• -90 degrees to 90 degrees
• -360 degrees to 360 degrees

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Poll

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Latitude has what range of degrees?

• -180 degrees to 180 degrees
• -90 degrees to 90 degrees
• -360 degrees to 360 degrees

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Poll

What is NOT part of a satellite?

• Power system
• A way to control its attitude
• A GPS receiver
• A payload to collect information

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Poll

Where should you not look for a geocache?

• In a park
• In someone’s front yard (with the owner’s permission)
• In an environmentally sensitive wildlife area

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Thank you for participating!

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