Discussion: GPS tracking during a race

I would like to find out more about the GPS tracking that was used at Jukola and WOC this year. Did it work? How accurate is the location? How can I find out more about it? (I'm interested in exploring the idea of using it in a big "remote-control orienteering" game to introduce orienteering to a larger audience at the 2007 Cambridge Science Festival.)

When I look at http://www.tractrac.dk/archive/current/index200606..., I can see the routes but I'm not figuring out how to run the animation. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I guess to pull this off you need the maps to be well calibrated with GPS coordinates.

Thanks

Barb

AI think it is a problem with the trac trac software. Try setting your computer's clock to Denmark time

OK, I'll try that next time I'm ready to reboot. Tried it without rebooting, and nothing changed.

gday robplow!

On other online gps tracking system was used at Finnish TV events this summer (Huppuliiga, four events).
http://www.suunnistus.net/pekkavaris/gpsseuranta/

You can download "home edition" of the software there (software is in English), just copy some of the URLs there and you are ready to play.

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The same systems seems to be used now in TV serie "Elixir". One theme during this season is orienteering. They are trying to build a team for Jukola 2007. Runners will be Finnish TV persons & celebrities who does not have much or at all O experience. http://www.mtv3.fi/elixir/

First runner is here well known TV person Ville Klinga. For example he hosts Finnish version of the "Do you want to become a millionaire?" TV show. Ville's coach is Janne Salmi.

In the last episode he was training with Finnish national team in Denmark. I guess it was shot before WOC. He had a middle distance training with this gps tracking against Jarkko Huovila. He was aiming to be faster than two times Jarkko's time 21 min. Time was about 47 minutes. Two nice mistakes, the gps dot buzzing around TV screen not always so close the control. It was a true elite course (Ville actually has some O background).

Jarkko, this is pretty cool! I can open the "home edition" application. I have a little trouble in replay mode (the dot seems to become invisible for me). I am able to see the runners' routes, just not animated.

If I wanted to learn more about the possibility of using this system for my own event, whom would I contact?

I wish I knew how to read Finnish.

I don't understand how the GPS data gets from the runner to the observer in this case. For TracTrac, I guess they have a system where the data is sent by cell phone connection.

My event will not be heavily sponsored, if it happens, so cost is an issue. I think I might be able to find people to help with the technical aspects.

They run with bluetooth gps receiver (FRWD) and a bluetooth cell phone. The cell phone saves the data and also sends it online a server. Symbian OS, GSM network. GPRS data transfer is used, so it kind of does not cost anything to use it (we usually pay x euros /month for using GPRS, no matter how much we use it - well, there is usually 100 Mb limit, the amout of data is quite little here).

As far as I know all software is written by Pekka Varis.I'll find contact information for you if you want - but he may be a busy man.

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If you don't need online tracking, you can always use RouteGadget and a simple gps unit like a Forerunner. This way you don't well calibrated mas or things like that. Have you checked out RG's gps utilities yet?

Could anyone point me to information about a Nokia-sponsored cell phone orienteering event in Finland?

Thanks, J -

I haven't contacted Pekka yet but probably will.

The initial idea was to have real time tracking.

So far I'm rather technically illiterate. I don't know what Symbian OS, GPRS, FRWD mean. GSM I recently learned about because some US cell phones have it, and if you have it then your cell phone can work in Europe. That's basically all I know about GSM, and that may be wrong.

I haven't checked out RouteGadget's gps utilities yet.

I can point you to some Hungarian-related Mobile-O links, if that's helpful, which is where it started

http://www.orienteeringtoday.com/index.php?id=196

http://www.tajfutas.hu/ptn2006/eng/index.php?p=9

http://www.nopesport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=752...

Great, thanks!

Hello,
Some comments from "finnish system" developer:

- Runners carry a standard bluetooth-GPS (Globalsat, FRWD works as well) and Series60--Nokia cellphone (model 3230)

- Phone has special Symbian-software (developed by me) that sends positions to special server program via GPRS (packet data system in GSM networks)

- "HomeEdition" and "ProEdition" software reads data from server and shows it in the map

Hi Barb,

I did the same sort of thing a year or two ago, but with GPS handheld machines. It was also the idea to bring orienteering to a larger public and to do this I decided on setting an "non traditional" orienteering course.

I set the course on the map, and then ran it with a GPS device and saved the course in the devices memory. The public was then given the GPS handheld (you can copy the courses to other handhelds) and a map and they ran the course following the GPS device but checking the controls on the map. Fun was had by all.

Setup took two or three days, and the event was sponsered by Garmin who gave me 10 or so devices to use. I'm sure this information could be fed into Route Gadget (inexpensive but not live for checking your route afterwards) and would be a lot cheaper than the systems used elsewhere.

Just me 2 cents :)

Barb:
My new wife, Sari Rantanen, is Finnish, and speaks decent English. She's also an occasional orienteer here in Chicago.

She'd be happy to help you read through those .fi websites if you need.

That's great - thanks all - I'll be in touch!!!

Clark is married?

Congratulations!

I am telling you, eligible bachelors in the orienteering world are becoming a rare find ;-)

Do what Sandy did. It seemed to work for her :)

Yeah, last time I was in Europe I had a TON of hot orienteers approach me. But it was like in movies where the girl is smiling and getting all nervous while he is approaching, 170 lbs of solid handsome orienteering meat... and he opens his mounth: "what's the name of that beautiful Canadian, the one that looks like Poca Hontas?". Yeap, I was good for something, introducing them all to Sandy. End of the tale.
Nice try Johnny.

I guess this means that Ken doesn't orienteer?

He's affraid of messing up his perfect hair. He's the new Ken with real hair, not the old one with plastic hair.

Clark is MARRIED!!!!!????

Woah! Congratulations, Clark.

Thank you Rick and George, and other APers from whom I've received mail.
You may have noticed I've been slowing down in recent O meets...well, the absence of speed has affected my personal life too. But in this case, I'm quite happy.

In a way, I owe my marriage to the sport of O. In 1996 Mike Minium and I took a month-long orienteering trip arranged by Vladimir, to attend a series of European O events. I wrote up our trip for ONA. On the trip, I became very impressed with Finland during the week we were at the Fin5. So several months later, when I happened to meet Sari back in Chicago, I immediately wanted to get to know her and her culture better. And I think Sari was impressed that someone actually knew where Finland was located, and had actually BEEN there. One thing led to another, and after a full life as a comfirmed bachelor.... <http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=55...> Orlyn Skrien from Colorado was my Best Man.