HERITAGE DIGITAL TOOLKIT
FINAL REPORT AND USER'S GUIDE

Kent A. Schneider, Ph.D., Regional Archeologist and Heritage Resource Program Manager

USDA Forest Service, Southern Region

Drew Selig, Cartographer

Rodney Snedeker, Archeologist

USDA Forest Service, Southern Region, National Forests of North Carolina

Ellen Eubanks, Landscape Architect

USDA Forest Service, San Dimas Technology and Development Center

• ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• THE HERITAGE DIGITAL TOOLKIT DEVELOPMENT PROTOCOL
• CURRENT YEAR (2005)
SUMMARY

ABSTRACT
This publication introduces the heritage digital toolkit to archeologists. Thousands of heritage sites are found annually during fieldwork. In most cases, data about each site's contents, age, condition, National Register significance, size, and location are recorded on paper field notes only to be retranscribed into INFRA. Heritage's response to emergency fire situations is severely limited by this slow, paper recording system. Archeologists needed a field service solution for data collection that would streamline field operations and eliminate or minimize handwritten field data, reentering data, and increase the precision of recording data. Saving money was also a consideration. Savings could run into tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating time spent transcribing paper field notes into the digital tables format required by INFRA.

Figure 1—Digital toolkit.

INTRODUCTION
This document shares a brief history of the heritage digital toolkit and encourages readers to embrace electronic data collection.

In 2001, the Southern Region’s (Region 8) GPS and archeologist program managers collaborated to use an iPAQ personal data assistant (PDA) as a global positioning system (GPS) data receiver to document archeological sites. The regional archeologist, meeting with the forest archeologist on the National Forests in North Carolina, learned that a computer specialist on the forest had been using a Trimble pocket GPS unit and an iPAQ to map recreation trails. Technologies from the two uses were combined and a proposal for a heritage digital toolkit was prepared and sent to the Washington Office, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources.

The vision for the heritage digital toolkit was a handheld computing system capable of recording site locations (points), site dimensions (polygons), site access (lines), and noting site type and condition with a data dictionary. Also desirable was a drawing component for electronically recording site features on a pad that stored the drawings electronically on the iPAQ and the ability to take photographs and directly import them into the iPAQ.

In 2003, the Recreation Steering Committee for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Technology and Development Program approved the project for the Technology and Development Centers. During the next 2 years, San Dimas Technology and Development Center worked closely with Region 8 to assemble and field test the heritage digital toolkit. Eight kits were assembled and distributed to the field for testing. During this time the University of Alabama’s Office of Archeological Research joined the development and testing effort; their technical input was substantial. Project managers Ellen Eubanks (SDTDC) and Kent Schneider (R8) acquired and evaluated the toolkit components. Kent Schneider participated in the performance assessment phase with Rodney Snedeker and Drew Selig (National Forests in North Carolina). Performance testing was the only way to determine the optimal components, configuration, and settings for successful field application.

In the field, the heritage digital toolkit accepts data from a digitizer tablet for site sketches, a GPS unit, digital camera, and laser rangefinder. Archeologists digitally enter data using a Windows-based handheld PDA (personal data assistant) with INFRA screens. Data from the PDA is transferred to conventional PCs though a parallel or USB port or a cellular digital packet-like modem to uplink to a forest server. All these devices can be driven from a single-source battery belt.

THE HERITAGE DIGITAL TOOLKIT DEVELOPMENT PROTOCOL
Protocol is defined for this application as "a plan for assembling the kit components, performing the actual testing and adjusting the application's capabilities in a performance environment in five USDA Forest Service-wide field environments, and full deployment.” The three steps in the protocol are based on these completion points:

1. Component Acquisition and Assembly. This phase involved selection and acquisition of the kit components (a laptop or PDA, software, digital camera, laser range finder, GPS, and writing/sketch pad). The field environment is rugged, so the kit had to withstand the extreme rigors of data observation, collection, and transfer in hot, cold, wet, dry, dusty, and windy field conditions.

Time: 8 months was needed to acquire and assemble a test kit. The parts were readily available off-the-shelf. Assembly was done at the National Forests in North Carolina supervisor’s office.

Onsite personnel: Drew Selig and Rodney Snedeker

2. Configuring and Testing in Performance and Field Environments. This phase involved testing the components in a performance environment which simulated the field environment but was close enough to facilities where components could be reconfigured for better operation. The kit was also tested in a variety of actual field environments once the equipment performed successfully in the performance environment (Asheville, NC and Pisgah National Forest).

Time: 6 months

Onsite personnel: Drew Selig, Rodney Snedeker, and Kent Schneider

3. Full Deployment. A fact sheet for acquisition of kit components and a users guide detailing assembly and operation of the heritage digital toolkit for use servicewide was prepared.

Time: 1 year and continuing.

CURRENT YEAR (2005)
Velicia Bergstrom, Kisatchie National Forest, has loaded mobile Heritage INFRA data into the kit successfully and is currently beta testing the heritage digital toolkit. Regional and national use of the kit is low because some field crews do not see the value of collecting GPS data and filling in INFRA data fields. Another factor is technical training. Although the users guide explains how to use ArcView and Pathfinder Office, there is a steep learning curve. In the future, the USDA Forest Service may recommend the use of ArcPad. Slowly, archeologists based on ranger districts in Region 8 are adopting the kit. Currently 10 units are in use. Field response is positive. Field collected data is easily uploaded into INFRA and other databases at the office. Users like the kit’s light weight and portability.

SUMMARY
The first completed heritage digital toolkit consisted of an iPAQ, Trimble Pocket Pathfinder GPS unit with TerraSync Professional software, SmartPad2, OptiLogic Range Finder, Kingston 5-gig datapack, ArcView 3.1, Trimble Pathfinder Office, and a Pelican carrying case. The components of the toolkit cost $3,200, excluding ArcView and Trimble Pathfinder Office which are part of the agency’s corporate software. Different kit configurations are possible and still have an effective mobile heritage kit. For example, SmartPad2 is no longer available. In its place, notes and site sketches can be drawn directly on the iPAQ screen and saved electronically. The Kingston datapack or other external drive is useful only if one is going to put previously created GIS maps, such as soils or vegetation overlays, into the iPAQ. New equipment is constantly replacing older units sometimes at a rate of 2 to 3 changes a year, making obsolescence a concern.

The users guide is presented as originally written for the 3900 iPAQ series because it contains directions for the installation and use of the components tested and is proven to work with the 2003-2004 heritage digital toolkits. User's Guide

Development of the heritage digital toolkit would not have been possible without the contributions of the following people. Region 8 employees Kent Schneider, Rodney Snedeker, Drew Selig, Velicia Bergstrom, and Doug Luepke; San Dimas Technology and Development employee Ellen Eubanks; and Sam Mizell from the University of Alabama-Office of Archaeological Research.

For further information, contact Kent Schneider, project leader, by phone at 404–347–7250 or by e-mail at kaschneider@fs.fed.us

Information contained in this document has been developed for the guidance of employees of the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), its contractors, and cooperating Federal and State agencies. The USDA assumes no responsibility for the interpretation or use of this information by other than its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official evaluation, conclusion, recommendation, endorsement, or approval of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

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