Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/29869
forward). A trio of hydrophones is used to obtain the fish’s general location. When a fish is detected, the boat operator is guided to the location by a crewmate pinpointing the location with an additional handheld hydrophone. The SIMS mobile-mapping application then is enlisted to record the precise location, date, time and other physical data. Putting Pallids on the Map The custom SIMS mobile-mapping application was developed using Esri’s ArcPad and deployed on laptop computers. The SIMS application contains all the nec- essary data layers and a custom task-driven toolbar to allow field personnel to record a day’s work. The SIMS application opens to display custom data layers representing river miles, control structures and georeferenced aerial photography. These data layers aid in navigation and provide a visual overview of river condi- tions at a field crew’s particular location (see Figure 3). The data layers and their associated labels automati- cally turn on and off, depending on the scale at which the map is viewed. When connected to a GPS with a position fix, the SIMS application displays a moving icon indicating the field crew’s ever-changing location. This view is continually refreshed and updated as researchers comb the river in search of the teleme- tered pallid sturgeon. Customized tools, data layers and data entry forms were created to streamline the collection of two data lFigure 4. A series of tabs within a data entry form guides users through data collection of a telemetry observation. types: cruise log and sturgeon telemetry datasets. At the beginning and end of each telemetry search effort, a custom data entry form prompts users to record relevant cruise-log information (e.g., crew-member names, types of receivers used, telemetry frequencies scanned, etc.). After an individual fish is pinpointed, another custom data entry form records the telemetry location and prompts an observer to record data identifying the particular fish as well as data describing the location’s habitat, substrate and water quality (see Figure 4). The SIMS application automatically records date, time and spatial coordinates for each point recorded from the GPS unit connected to the laptop. Additional tools were created within the SIMS application that allow crew members to review or edit sturgeon telemetry and cruise-log data collected that day while on the water. Numerous measures were used to ensure accuracy and increase efficiency of data entry by field-crew mem- bers. Drop-down menus presenting predefined lists of choices were used as often as practical. Scripts and validation rules were written to verify data at the time of entry to eliminate as many data entry errors as pos- sible, and an error message is displayed if an entered value falls outside the expected range. Programmable tool tips also provide helpful information to users while they’re entering data (see Figure 5). lFigure 3. The SIMS mobile-mapping application provides navigation information such as river miles (black circles with numeric labels) and control structures (black lines) overlaid with georeferenced aerial photography. 16 G E O W O R L D / A P R I L 2 O 1 1 Fishy Information The SIMS application also has been customized to provide tracking crews with information about the individual fish encountered. By opening a form, a crew member can select a fish’s telemetry tag number from Mobility/GPS Special Issue Wildlife Tracking