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GPS to PDA (GPS2PDA) is a component of Jamar's PC-Travel for Windows (PCT4W) software suite. GPS2PDA allows users to record Global Positioning System (GPS) data in the field with the aid of a standard GPS receiver. The GPS2PDA software stores GPS data on your PDA which can be uploaded to your PC then utilized to construct Travel Time studies with PCT4W.
Up to now, the speed data for PC-Travel was gathered using a TDC-8 count board (made by Jamar) connected to a transmission sensor installed in a vehicle. This transmission sensor is the type used with Distance Measuring Instruments (DMIs),
which normally requires installation by a mechanic, or at least someone very familiar with the electrical systems in modern cars and trucks. This can be a little complicated and time consuming, especially if you
only want the transmission sensor installed to do travel time studies and have no need for a DMI.
This whole process is made easier with GPS2PDA since all you need is a PDA and a GPS receiver to collect Travel Time data. You don't have to dedicate a specific vehicle for your
travel time studies; you can use any vehicle that is convenient.
The basic idea is simple. The GPS receiver outputs data every second. Some of this data includes the speed of the vehicle, which is measured to a surprisingly high degree of accuracy (better than 1 MPH). The
PDA reads the data from the GPS receiver and stores the speed information. The PC-Travel for Windows software then can read and process these files into travel time studies.
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