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Navigation►Accurate navigation is critical to SAR

personnel: Provide help quickly... Know where you did not search

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Navigation Skills for SAR

►Includes: Map reading

►Establishing distance and direction between points

Compass usage►Using a compass to travel

►Taking Declination into account

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PRIMARY NAVIGATIONTOOLS

►MAP - A graphic description of an area Click here for more information on how to

read a map

►COMPASS - A magnetized needle that points North

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Map Orientation► Top is North – more on this later► Steps to good map use.

1. Someone gives you a mapHint: Never search without a map!

2. Study it – find key information3. Turn the map so the top is to the North by

looking at things around you: – Sun / moon / stars– Roads and visible landmarks– Terrain features

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Compass

►We recommend the use of an orienteering compass

►Many searchers use a sighting mirror type orienteering compass.

►Trust but verify (Ronald Reagan) Sun / Moon / Terrain

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Orienteering Compass

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Compass Use

►On a map – it’s a protractor ►To navigate – ALWAYS

RED FRED in the SHED Follow the Direction of Travel (DOT) arrow

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Red Arrow

“RED FRED”

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Orienting Arrow or

“RED SHED”

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DOT Arrow

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Orienting L

ines

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Go this way

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Quiz Question 1

When navigating with a compass you should put RED FRED in the SHED and then follow the:

A Red ArrowB White ArrowC Direction of Travel ArrowD Orientation Line

A

B

C

D

Click on your

choice

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Answer A – Red Arrow

►Sorry The red arrow (Red Fred) and the

orientation arrow (Red Shed) should always point North. So this answer is only correct if you want to go North. This is a common way people get lost!!

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer B – White Arrow

►Sorry The white arrow always points South. So

this answer is only correct if you want to go South. By the way putting the white arrow on the orienting arrow or “Red Shed” is an easy way to run a reverse azimuth (or go backwards).

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer D – Orientation Line

►Sorry The orientation lines run parallel to the

orientation arrow or “RED SHED” and as such will be aligned with North and South. These lines are used to align the compass dial when reading an azimuth from a map.

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer C – DOT Arrow

►YES – GREAT ANSWER! Align your body and forward motion with

the Direction of Travel (DOT) arrow. Sighting on a distant object and putting the compass away until you reach the object will allow you to focus on other tasks.

Review Question 1

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Tips

►Nearby metal and electronics such as a GPS can cause compass error.

►A GPS is no substitute for a compass.►You can’t search well if you are looking

at a compass dial.►The easiest route is often the quickest.

Take a well marked trail if possible.

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Compass UsageFirst - Knowing your Azimuth

Azimuth = Bearing in degrees

Ways to get an azimuth:

1. Somebody tells you2. Map reading (click here for more info)3. Compass sighting

Aim your compass DOT arrow at target Dial-in Red Fred in the Shed Your azimuth is now aligned with the DOT arrow

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Traveling on a Heading

1. Dial-in azimuth to match the DOT arrow

2. Put Red Fred in the Shed3. Walk to a distant landmark pointed

out by the DOT arrow

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North, North and North

►The top of a map is North Grid NORTH

► Side borders align to North and South True North

►Assumed here to be nearly same as grid North.

►True axis of the earth Magnetic North - Sometimes not the same

as true North.

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Declination Diagram

►DECLINATION – The difference between True and Magnetic North at your location.

►Diagram may be provided North arrows (Grid, True, and Magnetic) Bottom left of map Provides graphic of declination

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Declination Graphic

Image Reference: Pidwirny, Dr. Michael, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1999, http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/2b.html

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True NorthMagnetic North

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Why Do I care?

►Test questions►Some parts of the world it is a big deal

Wisconsin – generally can be ignored Arctic Circle – 30-40 degrees

►Should not be ignored!! Continental USA – 0-20 degrees

►Declination important for accurate navigation

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Three Types of Declination►Negligible - Almost Zero and can be

ignored Recommended when possible ;)

►Westerly Declination Magnetic north is west of true. Eastern USA (example - Maine)

►Easterly Declination Magnetic north is east of true. Western USA (example - California)

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Magnetic Lines

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Two Types of Correction► Map to Compass

Reading an azimuth from a map and using a compass to navigate

► Compass to Map Transferring an azimuth sighted with a compass

to show it on a map.

Not often recommended: Reset compass adjustments

Map markups with magnetic North

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Recommendation Memorize “WAM”

“West Declination, Add going Map to Compass”East

Declination West Declination

Map to Compass

Subtract Add

Compass to Map

Add Subtract

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EXAMPLE: Declination

►I am near Bangor Maine, declination is 17 degrees westerly.

►My compass points North Magnetic North, that is. True north, which is what my map

shows, is to the right of where my compass is pointing.

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Maine - Declination► People are reading maps in the

command center. They have my position identified They want me to navigate to a target They read a heading of 100 degrees based

on their map.

► Remember: Your compass is 17 degrees off their map.

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Maine - Declination

►Use the WAM rule. Declination is westerly. I am going from map to compass

►So – WAM – ADD 17 degrees►Set your compass at 117 degrees!

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East Declination

West Declination

Map to Compass

Subtract

Compass to Map

Add Subtract

WEST D

EC

LINATIO

N

Map To Compass ADD

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Quiz Question 2

You have your current location established on a map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark?

Continue on next slide

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Recommendation Memorize “WAM”

“West Declination, add going Map to Compass”East

Declination West Declination

Map to Compass

Subtract Add

Compass to Map

Add Subtract

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Quiz Question 2 You have your current location established on a

map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark?

A 245B 260C 275D 290

A

B

C

D

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Answer B - 260

► Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area.

►Review the question Retry

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Answer C – 275

►Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area.

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer D – 290

►Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area.

►Note: This mistake is common when people adjust their compass settings for declination.

Please Try Again Retry

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Answer A – 245 degrees

►YES – GREAT ANSWER ► In this case we subtract the

declination Remember WAM

►Yes, this is Westerly Declination►But, we are going from Compass to Map so, Subtract 15 from 260 = 245

Review Question 2

East West

Map to Subtract Add

Compass to AddSubtract

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Quiz Question 3 You are in the woods with a map (5

degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and determine your destination to be at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass?

Continue on next slide

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Quiz Question 3

You are in the woods with a map (5 degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and see your destination at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass?

A 92B 89C 87D 82

A

B

D

C

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Answer A – 92

►Sorry not 92.►Please review the declination chart

and address the declination properly for this area.

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer B – 89

►Sorry – 89 is not the answer►Please review the declination chart

and address the declination properly for this area.

►Please Try Again RETRY #3

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Answer C – 87

►Sorry – not 87►Please review the declination chart

and address the declination properly for this area.

►Please Try Again Retry

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Answer D - 82

►YES – 82 DEGREES – GREAT ANSWER!► This area has an Easterly Declination► WAM

►No it is not Westerly – calls for subtraction►But, yes it is map to compass – stays

subtraction So Subtract 87 – 5 = 82

REVISIT QUESTION #3

East West

Map to Add

Compass to Add Subtract

Subtract

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References

►Compass images provided by NASAR.

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Thank you for your time!

►This concludes this learning module.

►If you would like to ask questions or send input please send me a note.

ChuckCKEUHN@NEW.RR.COM

End of Presentation – Thanks!!