Tall Timbers Help Desk

Note: The following are instructions for the Trimble DA2 Catalyst GNSS Systems with 1centimeter accuracy level. 

Trimble Connect is the online cloud account to set up your data and maps before you go to the field and collect data with the Trimble. The following instructions provides initial setup guidelines and there may be exceptions, so please discuss your project setup with the Geospatial Lab staff.

Note: Cat1, 2, 3, 4 designations are associated with the DA2 receiver antennae. You can look on the underside of the antennae where it should be labelled.

1. Enter the password provided to you by the Geospatial Lab.
2. Click Sign in.
3. Select the Tall Timbers Research project area.

9.Under Name include the name of the geographic area and the coordinate system you will use and click Next.

10. Enter in the address of the location and hit return so it will zoom to the location. Select Next.

11. For setting a coordinate system, we generally suggest doing the following. This will provide a latitude and longitude in Geographic WGS 84 in decimal degrees for point data. If you are capturing area (polygons), please contact the Geospatial Lab for more information.

12. Once in the map, click the plus sign to add data. Most likely, you will want to start your own dataset, so select ‘New Template’.

13. Provide the template with a name which includes the project name. Make sure you select ‘Form geometry must be captured’.

14. Select Fields to start creating your new fields. Once you create a new field, click on the yellow checkbox to finish.

15. In the Auto fields, make sure you select ‘Created on’ ‘Estimated Accuracy’ and ‘XYZ’ at the minimum.

16. It is also helpful later on if you include the unit for the accuracy, as below for CM.

17. Once you are done making your fields, hit ‘Publish’ and you’ll then notice your new points layer is now in the map.

18. It is highly suggested that users create an offline basemap before they go out to the field. This ensures that the user will always have a basemap even if they become disconnected from the internet.

19. You can chose Street or Satellite view, and then Add and ‘Create offline basemap’. It will ask you to select the area you will be collecting data.

20. Once complete, the offline basemap will appear under ‘Map Caches’.

21. Close the Map Workspace when complete and make sure your new map is in Explorer.

22. Please consult Part 2: Trimble GPS Terraflex Mobile App for further information on collecting data in the field.

Background layers

If you need background reference layers, make sure the shapefile is the in the same coordinate system as the map workspace. Zip up all the files associated with the shapefile.

In Trimble Connect, Go to Import from file…

Either drop or browse to the zip file.

It should then appear in the Data Legend…

When you return from collecting data in the field, you will then export it from the map workspace you created. Steps below for exporting your data: 

23. Sign into Trimble Connect when your data has synced up and you are back in the office.

24. With your map open in the area of interest and the data is visible, click on the Export button.

25. Under email, it is best to change the address to your email address. You can also change the format of the data from CSV to Shapefile or KML. You also can export all the data or just the data that is visible in the current map view. Everything should be left as default.

26. Your data should be emailed to you within 15-20 minutes.

Please see the Trimble TerraFlex Help Portal for more information on the Trimble Connect Map Viewer.