Project Title: GPS Equipment for Archaeological Fieldwork

Project Lead's Name: Steven Tuck

Project Lead's Email: tucksl@MiamiOH.edu

Project Lead's Phone: 513-529-9718

Project Lead's Division: CAS

Primary Department: Classics

Other Team Members and their emails: Emily Holt, holtem2@MiamiOH.edu

List Departments Benefiting or Affected by this proposal: Classics, Anthropology

Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 15

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 3

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem: We are requesting funding to support the purchase of 12 GPSMAP 66s Multisatellite Handheld Sensors. Archaeological fieldwork, whether survey or excavation, requires precise mapping. Currently we do not have the equipment to record GPS locations. These are necessary on projects to record locations of structures, finds, and features. We are requesting funding to purchase low cost but sturdy handheld sensors which will enable our teams to create digital maps of sites for study and publication. In addition to providing these essential tools, this funding will allow us to lower the cost of the fieldwork projects for students, essentially saving each student $400 from the cost of the program, reducing the financial burden that can restrict especially lower income students from participating in this valuable professional experience.

How would you describe the innovation and/or the significance of your project: This equipment will enable students to learn to use the latest technology for GPS mapping. These devices are an industry standard so will be useful for continuing projects for many years. Having just established an Archaeology Minor and initiated field projects for Miami students in Anthropology and Classics, these devices will allow many students to learn the fundamentals and application of GPS-based mapping. With a single purchase we will be able to share these between projects in Anthropology and Classics as we establish additional field projects as we have planned in both Winter and Summer terms.

How will you assess the success of the project: We will consider the project successful when it fulfills two requirements. First, repeatability. We expect the field projects to run for ca. 5 years and so the equipment will serve students for that period. Second, we expect that students will return to Miami and present their work in either papers or posters at the Undergraduate Research Forum or other appropriate venue.

Total Amount Requested: $5,280.00

Budget Details: We are requesting funds to purchase twelve GPSMAP 66s Multisatellite Handheld Sensors for student use. Each is $440. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/598455#specs

Is this a multi-year request: No

Please address how, if at all, this project impacts any of Miami's BCSAE, 2020, or divisional plans: This equipment will enable Classics and Anthropology to create additional opportunities for students to conduct and present research in their fields, in a professional setting, one of the goals of CAS.