Tracking Australia's Elite
Want to see where the best orienteers in Australia run? Follow their GPS tracks below.
What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is a satellite based navigation system initially developed by the US military. Time-coded signals sent to a number of satellites triangulate the position with high accuracy. The accuracy achieved will depend on the receiver and the software interpreting the signals. Typically, accuracy is better than 15m with some manufacturers claiming much higher. Buildings, steep slopes and heavy forest may interrupt the line of sight signal but modern units keep their signal remarkably well in forest typically used for orienteering.
Along with improvements in mapping, GPS is commonly used to track individuals, including during sporting performance. With capabilities to overlay routes over orienteering maps, GPS has become a powerful coaching and training tool. Data can also be statistically analysed to offer further feedback. By re-creating the performance, and by editing tracks so that runners "appear" to start together you get an idea of how different runners win and lose a race.
Performances
A number of Australia's top elites have been running with GPS units lately. In the future we hope to add runners comments so you can get an even better understanding of how they run. Want to see where the elites go?
*Important notice. When downloading and viewing the .mp4 files we suggest using Quicktime to play the media files (note the h264 codec files may only work using Quicktime. The quality is vastly superior to Windows Media Player. If you don’t have Quicktime it is available for free download at www.apple.com.au/quicktime
You may want to slow the speed of the movie.
In quicktime, go to Window – show A/V controls – change playback speed according to preference. In WMP, go to Play – play speed (if available).
Otrack files "race.exe" have been zipped, to view simply unzip and execute (double click!). Use the controls at the top to adjust the speed of the replay and select which runner to follow on the screen.
Click on the links below:
- Tasmanian Championships 2005 - Pittwater Dunes, Hobart, Tasmania - M21E
- Australian Championships 2005 - Littlechild Creek, St Helens, Tasmania - W21E
- NSW State League 7, 2006, Seldom Seen, Eugowra - M21
- Australian Sprint Championships 2006 - M21E, featuring Julian Dent (JD), David Shepherd (Shep), Ben Rattray (BR) and Rob Preston (RP). Download zipped otrack, or watch Quicktime (4MB!)
- Australian Long Championships 2006 - M21E, featuring Julian Dent
(JD), David Shepherd (Shep), Rob Preston (RP) and Ben Rattray (BR). Download zipped otrack
- Australian Relay Championships 2006 - M21E, featuring David Shepherd (Shep) and Rob Preston (RP). Download zipped otrack
Thanks to the ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) for their support in this project.
We can bring you this tracking thanks largely to Rex Saye (ACT orienteer) who has developed software to use GPS data in this way (see the link below).
Need a GPS unit?
HealthMG is offering Orienteering Australia members discounts on FRWD units.
FRWD F200 $500 less 20% …. $100 OFF = Australian Orienteering member/reader Price $400
FRWD F400 $750 less 20% …. $150 OFF = Australian Orienteering member/reader Price $600
For further details and sales enquiries email HealthMG.
GPS Links
Rex Saye software - O-track at www.o-ware.com
FRWD - the ideal GPS unit for orienteers at www.frwd.fi
TracTrac - Danish live-tracking company used in some major international orienteering races - Chris Terkelsen - at www.tractrac.com