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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Establish cardinal points by day using the sun
   • Construct a sun compass in an open and level area to record complete movement of the sun over a solar day.
   • Mark true north, associated cardinal points and the arc of the sun on the sun compass.
   • Mark true north and associated cardinal points using a quick shadow stick method (maximum of twenty minutes of solar transit) and making allowance for the deviation arising from early morning or late afternoon siting.
2. Establish cardinal points by night using celestial aids
   • Extrapolate the location of cardinal points by identifying and using celestial bodies.
   • Extrapolate the location of the celestial pole by identifying and using celestial bodies.
   • Extrapolate true south (or north) by using the celestial pole on the earth/sky horizon and by establishing a compass showing all cardinal points on the ground.
3. Employ improvised direction measuring techniques
   • Select appropriate direction of travel to optimise survival or rescue, after analysing the survival situation.
   • Construct an improvised protractor using a multifolded sheet of paper and mark the desired angle of direction.
   • Use established cardinal points and directional markings on an improvised protractor to navigate towards a recognisable feature in the distance.
4. Employ improvised time measuring techniques
   • Estimate elapsed time by measuring the angle of a segment of the sun’s transit and applying an angle by rate calculation.
   • Estimate elapsed time by measuring the rotation of a celestial body around the celestial pole, and applying an angle by rate calculation.
5. Employ improvised distance measuring techniques
   • Estimate distance by counting number of paces taken and applying a pace by length of pace calculation.
   • Estimate distance by travelling at constant estimated velocity walking pace of four km/h and applying a velocity by time calculation.
6. Determine overall position relative to start point and navigate back
   • Draw grid system using a standard scale on a sheet of paper, and mark cardinal points and start point.
   • Draw physical navigation movements as scaled vectors from the start point.
   • Aggregate individual navigation vectors to determine final position relative to the start point.
   • Determine return vector, including bearing and distance, to return to the start point.
7. Establish cardinal points by day using the sun
   • Construct a sun compass in an open and level area to record complete movement of the sun over a solar day.
   • Mark true north, associated cardinal points and the arc of the sun on the sun compass.
   • Mark true north and associated cardinal points using a quick shadow stick method (maximum of twenty minutes of solar transit) and making allowance for the deviation arising from early morning or late afternoon siting.
8. Establish cardinal points by night using celestial aids
   • Extrapolate the location of cardinal points by identifying and using celestial bodies.
   • Extrapolate the location of the celestial pole by identifying and using celestial bodies.
   • Extrapolate true south (or north) by using the celestial pole on the earth/sky horizon and by establishing a compass showing all cardinal points on the ground.
9. Employ improvised direction measuring techniques
   • Select appropriate direction of travel to optimise survival or rescue, after analysing the survival situation.
   • Construct an improvised protractor using a multifolded sheet of paper and mark the desired angle of direction.
   • Use established cardinal points and directional markings on an improvised protractor to navigate towards a recognisable feature in the distance.
10. Employ improvised time measuring techniques
    • Estimate elapsed time by measuring the angle of a segment of the sun’s transit and applying an angle by rate calculation.
    • Estimate elapsed time by measuring the rotation of a celestial body around the celestial pole, and applying an angle by rate calculation.
11. Employ improvised distance measuring techniques
    • Estimate distance by counting number of paces taken and applying a pace by length of pace calculation.
    • Estimate distance by travelling at constant estimated velocity walking pace of four km/h and applying a velocity by time calculation.
12. Determine overall position relative to start point and navigate back
    • Draw grid system using a standard scale on a sheet of paper, and mark cardinal points and start point.
    • Draw physical navigation movements as scaled vectors from the start point.
    • Aggregate individual navigation vectors to determine final position relative to the start point.
    • Determine return vector, including bearing and distance, to return to the start point.

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

identifying celestial bodies

navigating

five kilometres within a solar day, which may be broken into legs of not less than one kilometre, but must include at least four legs, as part of a navigation circuit; on completion, navigators are to submit a vector diagram detailing their final position relative to their start point accurate to within 10% (of distance and direction)

five kilometres within eight hours at night, which may be broken into legs of not less than one kilometre, but must include at least four legs, as part of a navigation circuit; on completion, navigators are to submit a vector diagram detailing their final position relative to their start point accurate to within 10% (of distance and direction)

locating cardinal points and true north

by day: make adjustments for the shadow arc, dependent upon the time, when using only a partial segment of a solar day (maximum twenty minute fix) to locate the cardinal points; and to indicate true north to within 10% with a sun compass, using a twenty minute fix

by night: implement contingency skills when there is partial cloud in the night sky; and to employ five different celestial body indication techniques to locate the cardinal points, either directly or through extrapolation via the celestial pole

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Knowledge Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

angles (in degrees)

basic physics (velocity/distance/time)

cardinal points (magnetic and true)

earth’s orbit and rotation in relation to the sun and night sky, including the celestial pole phenomenon

mathematical calculations including:

distance travelled:

velocity x time

pace length x number of paces

elapsed time:

rate of (apparent) movement of sun (15 degrees/hour x solar angle subtended)

rate of (apparent) movement of night sky around the celestial pole (15 degrees/hour x angle subtended by nominated celestial body)

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