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Evidence Guide: MSS024005A - Collect spatial and discrete environmental data

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

MSS024005A - Collect spatial and discrete environmental data

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Prepare for data collection

  1. Locate and review relevant legislative/regulatory, enterprise requirements and background information for site/project
  2. Locate and interpret specifications for spatial and environmental data collection
  3. Develop a data collection plan in accordance with specifications and relevant requirements
  4. Establish codes for environmental attributes
  5. Assemble equipment and check that it is fit for purpose
  6. Confirm plan with supervisor, as necessary
Locate and review relevant legislative/regulatory, enterprise requirements and background information for site/project

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locate and interpret specifications for spatial and environmental data collection

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Develop a data collection plan in accordance with specifications and relevant requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establish codes for environmental attributes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assemble equipment and check that it is fit for purpose

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confirm plan with supervisor, as necessary

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safely collect GPS and environmental data

  1. Set up environmental measuring instruments on site and perform pre-use/calibration checks
  2. Set up GPS equipment with correct datum and projection settings
  3. Operate instruments/equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and enterprise procedures
  4. Determine conditions for obtaining optimum GPS positions
  5. Collect point positional data in accordance with data collection plan
  6. Attribute environmental data for each location
  7. ‘Ground truth’ GPS data using maps, aerial photos and/or satellite imagery
  8. Verify environmental data, identify atypical results and review procedures/troubleshoot equipment, as necessary
Set up environmental measuring instruments on site and perform pre-use/calibration checks

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set up GPS equipment with correct datum and projection settings

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operate instruments/equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine conditions for obtaining optimum GPS positions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect point positional data in accordance with data collection plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attribute environmental data for each location

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Ground truth’ GPS data using maps, aerial photos and/or satellite imagery

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verify environmental data, identify atypical results and review procedures/troubleshoot equipment, as necessary

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report data and finalise documentation

  1. Use appropriate GPS software to download and process GPS and environmental data and extract required information
  2. Use specified quality tests and enterprise procedures to check acceptability of environmental data
  3. Report location and environmental data using required formats and within the expected timeframe
  4. Complete all required documentation
  5. Maintain the security and confidentiality of data and documentation in accordance with enterprise requirements
Use appropriate GPS software to download and process GPS and environmental data and extract required information

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use specified quality tests and enterprise procedures to check acceptability of environmental data

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report location and environmental data using required formats and within the expected timeframe

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complete all required documentation

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain the security and confidentiality of data and documentation in accordance with enterprise requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

planning and conducting data collection efficiently and safely

setting up and operating handheld GPS equipment and environmental instruments correctly

collecting spatial and environmental data that meet specifications

recognising and recording atypical data

conducting basic troubleshooting of equipment

processing, presenting and storing data reliably

completing required documentation accurately.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

environmental monitoring units, such as:

MSL974007A Undertake environmental field-based monitoring

MSS024008A Recognise common geological landforms and samples

MSS024011A Navigate in urban, regional and remote areas.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

GPS receivers and related GPS software

environmental monitoring instruments, digital camera and sampling equipment

site/project history, maps and aerial photos

guidelines, codes, regulations and enterprise procedures governing data collection.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of data and results obtained by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers

observation of candidate collecting data with a focus on:

general site reconnaissance and observations

set-up and use of equipment

accurate data recording

problem solving/troubleshooting

safe work practices

oral and/or written questions to assess understanding of enterprise procedures, use of equipment and interpretation of data.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

reading and interpreting instructions, specifications, procedures and manuals

planning and organising resources for data collection

reading and interpreting maps and aerial photos

using computer equipment to collect, manipulate and file spatial/environmental data

using basic troubleshooting and problem-solving methods to check/address atypical data

performing calculations involving height, depth, dimensions, uncertainty, accuracy and precision

relating direction and position on ground to visual representations

presenting results and preparing technical reports

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

working safely for the protection of self and others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

legislative requirements, standard methods and enterprise procedures governing data collection

environmental terms, concepts and principles relevant to data collection

operating principles of GPS equipment and environmental instruments, set-up and optimisation methods, and equipment limitations

uncertainty, accuracy and precision of measurements, and data requirements

data formats

methods for data processing, manipulation and management

relevant health and safety requirements and enterprise safe work procedures

Range Statement

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water, water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

enterprise or regulator procedures for sampling, monitoring and in-field testing

equipment manuals and standard operating procedures

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

safe work procedures

Background information

Background information may include:

site or project history

client history

records of consultations with stakeholders

emergency plans and safety procedures

site access protocols and permits

site utilities/services (e.g. water, sewer, electricity and gas)

maps (e.g. road, topographical and survey marks)

existing data sets (e.g. vegetation, topography, soils and regional ecosystem maps)

hazards and safety risks

Specifications

Specifications may include:

purpose of data collection

detailed descriptions of spatial and environmental data requirements:

positional data, metadata, calculated information

environmental measurements

sampling

data processing requirements

data quality requirements

data presentation/reporting requirements

Equipment

Equipment may include:

any handheld GPS receiver

sampling and environmental monitoring equipment

communications equipment (e.g. radio and phone)

safety equipment

Project parameters

Project parameters may include:

coordinate systems

datum

display formats

information displays

data outputs, formats and protocols

Verifying data

Verifying data may include checking the quality of environmental data by:

comparison with expected or reference values

conducting repeat tests, and using duplicate samples or locations

Required documentation

Required documentation may include:

map of GPS data locations

sampling, monitoring or in-field test data and results

records of vehicle/equipment use

records of time spent and approved expenditure

emails and correspondence

records of site consultations

final report/briefing

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health