Table of Contents

Overview

Main Menu

   File

      Print

      Preferences

         Default Printer

         Default State/Meridian

         Lat/Long Output

      Exit

   Graphic

   Utilities

      Browse WINCAN01.mdb

      User Data Maintenance

   Help

      About CANWIN

      Help File

General Information

   Navigation on the Main Screen

      Input

      Output

   Data Base Structure

      Data Base Description

      Changing Data Base Location

      28-Day Update Cycle

Definition of Acronyms


Overview

The Computer Assisted Navigation (CAN) program is used by various federal and local agencies as a fire dispatching tool.  This windows version (WINCAN) replaces the current version of CAN which is an MS-DOS based program.  The WINCAN program provides access to section level databases for the states of California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona.  Based on an input point description in any one of four reference systems (Legal, Lat/Lon, VOR or ATB Ref, or UTM), the program will:

•	Determine the corresponding location description in the other systems.

•	Display the VOR, ATB, HELI, and OTH Base locations relative to the Fire event.

•	If within a MOA , Restricted area or User Defined area, displays the ID of those areas.

•	If within 12 nautical miles (NM) of an IR, VR, or SR Military training route or a Power line, or user-defined line or point hazard, displays the ID and relative location of the hazard.  It will also display the any available contact information.

The windows version was developed to provide consistent functionality with the current MS DOS version but is enhanced to utilize survey data for California and to display conflict information.  The spatial display and analysis capabilities are a significant improvement over the DOS version.  Several layers of information can be viewed relative to the fire location.  Common GIS tools are available when viewing the spatial display such as zoom in/out, measuring device, and clicking on map labels for more information.

If the data in the system is more than 28 days old, the program will automatically update the military hazard information from tables created by the System Administrator, or will generate a message to the user if the information in those tables need to be updated.


Print

 Captures the screen and sends it to the default printer.


Default Printer

Allows the user to set the default printer.


Default State/Meridian

The user-selected default State / Meridian option allows the user to select a default state and any associated meridian for program startup purposes.  Selection of this option displays a screen that links each state with its available meridians.  The Exit button on this screen closes the screen without saving and the Cancel button restores the previously saved values and leaves the screen open.

WINCAN has the following built-in default State / Principal Meridian combinations which are used for state/meridian combinations not specified by the user:

Arizona / (G)ila and Salt River

California / (M)ount Diablo

Idaho / (B)oise

Nevada / (M)ount Diablo

Oregon / (W)illiamette


Lat/Long Output

This option allows the user to select the format for the display of latitude/longitude coordinates after program execution.  Click on the desired format to set.  Until changed again, all future latitude / longitude output will be in the selected format.

Deg. Min - degree, minutes-decimal.

Degree - decimal


Exit

Exits the program.


Browse WINCAN01.mdb

This utility allows the user to examine fields and tables in the main database WINCAN01.mdb.  Note, however, vertices data is in binary form and is not displayed in this view.  Also, the user should note that the longitude is displayed as a negative value in this view (required for internal calculations) but user Input/output always uses positive values for longitude.


User Data Maintenance

This option allows the user to add, modify or delete specific hazards from selected tables.  To modify: click on the appropriate hazard table, then select the hazard file to be modified.  Click on the Edit Existing Hazard button.  The user may then modify the data by moving through the text boxes with the Tab key.  To modify the Latitude or Longitude data, click on the appropriate number cell and move from cell to cell by either using the Enter key or mouse clicks.  Save saves the changes.  Cancel restores the original values without closing the window.  Exit closes the window without saving. Note that the number of vertices cannot be modified. The user must either add a new hazard (e.g. to extend an existing line hazard) or delete the existing hazard and start over.

To add a hazard, click on Add New Hazard.  For line and area hazards, the user will be prompted to enter the number of vertices.  The required data for a record consists of: IDENT (unique), Number of Points, NAME, and the lat/lon data points for the NUMBER OF POINTS.  Save saves the changes.  Cancel restores the original values without closing the window.  Exit closes the window without saving.


Help

Displays helpful user information


About WINCAN

This displays general information including the WINCAN version, the date for the current executable and an assistance contact phone number.


Input

Input is not case-sensitive.  Move between fields using the Tab key, mouse or Enter key [e.g. if your cursor is in the (blank) Township field and you press the Enter key, your cursor will move to the latitude field].  When your desired entry has been made, press Enter or click on OK to calculate.  When you press Enter after program execution and the cursor has returned to the township location, all fields will be cleared. Subsequent use of the Enter key will cycle through the types of input.

Helpful hints are available by placing the mouse arrow over particular elements on the screen.

When using the Legal input option the user must select the appropriate State/meridian from the pull down menu by using the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the list, then press “Enter” to select a State/meridian combination. If the meridian is not correct, move to the ‘Merid’ input box and change it to the correct meridian letter. If the state is California, the program will attempt to find the survey legal description and associated latitude and longitude values. If this fails the program will use  DOSCAN to get the information. If this fails, program execution terminates. The Data Source box in the upper right-hand corner displays the conversion routine used: either DosCan or Survey (for California).

When using other than the Legal input option, the input State/meridian information is not utilized. The program utilizes the DOSCAN program to get the correct State/meridian. If the State is California, the program uses the California survey data for the conversion. If the State is not California, or the data was not found in the California database, the DOSCAN conversion is utilized.  If the DOSCAN conversion fails, the program continues to generate the base and conflict information but will not present a legal description.

Legal Description Input

Latitude & Longitude Input

VOR/ATB Data Input

UTM Input

Example Input


Legal Description Input

Township (XX.XC) where the decimal portion is optional and C is "N" or "S" (leading zeros are not required).

Range (XX.XC) where the decimal portion is optional and C is "W" or "E" (leading zeros are not required).

Section (X or XX (1-36)).

Quarter Section (C1C2) where C1 is "N" or "S" and C2 is "E" or "W" -NOTE-

This optional input is available for California only.

Quarter-Quarter Section format is the same as for the quarter section and must have a quarter section input.

Meridian  - one character code for principal meridian.

Example Legal Input for Each State

State	Town	Range	Sec	¼	¼	Merid
CA	19S	02W	7	NE	NE	S
CA	48N	04W	16	NW	SW	M
OR	19S	20E	21			G
OR	19S	20E	3			W
ID	07N	25E	10			B
ID	65N	02E	1			B
NV	18N	58E	4			M
NV	48N	31E	2			M
AZ	24S	30E	21			G
AZ	09.5N	05E	36			G


Latitude & Longitude Input

Latitude - degree decimal (XX.XXX) or degree, minute decimal (XX,XX.XX).

Longitude - degree decimal  (XXX.XXXX) or degree, minute decimal (XXX,XX.XX).

Example Latitude and Longitude Input for Each State

State	Latitude	Longitude
CA	32,32.2	117,07.3
CA	36.911	119.765
OR	47,57.2	118,52.7
OR	43,954	120.307
ID	43,57.0	113,28.0
ID	49.014	116,1439
NV	42,04.3	118,28.5
NV	39.455	115,4494
AZ	37.0152	111.017
AZ	34,09.9	111,47.6


VOR/ATB Data Input

Click on the VOR button to change to ATB input and vice versa.

VOR or ATB - 3 or 4 letter identifier

Radial - magnetic heading from the VOR  (0 – 360 deg)

Distance - nautical miles from the VOR


UTM input: (Nad27 Reference)

Northing (+meters)

Easting (+meters)

Zone Number (X or XX)

Example UTM Input for Each State

State	Northing	Easting	Zone
CA	4089062	252823	11
CA	4650697	556822	10
OR	4870165	716049	10
OR	5312612	359730	11
ID	5429094	562602	11
ID	4869137	302039	12
NV	4368219	633411	11
NV	4658502	378033	11
AZ	4096359	498470	12
AZ	3780448	426889	12


Example Input

State:	California

Legal:	19S 42E 25 SW SW M

Or

Latitude:	36, 15	Longitude:	117, 23

Or

VOR:	DAG	Radial:	319	Distance:	87

Or

Northing:	4011545	Easting:	465560	Zone:	10


Output

Event location: This output, in the various reference systems, depends on the input and state selected as follows:

Input Legal description results in Lat/Lon and UTM values located at the centroid of the section or, if California, at the centroid of the 1/4 section (or 1/4 1/4 section) if contained in the input legal description.

Input Lat/Lon results in UTM conversion and Legal description of the section containing the point or, if California, the 1/4 1/4 section.

Input VOR data results in Lat/Lon conversion, UTM conversion and Legal description of the section containing the point or, if California, the 1/4 1/4 section.

Input UTM results in Lat/Lon conversion and Legal description of the section containing the point or, if California, the 1/4 1/4 section.

Base Locations: This output shows the magnetic heading (RAD) and distance (DIST), in nautical miles, from the base to the input event location. The "Bases" are VOR (Navigation Aids), ATB (Fixed Wing Airports), HELI (Helicopter bases), and OTH	 (Lifeflight bases).  Double-click on any of the fixed-base ID’s to get any available contact information.

Conflicts: If an event location is inside an Military Operating Area (MOA), a Military Restricted area (Restricted) or a user defined area (UserHazArea) the area will be identified and available contact information provided. If within 12 NM of a Military Training Route (MTR), Powerline (Pwrln), or user defined line (UserLineHaz) the specific line segment of the line source will be identified, it’s relative position to the fire event given and any available contact information will be displayed. If within 12 NM of a user defined point (UserPointHaz), the point source ID, relative position and contact information will be displayed.


WINCAN Graphic Screen

Select “Graphic” from the menu bar on the Main WINCAN User screen.  The incident location will be displayed as a red triangle in the middle of the graphic and various nearby bases and hazards will be symbolically displayed.  The map legend displayed to the right of the map shows the symbols used for each feature.

To display more information about a feature (symbol) on the map, double-click on the symbol.  You will be asked to enter the EXACT (not case-sensitive) name of the symbol you wish to search on.  Enter the appropriate name of the feature as it appears in the map key (e.g. “MOA” or “Power Line”).  The program will then display the name and coordinates of the selected feature.

Adjust Map Viewing Area

Task Bar

Distance Measuring Mode Off/On

Menu Items

File

  Print

  Exit

Coverage


Exit

Returns user back to Main WINCAN screen.


Print

Captures the screen display and sends the output to the default printer.


Coverage

This feature will produce a user selection form with all the features for the graph.  The user can de-select any item (with the exception of the State and Fire location) and the coverage for that item will be removed from the map. The functions of the buttons on this form are described below:

Clear—clears all checkboxes.

Set Default—re-sets the values to the current default setting.

View Graph—shows the graph for the currently checked boxes.

Save—saves the currently checked boxes as the default setting.

Exit—exits the screen and re-plots the default values.


Distance Measuring Mode Off/On

The distance between points on the map, in nautical miles, can be measured when the mode is turned to “ON”.  To measure:

1.Left-click the “OFF” button in the Distance Measuring Mode box at the bottom of the screen.

   (This will toggle the button caption to the “ON” position).

2. Place cursor over starting point and left-click mouse.

3. Move cursor to final measuring point and right-click mouse.

4. When finished with this option, click “ON” button to toggle to “OFF” position.


Task Bar

Hand

Click on the hand to enter a mode in which you can click and drag to move the map coverage area.  To re-center the graph on the fire location use the “Display New Area” button.

Zoom +

Click on this button to enter a mode that allows you to zoom in on an area of the map by placing the cursor in one corner of the area to be expanded then holding down the left mouse button and dragging the mouse to the opposite corner of the area.  The defined area is then expanded to screen size.

Zoom –

Click on this button to enter a mode in which you can click on a particular spot on the map and the map will zoom out around the point selected.


Adjust Map Viewing Area

The initial view of the map is an area of an approximately 100 nautical mile square around the incident.  The view can be adjusted to any distance between 5 and 250 nautical miles.  To zoom in or zoom out, change the value displayed in the box at the lower right to the desired distance.  Press “ENTER” or press the “Display New Area” button to re-draw the map.


Data Base Description

The Wincan program requires access to the following databases:

WINCAN01.mdb – This database contains the basic feature information and operating parameter information used by WinCan. This database can be in any location as long as it is properly registered.

SURVEY.mdb – This database contains the survey data for California and must be in the same location as the WINCAN01 database.

NEWCANWIN.mdb – This database contains update information for the WINCAN01 database. It must be current and located in the same location as the WINCAN01 database to be utilized.

Wmm.cof – This Text File is used by the magnetic variation update routine and must be in the application directory (i.e. the one containing the WinCan.exe file)

WinCanHelp.hlp – This binary file is used by the Help option and must be in the application directory.


Changing Data Base Location

The databases WINCAN01.mdb, NEWWINCAN.mdb, and SURVEY.mdb must all be in the same folder.  The data file Wmm.cof must be in the application folder (i.e., the one containing Wincan.exe).  To change the location of the three Access databases (*.mdb), close the program, move the three *.mdb databases to the desired folder and re-start the program.  At the prompt, change the path to include the new data location (e.g. from “C:\FSAPPS\FAM\WINCAN” to “C:\FSAPPS\FAM\DATA\WINCAN”).  The program will automatically re-register the ODBC connection.  Note that the DSN for the ODBC connection is “WC01”.  This DSN must be used if the Windows ODBC applet is used to register the database location.


28-Day Update Cycle

             The military (MOA and Restricted areas and MTR routes), VOR, ATB, HELI and Power Line data are reviewed and updated every 28 days by the Systems Administrator and the revised data is placed in the database NEWWINCAN.mdb. This database should be downloaded to the user’s directory containing the WINCAN01.mdb database on a 28 day cycle. Each time WinCan is started, it checks the need of an update (by checking the PramValue field for the “Effective Date “ in the Param Table of the WINCAN01 database against the current date).  If an update is needed the program checks the “” Table in the NEWWINCAN database residing in the user’s system to ensure that the current date is between the “Effective Date” and the “To Date”. If this is ok, the program will automatically update the user’s WINCAN01 database. At this time the program will also update the magnetic variation values in the user Tables “PNT_OTH” and “UserPointHaz.”


Dictionary of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ATB—Fixed Wing Airports

DIST—Distance

HAZ—Lifeflight Bases

HELI—Helicopter Bases

IR—Instrument Flight Rules

MOA—Military Operating Area

MTR-Military Training Routes

NIMA—National Imagery and Mapping Agency

PGN—Polygon Source

PLN—Line Source

PNT—Point Source

SR—Special Flight Rules

VOR—Navigation Aids

VR—Visual Flight Rules