Chapter H

Vibracore Sampling Strategy Interactive Training

By Jack Kindinger¹, James Flocks¹, Charles Holmes¹, and Chris Polloni¹

¹USGS

INTRODUCTION

This multimedia activity was developed as a guide for researchers who would like to use small boats with coring equipment in shallow estuaries and marine environments.  It is also useful for students and others who are interested in the details involved in developing a scientific sediment sampling strategy from design concept to implementation. This course describes designing, building, and assembling components and includes detailed instructions on configuration and field use of the equipment.  Part of the course includes deploying the sampling gear from the G.K. Gilbert, a USGS small boat research vessel that has worked in Lake Pontchartrain, and performing sampling procedures at the Saint Petersburg Field Center (SPFC).

MULTIMEDIA TOOLS

The video software to access this application must be installed on the user's computer before the training course can be used. The required software is RealPlayer, which is installed with the user's web browser software. (See resource links for URL to obtain the most recent version of RealPlayer).

Asymetrix Inc. provided support to develop this experimental training course. This course is an example of actual sampling techniques used at one of our field centers for the Lake Pontchartrain program, but it has not been reviewed for accuracy. The web site for Asymetrix Inc. describes the tools that were used to design, build, and publish a CD-ROM product. [Note: Asymetrix Inc. is now Click2learn.com. See resource links below.]

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

The application is divided into four sections:  introduction, sampling, analysis, and summary. The user can take a tour of the application to get a general idea of what is being described. One can then go back and review components of the course in greater detail to understand the specifics of procedures.

Click here to start the vibracore sampling video.
or go to the file structure and open /vibracor/index.html

Note: A new window should appear with the text explanations and links to the video clips. If the text and links in this window appear displaced, check the Windows display properties (advanced settings) and make sure that the Font Size setting indicates "Small Fonts" and the size is "Normal" (96 dpi). When you are done viewing the videos, close the Real Player application and that text window. Then your browser will display a page with the Asymetrix logo at the top. From there, click on the back arrow in your browser to return to this page.

RESOURCE LINKS

A free copy of RealOne can be downloaded from http://www.real.com/realone/.

To learn more about the Asymetrix tools used, visit http://www.asymetrix.com or http://home.click2learn.com/.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Terry Edgar for his support in organizing this video. Coring assistance was provided by Richard Young, Chris Holland, and Nancy DeWitt. Video assistance was provided by Jan Utterstrom and Adam Utterstrom.