Training Workshop for the Research Coordinators

GeoMap's Charles Tambiah, Tim Norris and Jennie Freeman and Fulbright Scholar Joel Wainwright met with the seven Maya Mapping Project coordinators to help them prepare for their tasks of assisting the village researchers. The MMP coordinators were Julian Cho, Domingo Cho, Pio Coc, Santos Coc, Santiago Coh, Jose Salam, and Julio Saqui. Their tasks were to solve any logistical problems, to make ensure that the proper survey and mapping methods were being followed, and to see that each village researcher's work was as accurate and complete as possible. In addition, each coordinator was shown how to compile composite information from the questionnaires when they were complete, and to crosscheck the maps for completeness and accuracy. During this time the coordinators were taught how to use handheld GPS (Global Positioning System) units so that they could locate with a great deal of accuracy scores of points of latitude and longitude that could later be used to crosscheck locations on the village researchers' maps.