The DNRGarmin application has been a popular tool for GPS users worldwide since 1999. Developed at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) to facilitate field data collection by staff, DNRGarmin use grew quickly soon after being released as freeware to the public. In addition to thousands of Minnesota users, DNRGarmin has been used worldwide by fishermen in Japan, search and rescue teams in New York, wildland firefighters across North America, professional adventurers in Brazil, and miners in Africa...to name a few!

MNDNR has released numerous updates of DNRGarmin over time to add functionality and maintain compatibility with software and handheld GPS receivers. Escalating changes in technology, an expanding user base, and requests for additional functionality prompted DNR staff to examine new ways of maintaining the application.

DNRGPS is a new iteration of DNRGarmin created by MNDNR and the National Park Service. The new name reflects a focus to expand the compatibility of the application to more brands and models of GPS receivers. DNRGPS is also able to consume more geospatial data formats, has more data projections, and is compatible with the latest versions of ArcMap and Google Earth.

DNRGPS is being released as Open Source software so that any programmer can download and alter the code. It is hoped the Geospatial Community will “adopt” DNRGPS as its own, testing and checking-in enhancements to the code, thereby contributing to the timely maintenance and expanded functionality of the program for all users.

A public DNRGPS webpage has been created for the distribution of DNRGPS and accompanying documentation. The site highlights functionality, lists prerequisites, and includes links to DNRGPS mailing lists.