Tools & Technology

Creating durable, professional trail signage for the Bengel Wildlife Center involved a mix of hardware and software. Here is an overview of the tools used throughout the project.

Garmin eTrex 22x

Hardware — GPS

A Garmin eTrex 22x handheld GPS was used to collect waypoints and track logs for each Point of Interest along the trail system. The GPX data it recorded drives the interactive map and documents the exact sign locations.

Eufymake UV Printer

Hardware — Printing

The finished signs were printed on metal using a Eufymake UV printer. UV printing cures the ink instantly with ultraviolet light, producing a durable, weather-resistant finish that holds up outdoors on the trail. Because the metal signs are already white, a grayscale “no white” version of the map was used so no white ink was needed.

GIMP

Software — Image Editing

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) was used to edit the trail map and prepare the signage for print. This included creating the grayscale and “no white” variants, adjusting the layout, and getting the files print-ready for the UV printer.

ChatGPT

Software — AI Assistance

ChatGPT assisted with converting the map from landscape to portrait orientation so it would fit the metal signage. It helped work through the reorientation and layout adjustments needed for the final sign format.

Kiro

Software — AI Development Environment

Kiro was used to organize all of the project information — GPS data, map versions, photos, and the field notes — and present it in a readable format. This website, including the interactive map, timeline log, and signage checklist, was built with Kiro to bring everything together in one place.

Gitea

Software — Version Control

Gitea provided a self-hosted Git service used to template the project and track every change made along the way. It keeps a full history of the website, map versions, notes, and documentation as the project evolved.

Portainer

Software — Container Management

Portainer provided the container technology needed to host both this website and the Gitea instance. It manages the Docker containers that keep the project’s services running.