Mapping for dummies
August 16, 2010 9:43 PM   Subscribe

I want to map the walking tracks and landmarks on a 2000ac property in Australia and produce a printable map image as well as a gps file others can download. I have a Garmin eTrex Vista H but I don't really understand how to use it for my purposes.

Paying guests walk the property which has forest, hills and valleys, along a number of looping 4wd tracks - about 30km in all. The loops mean folk can take shorter or longer routes to return to their accommodation.

I want to be able to print and provide a booklet listing the various track options, look-outs and points of interest with colour coded routes/loops to match actual track tags. Other track identifiers will include numbered gates and the occasional junction sign.

I'm reasonably tech savy and I know what features I have in the Vista H, they were what I wanted. I just have no idea of their real potential. My Garmin user manual presupposes a level of gps understanding that I don't possess.

I've read most of the AskMe questions regarding gps and mapping and checked out some of the programs but I probably don't know enough to know which one will fit the best.

Questions:
What's the difference between tracks, routes, waypoints and trackmarks. Which should I be using and how?

How can I create a printed map from this data? Would prefer an illustrated map rather than a photographic overlay (eg Google Earth), so I'm wondering how to get the basic tracks down on paper for me to illustrate?

How should I organise my data to create a gps file of all the tracks for guests with their own compatible gps?

I'd like to see similar maps others have made and learn more about old-style map illustration. Any information and links welcome.
posted by Kerasia to Grab Bag (8 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: Waypoints: Specific points, either pre-defined, or marked by you manually when you're at a location.
Routes: A sequence of waypoints - your GPS will give you directions to the first one, once you're there, it will give you directions to the 2nd one etc.
Tracks: What your GPS should automatically record as you're walking about. Essentially a sequence of close-together points, with time stamp etc.

If you want to map your track:
(a) Go to the start, mark a waypoint.
(b) Turn on the track recorder, and walk along the track.
(c) Define additional waypoints (ie. gates etc.) along the way.
(d) At the end, turn off track recording. Download. Profit!

As for making your maps, if you want any kind of prettyness and customization, you probably want a half-decent GIS package, as opposed to, say, the Garmin GPS software. I'd recommend Quantum GIS. You then need to background topographic data. This is a bit of a complex issue; once again assuming you're looking at something free, I'd recommend Geoscience Australia's 250k topographic data. If you want anything at a finer scale than this, then you're going to be paying for it. The 250k topo data is good enough to show broad contours, major roads, rivers etc.

So:

(a) Your GPS should be able to export a GPX file - this can be imported into Quantum GIS (Plugins -> GPS -> GPS Tools) for editing.
(b) Load in some basic topographic layers so you can orient yourself.
(c) Export as PDF.
(d) I guess from this point you'd illustrate on top of the printed base map. Hand illustration is where my knowledge ends, I'm afraid.
posted by Jimbob at 10:07 PM on August 16, 2010


I should make it clear - if you've got people walking along actual tracks and paths, rather than bush-bashing, you really want to make use of the track recorder, rather than routes between waypoints.
posted by Jimbob at 10:08 PM on August 16, 2010


Best answer: QGIS is great, and free and the MapConnect data should get you going with contours, spot hights, landuse, etc etc. Jimbob is spot on there.

If you are a bit wary of using GIS for the first time, you could import into Google Earth and then take a screen capture. Not sure on the legal clearances etc you would need to consider if you are using it to generate money (ie for your customers).

On a side note, can you georeference in QGIS Jimbob? If so, you could use your GPS to georeference your image and then overlay your tracks and waypoints on top of that for a sexier look (as sexy as maps get anyway).

Try this for an intro to georeferencing using ArcGIS - theory should be the same, just look for the corresponding tools in QGIS. I work with a few GIS products at a basic level so PM me if you need to (I'm in Australia too).
posted by micklaw at 12:05 AM on August 17, 2010


Yep, you can georeference in QGIS - in some way it's simpler than in ArcGIS
posted by Jimbob at 1:49 AM on August 17, 2010


Best answer: Set the trackpoint logging frequency as fast as you can - you end up with smoother trails that way, and you don't get the corners and junctions of trails snipped off. The OpenStreetMap Wiki has a bunch of useful stuff for using GPS to build your own maps - admittedly, mostly geared to adding data to OSM itself.
posted by scruss at 4:59 AM on August 17, 2010


The free Garmin application that comes with the GPS -- it's called BaseCamp, and it can also be downloaded from their web site -- can do this, no need to mess with waypoints etc. I usually start by erasing everything on the unit. Then just walk around. When done, connect the GPS to your computer and start BaseCamp. Click on your GPS name in the left pane, and it will show you your track log on a map. You can then export it as a Google Earth file.

I have a Garmin eTrex Venture, but the same thing should work for the Vista. (I've never used ArcGIS, it's expensive and I'd have to spend my own money.)
posted by phliar at 4:44 PM on August 17, 2010


Response by poster: Jimbob: Thanks for clearing up those questions for me and providing the other information. I've been on a steep learning curve with QGIS, and reading background info regarding map making. The Geoscience 250k topo maps aren't detailed enough for my purposes (neither our homestead nor access road from the highway are marked) but I have found the offerings of six.maps.nsw.gov.au appear to be very promising.

micklaw: I've just opened the Georeferencing Overview pdf and it looks really helpful. Compliments to the chef.

scruss: I appreciate the tip re: logging frequency. I've seen OSM but I'm not sure how helpful it will be.

phliar: yep, done the basecamp - google earth transfer and those two combined would work for my purposes if the GE image was suitable. Being in the backblocks, we get forgotten even by satellite photography and our available GE images are very out of date. It's in part due to this that I want to make an illustrated rather than literal photographic map.

Ya know, if someone wrote an e-book about how to do what I want to do in easy steps for dummies using open source software, I would totally buy it.
posted by Kerasia at 1:53 AM on August 19, 2010


Response by poster: BTW, the links page on the site micklaw referenced is really interesting.
posted by Kerasia at 1:57 AM on August 19, 2010


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