tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51820967854859063012012-02-16T19:36:13.045-08:00Random thoughts on GPS and digital mapping, including technical articles, military applications, points in the news, and backwoods information on Vancouver Island. Downloadable waypoints and tracks, useful for hiking, dualsport biking, and camping - available in both Ozi Explorer and Google Earth formats, are available.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-18038080355604268702010-02-14T22:44:00.000-08:002010-02-15T21:37:29.059-08:00

Geo-referencing an image is easy these days. Google Earth can do it for you with a few clicks. Basically, all you have to do is centre Google Earth approximately where your image is, import said image as an Image Overlay (Add - Image Overlay), and then fuss around until the image lines up with the underlying data. Of course, there are a few tricks... like setting the transparency of your image

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-36384940430912784702008-08-24T09:47:00.000-07:002008-11-23T16:42:22.601-08:00

Here's a list of GPS mapping resources. While the tools are mostly generic, and will work for anywhere, the mapping data is concentrated around Canada. Things are changing fast, so this is by no means an authoritative list, but it does have everything I know about. I'll also come back and edit it as I find more. Please, feel free to comment if you know of stuff I've missed.Update #1: Added

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-69754131338314363612008-05-04T21:36:00.000-07:002008-05-04T21:54:10.870-07:00

In my efforts to build custom Garmin maps for my GPS, I had to cross-reference the Canadian standard 50K topographic sheet names with Garmin's IMG filenames. This proved rather difficult as Garmin doesn't seem to follow any logic in their naming convention. Maybe there's an easier way, but I just brute-forced it and deduced the names for Vancouver Island by trial and error.I figured I'd upload

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-44450358006307271292008-04-18T21:36:00.000-07:002008-04-18T23:05:11.194-07:00

I was going to write up a little bit on how to use the various free mapping tools to create custom maps, both uploaded to a GPS unit and downloaded to Google Earth. But, in my research I came across this PDF: GPS-GIS toolkit for the general public. It was written by Pierre Sauvé, of National Resources Canada and is the most fantastic, wonderful, condensed summary of what's currently out there

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-10349233962554032012007-08-15T18:13:00.000-07:002007-08-15T18:27:51.226-07:00

GPS equipment can be a lot of fun. Finding out where you are, or sharing your trips with others, adds a whole new dimension to traveling. Most of the time, it's easy. You take the software that came with your GPS, download the tracks, and share them with other people. However, problems can creep in when that sharing starts. What if they don't have the same type of GPS or software? Why does

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-75213916038792246252007-02-18T21:42:00.000-08:002008-08-28T13:21:40.547-07:00

Here's a tutorial on how to convert the tracks you can download here to other mapping formats, including Garmin. It's actually very easy to do, with the right tool.To get the right tool, go to www.GPSbabel.org and download the GPSbabel tool. Just follow the "downloads" link on the left hand side. Pick the file for your computer, DMG for Mac or Zip for Windows, and download to your computer.Oh,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-27009663691012544342007-02-08T23:55:00.000-08:002007-02-07T17:58:01.683-08:00

Hi,I've posted another couple of tracks for download, both in Google Earth KML and OziExplorer PLT:All the major powerline routes on Vancouver Island.A detailed description is HERE.The track is HERE.A bush camping spot on the San Juan river, near Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island.A detailed description is HERE.The track is HERE.Enjoy, and don't forget to leave some feedback if you download a track..

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-49754030001907912462007-02-01T23:25:00.000-08:002007-02-01T20:36:07.520-08:00

Here's a section of the VMC 2006 Canada Day Dualsport race. It goes from Port Renfrew up to Skutz Falls. Parts of it are active logging road, even on Sundays, so be careful. Other parts include some really nice sections of single track.All in all, it make a good back-route dualsport connector between the Sooke-Renfrew and the Cowichan Lake areas. There's a main road you can follow instead -

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-60982699012860509162007-01-15T00:46:00.000-08:002008-04-18T22:29:31.219-07:00

Update... This data can now be found at: Geogratis, in their CanMatrix area. It looks like the Free side won the argument. Everything you can image is now available for easy download, for free.The rest of this is old news...The Canadian government prints a lot of maps, including the standard 50K topographical series that most of us grew up with. For a while, there was a government website,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-1463756347274515072007-01-13T16:43:00.000-08:002007-01-13T18:58:51.175-08:00

Here's a Google Earth file that highlights a few places of note in Afghanistan, Kandahar province, Panjwayi district. Basically, I've taken THIS map and georeferenced it in Ozi Explorer. From there, I marked a few waypoints of interest and converted them to Google Earth format. Because the source is a PDF file and, probably, the projection is off, some points don't exactly line up with the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-30595785808910424162007-01-12T21:47:00.000-08:002007-01-12T22:28:06.675-08:00

I've uploaded a few more tracks I've collected over the last while.Cowichan Powerline Connector:A short connector between two rural roads - perfect for dualsportingJordan River to Port Renfrew:The hard way - as run on the 2006 VMC Dualsport EnduroMnt Prevost:North of Duncan, forest service roads.Old Baldy Mnt:A lookout by Shawnigan Lake - nice view from the top.Have fun!Don't forget to read the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-57246532858035868642007-01-12T21:16:00.000-08:002007-01-12T21:39:14.737-08:00

This route is only one way of many, I'm sure; there are lots of trails all around the place. I made this route on my KLR650 dualsport, with my girlfriend and camping gear, so it's not particularly difficult. At least, in the summer of 2006 it wasn't difficult: times change. Note that there are a couple of gates to go around, but both had well-worn trails around. There are some benefits to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-74857639200042573892007-01-12T00:18:00.000-08:002007-01-15T22:32:43.267-08:00

Here's a route to Labour Day Lake, from the summit of the Alberni highway down through some 4x4 grade logging roads (as of the summer of 2006) and up to a parking area, sort of. The actual lake is about another kilometre or so down a hiking trail.It is available for download in both Google Earth and Ozi Explorer formats.Be sure to read the DISCLAIMER as well.SIMILAR FILES

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182096785485906301.post-15356781354659869612006-01-11T23:54:00.000-08:002007-01-11T20:06:44.933-08:00

This is the first in a series of tracks and waypoints I will be posting. Some of the data was downloaded, as these waypoints were, while others were digitised from maps. However, most of the tracks are taken directly from my GPS, after I've gone out and had some fun.These waypoints were in an Arcview E00 export file I downloaded from a government FTP server and converted. I cannot vouch for

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0