5 replies to this topic

[Geo-Unit]

I am looking for the best approach to mapping out a route around the UK in advance then uploading it to a GPS enabled device to follow on the ground and then amend and identify waypoints as necessary. Is this something as simple as plotting on google maps then exporting as a GPX file? Will this then be easily uploaded onto a Garmin type device to follow? It needs to be fairly accurate.

Once the route has been determined id like to create turn by turn guide and input the route into desktop GIS for some analysis I.e population catchment around the route etc. Any ideas much appreciated!

Cheers

[Crischan]

For route editing I would like to recommend gpsies.com, where you can edit, save, and download in a variety of formats, including several formats suited for Garmin GPSr.
I use the GPS plugin for Quantum GIS (Open Source) to convert GPX to Shapefile which then can be mishandled by your GIS of choice...

Cheers,
Crischan

[David Medeiros]

You can, if I remember correctly, plot your route on Google, export it from google as a KML and then use GPSBabel to convert it to your specific GPS format before uploading to the unit.

The caveat here is that Google doesn't actually give you a regular KML file with the route and points when you export from My Maps. You get a KML that just points back to the web space with your route. There is a work round to pull the full KML from Google but I don't remember what it its... you could Google it!

www.gpsbabel.org

[Madu]

Once the route has been determined id like to create turn by turn guide and input the route into desktop GIS for some analysis I.e population catchment around the route etc. Any ideas much appreciated!

To get your GPX file into desktop GIS, you may get some use out of Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources' DNR Garmin extension for ArcMap --

http://www.dnr.state.../DNRGarmin.html

We've used it successfully with a Garmin Oregon 550t. There's also a fairly active listserv, with very helpful contributors.

~Madu

[Nick H]

I am looking for the best approach to mapping out a route around the UK in advance then uploading it to a GPS enabled device to follow on the ground and then amend and identify waypoints as necessary. Is this something as simple as plotting on google maps then exporting as a GPX file? Will this then be easily uploaded onto a Garmin type device to follow? It needs to be fairly accurate.

Firstly, the maps. There is network link (Gavin's Unofficial Overlay) that will overlay Ordnance Survey mapping on Google Earth, you can download it from here:

http://www.brock-fam...rth/osmaps.html

As you zoom-in in GE the scale of the mapping will change automatically, down to 1:50,000 or even to 1:10,000 if you want street mapping.

Once you have the mapping on the GE screen you can trace paths and points which can be saved as KML for loading into GPS software. The mapping is very accuarate.

I agree that DNR Garmin is very useful software, but note that if you use it to upload the KML to a GPS receiver it will upload to the Active Log, not to named, saved tracks. I'd use something like GPS Trackmaker for uploading the data to the GPS, when configured properly this will upload named tracks.

All I can say about Gavin's Unofficial Overlay is that the OS know about it and tolerate it.

Regards, N.

[jerseysbest]

You can try Bike Route Toaster (www.bikeroutetoaster.com)

Lets you export into a few different formats that you can load into other programs, like Google Earth or Maps, or whatever.

I've used this for many multi-day bike trips since Google Maps is a little finicky with off road routing.