From the Air with USAPhotoMaps

Aerial photos complement other types of maps because they give you a snapshot of reality. Programs that display aerials (map-speak shorthand for aerial photos) are both inexpensive and easy to use. In this chapter, I review mapping programs that can exploit aerial photos, primarily focusing on the popular shareware application, USAPhotoMaps. To better illustrate the capabilities and functions of this program, I walk you through downloading an aerial photo, scrolling and zooming, interfacing the program with a GPS receiver, and saving map data. To get the most from this blog section, download and install USAPhotoMaps (http://jdmcox.com) and then use the program to work through the examples in the following pages. Unlike some shareware programs, USAPhotoMaps isn’t crippled; that is, all its features work when you download the program. If you find the program useful, you can make a donation to the author’s PayPal account.

National Geographic mapping products

Many children got their first introduction to maps from National Geographic magazines. Each month, a carefully folded paper map of somewhere foreign and exotic came nestled inside the magazine. National Geographic is still in the map business, now producing several topographic map programs. I was one of those kids that got hooked on National Geographic maps when I was growing up, and I still like them today. The company’s map software is easy to use and strikes a nice balance of having just the right number and types of features, without having too many whistles and bells. National Geographic software has all the same basic features as other mapping programs, such as GPS support, route planning, printing maps, and searching for locations. The only exception is that National Geographic programs currently use only relief shading to show elevation and don’t render 3-D map images.
National Geographic has a number of paper and electronic map products available; visit www.nationalgeographic.com/maps. The two digital map products that you’ll find the most practical for backcountry use are Back Roads Explorer and TOPO!

Back Roads Explorer
Back Roads Explorer contains 1:100,000 scale topographic maps and larger overview maps of the entire United States. In addition to terrain data, the software also has road and street data that you can overlay on top of a map, including paved and unpaved roads.
Unlike DeLorme’s Topo USA, Back Roads Explorer uses raster maps (scanned versions of paper maps), which contain more detail. If you prefer more of a traditional looking map to one that looks like it was computer-generated, you’ll like Back Roads Explorer.
Raster maps take up more disk space than vector maps because they’re scanned images of paper maps. Vector maps are smaller because they’re composed of lines and shapes. For example, the raster map data for the entire United States that comes with Back Roads Explorer fits on 17 CDs, but the same vector data in Topo USA comes on 6 CDs.
With the option of overlaying up-to-date roads over topographic maps, Back Roads Explorer is ideal for basic navigation and is especially well suited for 4 x 4 enthusiasts who use a laptop and GPS receiver.

TOPO!
National Geographic’s TOPO! line of software provides 1:24,000 maps for each of the states and is comparable with Maptech’s Terrain Navigator and DeLorme’s 3-D TopoQuads products.
One feature that I especially like in the TOPO! products is mapXchange. You can visit the National Geographic Web site and select the state you have TOPO! maps for. A list of hikes and other outdoor activities is displayed with descriptions, and you can freely download files that contain waypoints and routes you can use with TOPO! If you like, you can also upload your own files of places you’ve been to share with other outdoor enthusiasts.

DeLorme mapping products

DeLorme, well known for its Street Atlas USA road navigation software, also makes two topographic mapping programs: Topo USA and 3-D TopoQuads. DeLorme uses the same user interface for its entire line of consumer mapping products, so if you’re a happy user of Street Atlas USA and are looking for a map program for off-road use, it makes sense to keep things in the DeLorme family. DeLorme was one of the first vendors to offer customers a choice of map data on CDs or DVDs. If you have a DVD player on your PC, DVDs are far more convenient because you don’t have as many discs to keep track of, and you don’t have to swap discs as often to view maps of different areas. DeLorme topographic mapping products can interface with GPS receivers, display 3-D maps, search for locations, provide elevation profiles, and plan for trips just like other map programs. These two unique features in the program are especially useful:

_ Satellite imagery: DeLorme sells 10-meter resolution color satellite data for each state. When you use the images with DeLorme mapping products, you can view the satellite photos side by side with topographic maps in 2-D or 3-D.
_ Mural printing: If you need to produce a large map for a presentation, the programs support printing mural maps that are up to three pages high by three pages wide that you can join to make a large map. To read more about DeLorme’s mapping programs, visit www.delorme.com.