TopoFusion

Scott and Alan Morris, brothers and computer science graduate students, weren’t satisfied with the various Windows mapping programs on the market, so they wrote their own. Both are avid mountain bikers, GPS users, and outdoor recreationists; the features in their program reflect this. Some of TopoFusion’s features include

• Optimized graphics routines for fast map display
• Terrain profiles of GPS tracks
• Multiple track file support for constructing trail networks
• Map digital photo support by determining the location where a photo

was taken by correlating the photo time-stamps with those of the track points

• Trip playback mode that replays your travel route and provides statistics
• Combining aerial photos with topographic maps for composite images

The Morris brothers are constantly adding new and useful features to the program and have an online support forum. If you’re using a GPS receiver as part of a trail-mapping project or you are a serious outdoor enthusiast, the advanced features of TopoFusion should put it high on your list

TerraClient

Bill Friedrich’s TerraClient is a free, easy-to-use Windows program that displays TerraServer-USA aerial photos and maps. It doesn’t interface with GPS receivers or use GPS data, but it does have two features that make it ideal for beginning map users:

• Easy location lookup: Instead of knowing the exact coordinates of the area you want to view, enter a place name and watch TerraClient return a list of possible matches. To view the aerial photo, click the one you’re interested in.
• Superimposed maps: This is a very slick feature that allows you to superimpose a topographic map on top of an aerial photo. You can control the transparency of the overlay so that only a faded, ghostlike image of the map appears on top of the aerial photograph. This is very useful for quickly identifying features on aerial photos.

TerraClient has an extremely user-friendly interface, and you can be up and running the program in a matter of minutes.

Interfacing with a GPS receiver

Downloading and viewing free aerial photos and maps is pretty cool, but if you have a GPS receiver, USAPhotoMaps has even more features that you can put to use, including

• Downloading waypoints, routes, and tracks from a GPS receiver to overlay on aerial photos and maps.
• Uploading waypoints and routes that you’ve created with USAPhotoMaps to your GPS receiver.
• Interfacing USAPhotoMaps to a GPS receiver for real-time updates of your current position shown on an aerial photo or topographic map. USAPhotoMaps has a separate help file that covers only GPS-related topics. You’ll find comprehensive information on interfacing your GPS receiver to the program and descriptions of GPS-related features. To display the help file, choose Help from the GPS menu.

Click the mouse to add a waypoint wherever the cursor is currently positioned. You’ll be prompted to enter a description and a name (to identify the waypoint if you upload it to a GPS receiver). The waypoint will be displayed as a dot on the aerial photo or the map. Right-click the mouse button to display a list of waypoints.