Moving from Paper to Digital Maps

OziExplorer supports a number of different digital map types that use georeferenced data (information that allows a program to precisely identify locations and coordinates on a map). But one of the program’s most powerful features is its ability to turn your own graphics files into georeferenced maps. This means if you have a paper map, you can scan it, load it into OziExplorer, and effectively make it an electronic (digital) map. This is a three-step process:

1. Scan the map. Use a scanner to create a digital image of the paper map. Stitch individual map pieces, if necessary.
2. Edit the map. Make changes to the scanned map before it’s used.
3. Calibrate the map. Load the edited map into OziExplorer and associate georeferenced data with the map image.

The following sections explore the above three steps in further detail. Scanning and calibrating your own maps can be fairly time consuming and sometimes frustrating if you can’t seem to get the map coordinates to match up with reality. Some maps are definitely easier to calibrate than others. If you’re not technically inclined or are somewhat impatient, you’ll probably want to stick to importing maps that are already georeferenced, such as freely available United States Geological Survey (USGS) DRG topographic maps.

Discovering OziExplorer Features

OziExplorer is a powerful and versatile mapping program developed by Des Newman. (Newman hails from Australia, and Ozi is slang for Australia — get it?). Newman originally wrote the program for personal use during four-wheeldrive trips in the Australian outback. He released OziExplorer as shareware, which has evolved into a sophisticated mapping tool that’s constantly updated.
Some of the program’s key features are that it

• Interfaces with GPS receivers: OziExplorer can communicate with just about every GPS receiver on the market, allowing you to upload and download waypoints, routes, and tracks to and from GPS receivers and PCs.
• Works in many languages: Localized versions of OziExplorer are available in a number of different languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian.
• Provides real-time tracking: If you have a laptop connected to a GPS receiver, OziExplorer displays a moving map with your real-time, current position and other travel information.
• Is easy to use: OziExplorer boasts a large number of features, such as annotating maps and extensive import and export capabilities, all of which are easy to use.
• Supports an extensive number of map formats: OziExplorer can access many popular digital map data formats (such as DRG, a Digital Raster Graphics map) and can associate georeferenced data with common graphics file types. For example, you can take a file that you created in Paint or some other graphic program and turn it into a smart map (a map where geographic coordinates are associated with individual pixels). The best way to find out about OziExplorer’s features is to download the program and try it. (OziExplorer works with PCs capable of running Windows 95 through XP.).

• Trial: The trial version is a limited version of OziExplorer that has all the program features enabled, except the program can’t

• Communicate with GPS receivers
• Save or load waypoints, routes, or tracks
• Save maps as image files
• Run for more than an hour at a time

• Shareware: The shareware version has a number of features disabled and has the following limitations:

• Only bitmap (BMP) images can be imported as maps (as opposed to many graphics file types in the registered version).
• Only two points can be used to calibrate a map, reducing the potential accuracy. (Up to nine points are available in the registered version.)
• Limited support is available for map projections, grid systems, and datums (compared with extensive support in the full version). Between these two programs available in the install package, you’ll be able to get a feel for all OziExplorer’s capabilities. And when you register the shareware version, the full monty of features is enabled. The $85 registration fee is a nominal investment considering the many features that the full version of OziExplorer offers.
If you’re looking for a street and road navigation program, OziExplorer isn’t the best choice. Ozi is more suited for adventures off the beaten path. If you need a program that helps you find the best route between two addresses on streets and highways, you’re much better off using some of the commercial mapping programs .
For more practical information on OziExplorer, including troubleshooting tips, check out the popular Yahoo! Groups e-mail list and forum devoted to the program at groups.yahoo.com/group/OziUsers-L.
In addition to OziExplorer, Des Newman also has two other related mapping programs:

• OziExplorer3D: This program is used in conjunction with OziExplorer to display maps in three dimensions. OziExplorer writes elevation data to a file, which OziExplorer3D uses to display a 3-D representation of the map. OziExplorer3D is priced at $30.
• OziExplorerCE: OziExplorerCE is moving-map software for Pocket PC (formerly known as Windows CE) PDAs. You create maps and plan trips with OziExplorer on your PC and then download the map data to your PDA to use with OziExplorerCE. When you connect your PDA to a GPS receiver, the program retrieves GPS data and displays your current location on a map. The PDA version of Ozi costs $30.

To discover more about the features of these two programs and download demonstration versions, go to www.oziexplorer.com.

QuakeMap

QuakeMap is written by Sergei Grichine and was originally designed to download worldwide earthquake data from various Internet sources and display the information on maps. The program has since evolved into a general purpose, mapping utility that uses TerraServer-USA data. You can use GPS data with QuakeMap, and if you’re a geocacher, the program has several specialized features designed for the sport.

ExpertGPS

TopoGrafix is a software company that produces GPS and mapping programs. ExpertGPS is an extensive waypoint, route, and track management system with mapping capabilities grafted on top of it.
ExpertGPS has a large number of features. In fact, at first glance, the extensive features and user interface can be a little intimidating. However, if you’re a GPS power user with a large collection of waypoints and route data, it’s definitely worth spending some time working with the program to see whether it meets your needs.

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.