GPS For Dummies E-Book

Joel McNamara

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 531

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2008

Beschreibung

Need directions? Are you good at getting lost? Then GPS is just the technology you've dreamed of, and GPS For Dummies is what you need to help you make the most of it. If you have a GPS unit or plan to buy one, GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition helps you compare GPS technologies, units, and uses. You'll find out how to create and use digital maps and learn about waypoints, tracks, coordinate systems, and other key point to using GPS technology. Get more from your GPS device by learning to use Web-hosted mapping services and even how to turn your cell phone or PDA into a GPS receiver. You'll also discover: * Up-to-date information on the capabilities of popular handheld and automotive Global Positioning Systems * How to read a map and how to get more from the free maps available online * The capabilities and limitations of GPS technology, and how satellites and radio systems make GPS work * How to interface your GPS receiver with your computer and what digital mapping software can offer * Why a cell phone with GPS capability isn't the same as a GPS unit * What can affect your GPS reading and how accurate it will be * How to use Street Atlas USA, TopoFusion, Google Earth, and other tools * Fun things to do with GPS, such as exploring topographical maps, aerial imagery, and the sport of geocaching Most GPS receivers do much more than their owners realize. With GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition in hand, you'll venture forth with confidence!

Leseprobe

GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition®

Table of Contents

Introduction

Who This Book Is For

Setting Some GPS Expectations

How This Book Is Organized

Part I: All About Digital Maps

Part II: All About GPS

Part III: Digital Mapping on Your Computer

Part IV: Using Web-Hosted Mapping Services

Part V: The Part of Tens

Icons Used in This Book

Some Opening Thoughts

Part I: All About Digital Maps

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Digital Maps

Amerigo Vespucci Didn’t Have Maps like This

Static map

Smart map

Mapping Programs

Consumer programs

GIS (Geographic Information System) programs

Consumer versus GIS programs

Digital Maps in Practice

Mapping Software: The Essentials

Standalone programs

Programs with bundled maps

Web-hosted mapping services

Chapter 2: Dissecting Maps

Discovering Types of Maps

Land

Marine

Aeronautical

Figuring Out Map Projections

Map Datums

Working with Map Coordinate Systems

Latitude/longitude

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)

Township and Range

Measuring Map Scales

Deciphering Map Symbols

Digital Map Data

TIGER

Digital Line Graph (DLG)

Elevation data

Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)

Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ)

Satellite data

Part II: All About GPS

Chapter 3: GPS Fundamentals

Global Position What?

GPS Deconstructed

Eyeing satellites

GPS radio signals

Covering ground stations

GPS receivers

GPS receiver accuracy

Stuff Your GPS Receiver Can Tell You

GPS Receiver Features

Chipset

Display and output

Alarms

Built-in maps

Enhanced accuracy

Antennas

Internal storage

External storage

User interfaces

Accessory software

Accessory hardware

The Future of GPS

Chapter 4: Grasping Important GPS Concepts

Linking GPS, Maps, and Coordinate Systems

Dealing with Datums

Setting Waypoints

Saving waypoints

Using the waypoint list

Following Routes

Making Tracks

Chapter 5: Selecting and Getting Started with a Handheld GPS Receiver

Selecting a Handheld GPS Receiver

To map or not to map

GPS for athletes

Matching GPS receiver features to your activities

Becoming Familiar with Your New GPS Receiver

Powering Your GPS Receiver

Battery basics

Power to the people

Initializing Your GPS Receiver

Changing Receiver Settings

Using Your GPS Receiver

Coming home

How far, how fast?

Finding your ancestors

Simulating navigation

Homework assignment

And more . . .

Chapter 6: Automotive GPS Receivers

Automotive GPS Receiver Features

Street map

Routing directions

POIs

Address books

Trip Log

Screens

Preferences

Entertainment features

Wireless

Subscription services

Voice recognition

Types of Automotive GPS Receivers

Portable navigators

In-dash navigators

Selecting an Automotive GPS Receiver

Using Your Automotive GPS Receiver

First things first

Mounting options

On the road

Updating maps and firmware

Homework assignment

Chapter 7: Cellphones, PDAs, and Other GPS Devices

GPS and Cellphones

Cellphones and Assisted GPS (A-GPS)

Bluetooth cellphones and GPS

Non-GPS cellphone navigation

Location-based services

Cellphones versus dedicated GPS units

GPS and PDAs

Choosing between a handheld GPS receiver and a PDA

Interfacing your PDA to a GPS receiver

Reviewing PDA mapping software

GPS Trackers

People trackers

Pet trackers

Vehicle and vessel trackers

GPS Data Loggers

GPS Radios

FRS radios

Ham radios

Marine radios

Chapter 8: Geocaching

Geocaching: The High-Tech Scavenger Hunt

Getting Started Geocaching

What you need to geocache

Selecting a cache to look for

Finding the cache

GeoJargon: Speaking the lingo

Hiding a Cache

Selecting a container

Location is everything

Stocking the cache

Submitting the cache

Maintaining the cache

Geocaching Etiquette

Internet Geocaching Resources

Part III: Digital Mapping on Your Computer

Chapter 9: Digital Mapping Hardware Considerations

Digital Mapping Software Choices

Processing Power

Processors

Memory

Storage Capacity

Hard drives

CD and DVD drives

Display Equipment

Graphics cards

Monitors

Printers

Communication Capabilities

Communication ports

Internet connection

Chapter 10: Interfacing a GPS Receiver to a Computer

About (Inter)Face: Connectivity Rules

Anatomy of a Link: Understanding the Interface Process

Untangling Cables

Pondering Protocols

Understanding Serial Ports

COM ports

All About USB Ports

Virtual serial ports

USB serial port adapters

Managing Memory

Transferring GPS Data

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

Uploading Firmware Revisions to Your GPS Receiver

Chapter 11: Using GPS Manufacturer Software

Understanding GPS Map Software

Some GPS map software rules of thumb

Common GPS map software features

Getting GPS maps

Loading maps to GPS receivers

Exploring Garmin Software

MapSource

Garmin map products

Garmin utility programs

Scouting Magellan Software

VantagePoint

National Geographic TOPO!

Magellan map products

Discovering Lowrance Software

Navigating DeLorme Software

Chapter 12: Finding Places and Coordinates

Finding Your Way with Online Gazetteers

Using the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Using the GEOnet Name Server (GNS)

Converting Coordinates

Using GeoTrans

Using online conversion utilities

Chapter 13: On the Road with DeLorme Street Atlas USA

Discovering Street Atlas USA Features

Navigating Street Atlas USA

Exploring the Street Atlas USA interface

Zooming in and out

Moving around in Street Atlas USA

Getting POI information

Finding an Address with Street Atlas USA

Getting from Here to There with Street Atlas USA

Creating a route

Getting directions

Printing and saving directions

Moving Maps with Earthmate

Other Street Navigation Software

Microsoft Streets & Trips

Garmin Mobile PC

Chapter 14: On the Ground with TopoFusion

Discovering TopoFusion

Displaying Maps and Finding Places

Navigating a TopoFusion Map

Changing the map type

Moving around in a map

Changing the map size

Planning a Trip with TopoFusion

Understanding Terrain Elevation

Displaying a 3-D map

Charting elevation profiles

Blending maps and aerial photos

Reviewing Other Topographic Map Software

DeLorme Topo USA

Maptech Terrain Navigator

National Geographic TOPO!

Chapter 15: From the Sky with Google Earth

Discovering Google Earth

Traveling the Globe

Navigation controls

Zooming in and out

Moving around

Finding places

Getting a 3-D View

Using Layers

Available layers

Turning layers on and off

Adding Placemarks

Measuring Distances

Chapter 16: Creating and Using Digital Maps with OziExplorer

Discovering OziExplorer Features

Moving from Paper to Digital Maps

Step 1: Scan the map

Step 2: Edit the map

Step 3: Calibrate the map

Checking your work

Part IV: Using Web-Hosted Mapping Services

Chapter 17: Saving and Editing Web Maps

Saving Maps

Save Picture As

Using the Print Screen key

Using screen capture programs

Editing a Map

Opening a file

Cropping

Using colors and fonts

Adding symbols

Selecting the right file format

Chapter 18: Navigating Web Road Maps

Using Street Map Web Sites

Listing common street map Web site features

Web versus PC software street maps

Reviewing Street Map Web Sites

MapQuest

Google Maps

Yahoo! Maps

Live Search Maps

Chapter 19: Exploring Web Topographic Maps

Using Web-Hosted Topographic Maps

Advantages of topographic Web sites

Disadvantages of topographic Web sites

Deciding between Web-based maps and mapping programs

Reviewing Topographic Map Web Sites

Using TerraServer-USA

Using GPS Visualizer

Commercial topographic Web map sites

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 20: Ten Great GPS and Map Web Sites

Comprehensive GPS Information

Current GPS News and Helpful Advice

Technical GPS Information

Free Maps

Expert Desktop Mapping Guidance

Definitive Terrain Modeling Information

Chapter 21: Ten Map Printing Tips

Make Your Paper Count

Print in Color

Print the Scale

Print UTM Grids

Use Waterproof Paper

Waterproof Your Plain Paper

Print More Map Area

Put North at the Top

Use the Best Page Orientation

Beware of False Economy

Chapter 2 2: Ten GPS Resources for Boaters

Free Charts to Download

Free Windows Navigation Software

Commercial Navigation Software

Marine GPS and Chart Plotter Manufacturers

GPS and Marine Electronics Blogs

Marine Electronics Forums

Cruising Wikis

Nautical Chart Overlays for Google Earth

Keeping Your Handheld GPS Unit off the Bottom

Free Tide Software

GPS For Dummies 2nd Edition

by Joel McNamara

GPS For Dummies,® 2nd Edition

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River StreetHoboken, NJ 07030-5774

www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Author

Joel McNamara first got involved with digital maps in the early 1980s. At the time he was studying archeology and instead of going out and playing Indiana Jones, he found himself in front of a computer monitor trying to predict where archeological sites were located based on LANDSAT satellite data.

The lure of computers ultimately led to his defection from academia to the software industry, where he worked as a programmer, technical writer, and manager; eventually ending up at a rather large software company based in Redmond, Washington. Joel now writes and consults on technology he finds interesting, such as GPS and digital maps.

Over the years he’s had practical experience using GPS and maps for wildland firefighting, search and rescue, and disaster response and planning. He’s also an avid user of the great outdoors (which means there’s way too much gear in his garage). He likes boats of all kinds and is fond of certain old-school, dinosaur technologies such as celestial navigation.

Joel is also the author of Geocaching For Dummies, Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics & Countermeasures, and Asus Eee PC For Dummies (all published by Wiley).

Author’s Acknowledgments

Once again, thanks to my wife, Darcy, for all her support during my work on this book; especially for the patience in putting up with all of the maps, CD-ROMs, cables, manuals, and gadgets that were scattered all over the house.

Next on the list are the folks at Wiley, including Katie Feltman, my acquisitions editor at Wiley, who was happy with the first edition of this book and asked me to update it. Mark Enochs, project editor extraordinaire, ably kept the book on course. And Dan Kearl, a savvy search and rescue/disaster response colleague, GPS instructor, and all-around techie who kept me honest as my technical editor. (A note of appreciation to Pat O’Brien, project editor, and GPS and map guru Gavin Hoban, technical editor, for all the work they did on the first edition.)

I’d also like to thank the following manufacturers for supplying review copies of their products to write about in the first and second editions: DeLorme (Caleb Mason and Charlie Conley), Endless Pursuit, Lowrance (Steve Wegrzyn), Magellan, Maptech, Microsoft, National Geographic, and TopoFusion (Scott Morris). I’m especially grateful for the help from the folks named in the parentheses who went above and beyond the call of duty in answering questions and providing assistance.

Finally, thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on various parts of this edition and the previous one. You know who you are, and I appreciate it.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions and Editorial

Senior Project Editor: Mark Enochs

Senior Acquisitions Editor: Katie Feltman

Copy Editor: Brian Walls

Technical Editor: Dan Kearl

Editorial Manager: Leah Cameron

Editorial Assistant: Amanda Foxworth

Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Erin Smith

Layout and Graphics: Reuben W. Davis, Melissa K. Jester, Christin Swinford, Christine Williams

Proofreaders: Christine Sabooni, Amanda Steiner

Indexer: Claudia Bourbeau

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Introduction

You may have guessed from the title that this book is about GPS (the satellite-based Global Positioning System) and maps (digital maps to be exact).

I remember back in 1989 when Magellan introduced the first handheld GPS receiver, the NAV 1000. (Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be one of those “I used to walk 20 miles to school in the snow when I was your age,” stories.) The NAV 1000 was the size of a brick, and weighed a little less than two pounds. It was a single channel receiver, could only track four satellites, and supported only latitude and longitude coordinates. It could save 100 waypoints, and you could have a single route with up to 10 waypoints. It cost $2,500.

Fast-forward to the present: Now I can go down to my neighborhood sporting goods or electronics store and buy a GPS receiver the size of a small cellphone. It weighs a couple of ounces, can track three to four times as many satellites, and on a good day can tell me exactly where I’m located to within about 10 feet; and in several different coordinate systems, by the way. It supports at least 500 waypoints and 20 routes, with 125 waypoints apiece. Best of all, it costs around $100. And, for not too much more, I can get an automotive GPS receiver that tells me aloud how to get where I’m going. It’s like living in the future.

Maps have followed the same evolutionary path. Paper maps have turned digital, and now you can visit a Web site and print a map with driving directions to just about anywhere for free. For under $100, you can buy mapping software that has a collection of CD-ROMs with detailed topographic maps that fully cover any state in the United States. Aerial and satellite photographs are readily available over the Internet, and stunning three-dimensional maps can be created with a few mouse clicks. Once the exclusive domain of professional cartographers and GIS (Geographic Information System) specialists, the average computer user can create and use digital maps with relative ease. A number of free and inexpensive programs make desktop mapping a reality for the rest of us.

So does all this mean we’re entering the dawn of a new era where no matter where you are it’s going to be hard to get lost? Well, yes and no.

Over the past several years, GPS receivers have become extremely popular and affordable. Lots of people who venture away from urban areas are carrying them. Cars come installed with GPS navigation systems for negotiating city streets and highways. Many cellphones have tiny GPS chips embedded in them. And, even if you don’t have a GPS receiver, you can always go out on the Web and print a map of where you want to go. But, there are a few hitches in this perfect, always-found world:

GPS receivers often boast so many features it’s easy to get lost trying to figure them all out. Plus, most GPS receiver owners typically use only a small subset of the available features (and sometimes don’t even know how to use these features well enough to avoid getting lost).

GPS receivers have capabilities and limitations that many owners (or potential owners) really don’t understand. This leads to frustration or not being able to use the devices to their full potential.

Digital street map data displayed and used by GPS receivers is often updated (especially in areas experiencing lots of growth).

Although many people have a general knowledge of how to read a map, at least the simple road variety, most don’t know how to really maximize using a map.

And finally, the average computer user isn’t aware of the wealth of easy-to-use, free or inexpensive mapping resources he could be using to stay found.

The purpose of this book is to help you better understand and use GPS receivers and open your eyes to the world of digital mapping — and, I hope, put you on the path of always staying found or finding what you’re looking for.

Who This Book Is For

If you’re browsing through this book at your favorite bookstore right now, and are pondering whether to take it to the cashier, ask yourself these questions:

Are you considering purchasing a GPS receiver?

Have you recently purchased a GPS receiver (or got one as a gift)?

Have you owned a GPS receiver for a while, but want to get more from it?

Are you interested in using digital maps for your profession or hobby?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then stop reading and immediately proceed to the cash register because this book will make your life easier (if you’re still not convinced, feel free to continue flipping through the pages to see what I mean).

Getting a bit more specific, people in the following groups should find this book especially useful:

Recreation – Hikers, hunters, fishers, mountain bikers, trail runners, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers, prospectors, pilots, boaters, geocachers, and anyone else who ventures outdoors away from cities and streets (with or without a GPS receiver).

Transporation – Drivers of all types of motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, you name it) are increasingly becoming dependent on GPS to help them navigate highways, byways, and even off-road.

Commercial – Land developers and real estate agents who are interested in the competitive advantage maps can bring them for planning or marketing purposes.

Government – Emergency response agencies (search and rescue, fire, law enforcement, disaster relief) and urban planners who use maps as part of their planning and response activities.

Environmental – Conservation agencies, organizations, consultants, and scientists (biologists, botanists, and other ists) who use maps for resource management and research.

Technology – Anyone who likes to play with cool technology.

You may have noticed I didn’t mention people like surveyors or GIS professionals. If your job primarily focuses on GPS and/or maps, you’ll probably discover a few things in the following pages, but just remember that this book is for the average computer user and GPS receiver owner who don’t have your level of technical experience, proficiency, and skills. Please don’t expect to find the nuts and bolts of using GIS software or precision surveying electronics.

And finally, if you purchased the first edition of GPS For Dummies (thank you very much), you’ll find I’ve made a number of updates and added a lot of new information to stay current with the latest in GPS and digital mapping products and services.

Setting Some GPS Expectations

Before getting started, I want to set a few expectations about the content you’ll be reading about that relates to GPS receivers, just so we’re all on the same page:

This book focuses on handheld, consumer GPS receivers (typically used for land navigation) and automotive navigation systems. In addition to these types of GPS receivers, larger and less portable models are used in airplanes, boats, and commercial vehicles. The U.S. government and military uses restricted-use GPS units, and expensive receivers are used for surveying. Although some of these GPS receivers are discussed briefly, don’t expect to find out as much about them as the land and auto consumer models.

Although most GPS receivers have the same general functionality, there are a lot of differences in manufacturer and model user interfaces. In a way, it’s like sitting a computer novice in front of three PCs, one running Microsoft Windows, one running Linux (with the KDE or Gnome interface), and the other a Macintosh, and then asking the volunteer to perform an identical set of tasks on each computer. Good luck! Because of the differences, you’re not going to find detailed instructions on how to use specific GPS receiver models. What you will find is information on how to use most any GPS receiver, with some kindly suggestions tossed in when it’s appropriate to consult your user guide for details.

Finally, don’t expect me to tell you what the best GPS receiver is. Like any consumer electronics product, GPS receiver models are constantly changing and being updated. Instead of recommending that you buy a certain brand or model (that could possibly be replaced by something cheaper and better over the course of a few months), I tell you what questions to ask when selecting a GPS receiver and give you some hints on which features are best for different activities. You can apply these questions and selection criteria to pretty much any GPS receiver (no matter how much the marketplace changes) to pick the right model for you.

Take comfort in the fact that it’s pretty hard to go wrong when you purchase a GPS receiver from one of the brand-name manufacturers who specialize in GPS (Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and TomTom to name a few of the bigger players). All these companies make excellent products, and you can expect to get a number of years use from them. (The good news is that GPS technology and product features haven’t changed as rapidly as personal computers. I can go out and happily use a GPS receiver from 1998, whereas the same vintage personal computer would have been recycled long ago. It may not lock on to satellites as fast or have as many new whiz-bang features, but it still tells me where I’m at.)

How This Book Is Organized

This book is conveniently divided into several different parts. The content in each part tends to be related, but feel free to skip around and read about what interests you the most.

Part I: All About Digital Maps

This part of the book introduces you to digital maps; actually, it presents some important universal concepts that apply to both paper and digital maps, such as coordinate systems, datums, and how to read and use maps. The focus is primarily on land maps but there are a few brief mentions of nautical and aeronautical charts. In this part, you find out about different types of digital maps that are available, especially the free ones you can get from the Internet, and about some of the software you can use for digital mapping.

Part II: All About GPS

This is the part of the book devoted to demystifying GPS and GPS receivers. You find out about the technology behind GPS (including its capabilities and limitations), basic GPS concepts (such as waypoints, routes, tracks, and coordinate systems), and how to select and use a handheld and automotive GPS receiver. I tell you all about GPS cellphones, PDAs (like Pocket PCs and Palms), trackers, and other devices, and a bit on the popular GPS sport of geocaching.

Part III: Digital Mapping on Your Computer

In this part, I take some of the theoretical information on digital maps from Part I, and get practical. This section discusses computer requirements needed for basic digital mapping and reviews a number of different software packages you can use to work with aerial photos, topographic maps, and road maps. Many of these programs support uploading and downloading data to and from GPS receivers, so I also spend some time talking about how to interface a GPS receiver to a personal computer.

Part IV: Using Web-Hosted Mapping Services

Even if you don’t have a GPS receiver or mapping software installed on your computer, with an Internet connection and a Web browser you can still do a remarkable amount of digital mapping with free and subscription Web services. This section discusses how to access and use online street maps, topographic maps, aerial photos, and some slick U.S. government-produced maps. You also discover how to save and edit these Web-based maps.

Part V: The Part of Tens

All For Dummies books have a part called The Part of Tens, and this one is no exception. In this section, you find lists of what I consider the best GPS and digital map Web sites on the Internet, where to find free digital maps, and tips and hints on printing maps. And, if you’re a boater, there’s a lockerfull of marine GPS resources.

Icons Used in This Book

Maps use symbols to convey information quickly, and this book does the same by using icons to help you navigate your way.

Just a gentle little reminder about something of importance, and because I can’t be there to mention it in person and give you a friendly (and stern if needed) look while wagging my finger, this icon will have to do.

I try to keep the real geeky, nerdy things to a bare minimum, but because this is a book about cool electronic gadgets and computer mapping, sometimes the technical stuff does creep in. I either give you a plain-English explanation or point you to a Web site where you can get additional details.

This is good stuff designed to make your life easier; usually gained from practical experience and typically not found in manufacturer user guides and product documentation; or if it is there, it’s buried in some obscure paragraph.

The little bomb icon looks as if it should signify some pretty bad juju, but in reality it could represent something as minor as potentially causes a hangnail. The key here is to pay attention because there might be something lurking that causes mental, physical, emotional, or monetary suffering of some degree. Who would have thought reading GPS For Dummies could be an extreme sport?

Some Opening Thoughts

Before you jump into the exciting world of GPS and digital maps (I know you can’t wait), I want to mention a few final thoughts:

There are lots of references to Web sites in this book. Unfortunately, Web sites change just about as fast as street maps in a city experiencing a lot of growth. If for some reason a link doesn’t work, you should have enough information to find what you’re looking for by using common sense and a search engine, such as Google.

You’re not going to find every GPS and map software title in existence mentioned in the book. I try to list and describe many of the more popular programs, but the realities of page count constraints prevents this book from turning into an encyclopedia. So please don’t get upset if I don’t mention a program you use or you feel slighted because I end up talking about one program more than another.

On some occasions while you’re reading this book, you’re probably going to think I sound like a broken record on one point I feel is very important. If you venture away from civilization with your GPS receiver, please bring a compass and a paper map with you, and know how to use them. That means really knowing how to use them, not just kidding yourself that you do. From many years of doing search and rescue work and finding lost people, I’ve discovered the following truths:

• GPS receiver batteries die at the most inopportune time; especially when you didn’t bring spare batteries with you.

• If a GPS receiver breaks or gets lost, it will do so at the worst possible moment.

• GPS receivers are not Star Trek teleporters that will instantly transport you out of the wilderness and trouble (this is also true when it comes to cellphones).

All the information in this book should set you on your way to becoming an expert with a GPS receiver and maps. That is, if you practice! If you want to have guru status, you need to be applying what you discover in this book. Even if you don’t aspire to becoming one with GPS and a master of maps, to get the most use from your navigation tools, you need to become both comfortable and confident with them. Discover, experiment, and have fun!

Par t I

All About Digital Maps

In this part . . .

Although digital maps are made of bits and bytes, they share a number of things in common with their paper and ink cousins — like datums, coordinates systems, scales, legends, and compass roses. In fact, when you get some of these concepts down, you’ll be at home with just about any map you encounter, whether it’s displayed on your PC’s monitor or laying on the front seat of your car.

Paper maps have a certain old school charm, but digital maps are infinitely cooler. That’s because you can associate data with a digital map and make it interactive and smart. This part sets the stage for other chapters in the book. We’re going to be talking about all sorts of PC, Web-based, and GPS maps, and it’s important that you understand the basics of how digital maps work and what types of digital maps are out there; especially the free ones available on the Internet.

Chapter 1

Getting Started with Digital Maps

In This Chapter

Getting to know digital maps

Using digital maps

Learning about types of map programs

Understanding the differences between Geographic Information System (GIS) and consumer mapping programs

This chapter introduces you to the fundamentals of digital maps. You find out what a digital map is, what the differences are between static and smart digital maps, and what different types of programs are available for using digital maps.

Amerigo Vespucci Didn’t Have Maps like This

Any map is a picture of where things are, generally associated with our planet and its geographic or man-made features. Road maps, hiking maps, maps to homes of Hollywood stars, and all sorts of other maps provide a sense of place and often help you get from one location to another.

Traditionally, maps have been printed on paper, which makes them pretty convenient. They can be folded into a lightweight, compact bundle (if you’ve had a little practice). Digital maps (maps made on a computer or meant to be used with a computer) serve the same purpose as their paper cousins. It’s just more difficult to fold a CD.

21st century cartography

Cartography is the art and science of making maps. Until the 1960s, maps were made the time-honored, traditional way: 1. Draw an original map by hand, based on land survey measurements and other information. 2. Print as many copies as you need. That approach changed with the advent of computers, satellite imagery, and Global Positioning System (GPS), which made map-making much easier. Most paper maps now are generated or produced on a computer. Digital mapmaking is a significant leap forward from traditional paper maps.Maps can be made faster, cheaper, and more accurately. This is important because of how quickly new roads, subdivisions, and development projects pop up in fast-growing urban areas. An old street map isn’t much help in a new subdivision with a couple hundred homes. The same problem affects political maps; an example is the change in national names and borders after the fall of the Soviet Union.Digital map data can be used with mapping software to make digital maps on your personal computer.

Static map

A static map is the simplest form of digital map — a paper map that’s been scanned and turned into a BMP (bitmap) or JPG (graphic) file. Or, a static map can be a digital version of an aerial or satellite photo. Aside from displaying it, printing it, and perhaps making a few edits, what you can do with a static map is limited.

Nevertheless, a static map is often all you need.

Smart map

Smart digital maps (as shown in Figure 1-1) may look like static maps, but they have data associated with locations on the map. The data can be as basic as the latitude and longitude of a single point, or as detailed as providing information about vegetation, soil type, and slope.

Spatial or geospatial data is associated with a place. The place can be smaller than a meter (that’s about 3 feet for the metrically challenged) or as large as a country. Spatial data can be stored two ways:

Embedded in a map graphic file

Stored in separate files with references to the locations

Figure 1-1: A smart map has associated data.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a popular format for storing graphics files. The GeoTIFF extension embeds geographic tags into map images. If you view a GeoTIFF file with a standard graphics program, it looks like an ordinary map. However, a program that uses the data tags can access the spatial data (such as latitude/longitude, elevation, and so on) associated with each pixel in the image.

Mapping Programs

Although many different kinds of mapping programs are available, you can classify map programs in two types: consumer programs and Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Here’s a quick look at each type.

Consumer programs

A consumer mapping program is software that displays street maps, topographic maps, aerial/satellite photos, marine charts, or aeronautical charts. Such mapping programs are easier to use (and much less expensive) than their professional counterparts, meeting most computer users’ mapping needs. This book focuses on mapping programs available to consumers.

GIS (Geographic Information System) programs

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is an information system that analyzes, inputs, manipulates, outputs, retrieves, and stores spatial data. GIS is mostly used by governments; large corporations; and engineering and GIS consulting firms for land, natural resources, transportation, and urban planning.

Some people use the terms digital map and GIS interchangeably. This really isn’t correct. GIS isn’t just about making maps. GIS involves using computers and special software to help people make decisions by using spatial data.

Distinguishing between consumer mapping programs and GIS programs is important:

Consumer mapping programs target the needs of average computer users. These programs are much more limited in scope and functionality — and a lot less expensive — than GIS programs.

GIS software, which is sold primarily to governments, corporations, and consulting firms, is flexible, powerful, and relatively expensive.

GIS software typically has a steep learning curve; you can earn advanced degrees in GIS. Consumer mapping programs can mostly be used right out of the box and can be mastered in a relatively short period.

Consumer versus GIS programs

A typical consumer mapping program is a road map program that costs about $30 and provides exact routing directions to get from one location to another. This isn’t a static map because it has underlying data (such as street names, distances, and gas stations), which can lead you to think it’s a GIS program. Not so. A true GIS program has built-in precision tools that can (for example) let you input data about traffic flow and vehicle speeds, and then display every street where traffic volume exceeds 500 cars per hour and vehicle speeds are .5 miles an hour over the speed limit. The price tag for such a GIS program would be at least $1,000, not to mention the costs of training people to use it and gathering all the traffic data to input into the system.

Of course, if you have a burning need for high-end precision and complexity, it’s still possible to get into GIS on the cheap. A growing community is developing open source and free GIS programs. Although many of these programs lack the polish of a commercial product, they do get the job done. The http://opensourcegis.org and www.freegis.org Web sites are two excellent resources for finding out more about free GIS programs.

Digital Maps in Practice

There’s an old song that goes, “Anything you can do, I can do better.” If digital maps could sing that tune to their paper counterparts, they’d be right (for the most part). Digital mapping software offers all sorts of enhancements over paper maps, including these capabilities:

Finding street addresses quickly

Interfacing with GPS receivers to see where you are or where you were

Showing driving directions to just about anywhere

Displaying terrain three-dimensionally

Annotating maps with pop-up information (spatial data)

Creating custom maps

Printing a hard copy map

Digital maps do have a few drawbacks, including these:

You need a computer.

If you have a laptop or personal digital assistant (PDA), or map-enabled cellphone, you can take mapping software on the road with you. Just remember you need power to use these maps. So make sure your batteries are fully charged before heading out.

You need software.

This book helps you select and use software packages, particularly mapping programs in the free–$100 range.

You have to spend time mastering the software.

Most mapping software is readily usable, but all programs have nuances that sometimes make their features and user interfaces a little tricky.

Mapping Software: The Essentials

The first step for digital mapping is to understand the available types of mapping programs and their capabilities and limitations; that’s what this part of the book is all about.

After you know what software is available, you can match it to your needs. An invitation to a birthday party might consist only of displaying a screen capture of a street map on a Web site, editing and saving the map in Paint, and then e-mailing it to friends. A weeklong backpacking expedition would require a topographic mapping program (showing land features) to plan your route, view elevation profiles, and upload location data to your GPS receiver.

Before you can select the right tool for the right job, you need a general handle on the options that you can include in your digital-mapping tool chest. This section of the book organizes mapping programs into three categories:

Standalone programs

Programs bundled with maps

Web-hosted mapping services

Standalone programs

A standalone program is a program that can open and use digital maps. These programs typically don’t come with map data; therefore, you need to download or purchase the maps you’re interested in using.

Like a word processor or a spreadsheet, a mapping program needs someone to input data before it can be useful. In this case, the data is bits and bytes that describe how a map should display. Fortunately, an amazing amount of map data is freely available on the Internet, most of it already collected by the government and in the public domain.

A big market exists for commercial map data. People buy data to use with their mapping programs because

Free data may not be available for an area or a specific need.

Commercial data might be enhanced with information unavailable in the free versions. Additionally, companies offering commercial map data often release updated versions of their data — and let you know when it’s available.

Firing up a CD filled with data is more convenient and faster than searching for, and then downloading, free data.

Many standalone mapping programs aren’t tied to one data type. (Chapter 2 shows which types of digital map data are commonly used.) Figure 1-2 shows a three-dimensional map of Mount St. Helens created with a program called 3DEM from free U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) digital elevation map (DEM) data. The elevation map shows the crater and the blown-out side from the volcano’s 1980 eruption.

Figure 1-2: A 3-D map created with a free map program and free map data.

Map programs are viewers, editors, or both:

Viewers only show maps.

Editors allow you to make changes.

Usually, you can’t change a base map you’ve opened from a data file, but you can add text and draw shapes on the map.

Many standalone programs are either free or shareware. Two aspects of such programs are especially worth noting:

Some manufacturers offer free (or cheap) limited-feature versions of their products that are otherwise available as pricy commercial software. These programs are just as good as the commercial versions for basic purposes.

Standalone mapping programs are mostly suited to a user who has intermediate to advanced computer skills and experience. Make sure you get one that suits your skills.

Examples of standalone mapping programs include OziExplorer (www.oziexplorer.com), USAPhotoMaps (http://jdmcox.com), and 3DEM (www.visualizationsoftware.com/3dem.html), which made the spiffy image in Figure 1-2. Don’t forget that you can also make maps with Paint or any other general-purpose graphics program. This book talks about these programs and others.

Some free, noncommercial mapping programs have advanced features that are normally more suited to professional users. Don’t be intimidated by lots of features and options. You can use a few commands and features to make maps that meet your needs. Master the other features if you ever need to.

One requirement for working with standalone mapping programs is that you need to search the Internet for suitable data, find and download it, and then open it with the map program. This process sometimes involves registering or georeferencing a map so that the coordinates are accurate. And even with a high-speed Internet connection, downloading can take a while. After you have the data downloaded, you still have to find the map data for an area that you want to view, and then successfully load all that stuff into the mapping program.

Programs with bundled maps

Mapping companies bundle software with digital maps. The program comes with the map data and is distributed on CDs or DVDs; static or smart maps that have a lot of detail can be quite large. You install the mapping program, and you’re immediately ready to start using the data on the CD.

Data files bundled with software are often in a proprietary file format, which can be read and used only with the software that comes with the product. The same usually holds true for maps that you can upload to a particular brand of GPS receiver; only maps from the manufacturer can be used.

Sometimes you don’t have much choice between using a standalone program or one bundled with maps. However, keep the following in mind if cost is an issue:

Free topographic map data of the United States is widely available. You can use a number of free or shareware programs to view maps.

Typically, outdated Census Bureau map data is available for United States streets and roads. Most free or shareware programs don’t match the features in commercial street map products.

Software that comes with bundled maps has gotten incredibly cheap over the years. With discounts and rebates, you can often find road atlas software for around $20 that covers the entire United States. For a little under $100, you can buy programs that come with a full set of detailed digital topographic maps for an entire state (or even larger region). Considering a single paper USGS 1:24,000 map costs around $7 — and there can easily be over a thousand maps per state — that’s a pretty decent value. Figure 1-3 shows a map made by a program called Terrain Navigator (www.maptech.com/land/TerrainNavigator), which is a topographic mapping program that comes bundled with map data.

Figure 1-3: A 1:100,000 scale topographic map displayed with Maptech’s Terrain Navigator.

Manufacturers that sell bundled map programs (particularly those with street and road data) usually come out with a new release of their product every year or so. In addition to enhancements in the software, the map data contains new roads and updated services information, such as gas stations, restaurants, and hotels (called POIs, or Points of Interest). Whether you buy an updated copy of the software every year depends on your circumstances. If you usually travel on major roads, or in areas that haven’t experienced much development and growth, you probably don’t need to update every year. On the other hand, road atlas software is fairly inexpensive, so if you travel a lot and rely on the program, it can be a cheap investment.

If you have beginning to intermediate computer skills and experience, you can come up to speed quickly with bundled map programs. The user interfaces are generally simpler than those found in feature-rich, standalone programs.

Examples of programs that come bundled with maps are DeLorme’s Street Atlas USA (www.delorme.com), National Geographic’s TOPO! (www.natgeomaps.com/topo), and mapping software from GPS manufacturers that interfaces with their receivers.

In addition to these programs, applications that stream data off the Internet can display maps. The map data doesn’t physically come with the program, but is virtually bundled. Examples include Google Earth (earth.google.com) and TopoFusion (www.topofusion.com).

I discuss both types of programs in Part III.

Web-hosted mapping services

A Web-hosted mapping service is a Web site that displays a map. You just need Internet access and a browser to view street maps, topographic maps, aerial maps, satellite imagery, and many other types of maps. This eliminates purchasing and installing specialized programs and map data on your hard drive, swapping CDs to access new map data, and mastering a new program. (Figure 1-4 is a detailed street map of downtown Port Angeles, Washington, using maps.google.com, a Web-hosted mapping service.)

If a map isn’t displayed, check your browser’s Java settings first. A number of Web-hosted mapping services, in particular the U.S. government sites that all share the same mapping engine, require Java and/or JavaScript enabled in your browser before maps can be correctly displayed.

A few words on commercial GIS software

This book doesn’t dwell overmuch on commercial GIS software packages. If your mapping needs get complex enough to require GIS (or you just want to find out more about these high-end mapping systems), check out the Web sites of the top three GIS companies:ESRI: Environmental Systems Research Institute is the largest GIS company in the marketplace. Its Arc products (such as ArcInfo and ArcView) are standards in the GIS field. For more information about ESRI, go to www.esri.com.MapInfo: MapInfo develops and sells a wide array of GIS products. For more information on the company and its products, see www.mapinfo.com.Autodesk: Autodesk is the developer of AutoCAD, a widely used computer-aided design program. Autodesk add-ons and standalone GIS programs are used throughout the world. You can find out about the Autodesk mapping applications at www.autodesk.com. The GIS Lounge is a great Web resource that isn’t tied to a specific manufacturer. This site provides information on all aspects of GIS, and has informative and educational content for novices to professionals. For more information, go to www.gislounge.com. Or, if you prefer books, be sure to check out GIS For Dummies by Mike DeMers (Wiley Publishing).

Figure 1-4: A detailed street map, using a Web-hosted mapping service.

Most Web-hosted mapping services are extremely easy to use. Anyone who can use an Internet browser should be navigating through maps in no time.

Examples of Web-hosted mapping services include Google Maps (maps.google.com), TerraServer-USA (http://terraserver-usa.com), and TopoZone (www.trails.com). You discover how to use these mapping Web sites and others in Part IV.

Although most of these free Web sites don’t have all the features of a map program that you install on your hard drive, they offer a surprising amount of capability, especially considering their cost. (Some mapping sites on the Web charge for advanced services, such as color aerial photographs, larger map sizes, and enhanced searching.)