Gmap4 - Enhanced Google Map viewer with topographic maps

[tomba]

You can see Sierra passes on Gmap4, color-coded for difficulty.
They can also be seen on Google Maps. This page shows aplhabetical list of them, which makes it easy to find a particular pass.
Each pass contains a link to the corresponding area on the HST Map, that often has more information.
Data is primarily from Sierra Backpacker, with some more from Secor's book, from my experience, and from other sources. Each pass indentifies sources.

If you want to add more information, PM me with pass name, coordinates, difficulty (class), and description.

[Joseph]

Here is a tweaked version of Tomba's Sierra Pass map which uses the new high resolution topographic maps (no watermarks, no ads):
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... ord=latlng

The Gmap4 code has been updated to version 3.0. There are two new ‘big’ features that many people will find useful.

First, Gmap4 can now display a new set of very high resolution USA topographic maps that (1) are a better quality image than the MyTopo maps, (2) do not have heavy watermarks obscuring part of the map and (3) do not have any ads. The link below displays a basic map of the USA. Zoom in to your favorite area (or use the ‘Search’ feature) then open the menu in the upper right corner and select “t4 Topo High”.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... 75&t=m&z=4

You can also set the amount of hill shading you prefer to see on these new maps. Click Menu ==> Hill shading. And there is a new URL parameter (&hillshade=) you can use to set the hill shading in any Gmap4 URLs that you make.

A developer in California named Matt (http://CalTopo.com) produced these new topo map tiles from data he obtained from the USGS. Matt is paying out of his pocket to host these new map tiles on Amazon’s cloud service. It is my great hope that the Gmap4 user community taken as a whole will be willing to make sufficient donations to pay its share of Matt’s Amazon bill. The Menu button on the map has a ‘donate’ link.

Matt’s high resolution topographic map tiles should cover the states show in green on the following index map. I think the states that are not done yet are FL, LA, MA, MS, NH, RI, SD, VT and WY.
http://nationalmap.gov/historical/index.html
As the USGS finishes high resolution scans (660 pixels per inch) for the remaining states, Matt will be processing that data into tiles.

The Gmap4 ‘Help’ file has more information on these new maps and also instructions for how you can report any problems you discover.

Second, Gmap4 now includes a trip planning feature called “Make a map”. You can now click the map to make waypoints, routes and tracks. You can download your work in a GPX file and then upload that information into many handheld GPS units. Of course you can also put your GPX file online and then make a Gmap4 URL to display your file. This feature works worldwide.

Gmap4’s implementation of this feature lets you:
* Click once and create both a waypoint and routepoint
* Edit any data field (including GPS symbol name) that causes information to appear on your GPS screen

“Make a map” quick start:
1. Zoom in where you want to do trip planning
2. Set the map view you want
3. Click Menu ==> Make a map
4. Click a few spots on the map. Distance in miles and kilometers is reported in the lower right corner.
5. Right click any point
6. Click “Download GPX file”
7. Right click the URL to the GPX file and save it on your harddrive
8. Load the GPX information into your GPS

Each click you just made on the map sets a draggable (click-hold-drag) waypoint and routepoint. This is the Gmap4 default for trip planning.

For more information on these features, please visit the Gmap4 homepage and download the current Help file. The sections that describe these new features are marked “(New)” in the table of contents.
Gamp4 Homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

I welcome your suggestions for improvements and any bug reports.

Enjoy!

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

[rlown]

Please explain the overlap with HST Maps..

[Joseph]

Russ,

There are a number of nice online map tools. The HST map and Gmap4 are two of them. There are also others. In broad strokes, all us map developers do some of the same things and some different things. By all means look around and find the tool that best suits your needs.

It is also possible that no one map tool will do everything you want and you will wind up using a couple different tools. After all, how many different kinds of pliers do you own?

To the best of my knowledge there are presently two sites on the planet that show you high resolution topographic maps with no watermarks and no ads. (MyTopo = medium resolution + watermarks + ads.) They are CalTopo.com and Gmap4.

HST is using very nice medium resolution scans from ESRI. Those maps are nice since they do not have any watermarks. Here's a comparison showing Pine Creek Pass. Even though Gmap4 now provides a higher resolution topo map, it could easily be the case that some of the special features available with the HST maps better suit your needs.

Pine Creek Pass - HST
ESRI topo map has an outdated UTM grid based on the NAD27 datum
http://www.highsierratopix.com/high-sie ... om=15&cat=

Pine Creek Pass - Gmap4
UTM grid based on WGS84 (default datum in handheld GPS units)
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... &label=off


Joseph

[rlown]

i see advantages to both. combine them into one offering on the HST.

[tomba]

Yes, it would be great to combine information about passes in one place, available in a machine-readable format. The passes I mentioned above are in KML format, so in addition to Gmap4 and Google Maps, people can view them in Google Earth in 3D, or in any tool that understands KML format - perhaps in a GPS receiver (after converting to GPX format), in a map viewing phone app, in a map printout, etc. Other people can add value by building on top of this.

[copeg]

i see advantages to both. combine them into one offering on the HST.

Combining them might sound easy but leads to a lot more questions and concerns that define the what, where, how, etc...which in reality (and from the standpoint of a developer who has attempted things like this in the past), are not easy to answer or address.

The integration with the forums was one of the original goals of the HST map (some of which is still in development), to create a community map, and I see this goal not only quite different from Gmap4, but also something that is not amenable to any form of integration between the two.

[rlown]

seems like Joseph could help.. let him..

[Joseph]

The problem with us independent software developers is that we are so dang independent. I think there is plenty of room in the world for the HST map, Gmap4, GPSvisualizer, ACMEmapper, Hillmap and the other free mapping tools to co-exist and each grow in their own unique way.

[rlown]

pick the best.. make it the HST map standard..

[copeg]

pick the best.. make it the HST map standard..

The best is dependent upon who you ask, and like Joseph said each will grow to fill a niche.

Whether developers mingle between projects is dependent upon the project and the developer. I agree with Joseph that developers can be independent, but something else to consider is that small projects such as this can sometimes be hindered by multiple developers.

I am not sure what you feel is deficient in the HST map, or exactly what direct benefit you see through your efforts in trying to make the project more collaborative, but until specific things are named - things where the goal is tangible - then there won't be any effort to make them happen. I am open to suggestions, and if those suggestions necessitate opening the project to more developers or 'integrating' with other sites then we will deal with that when the time comes (but please keep them in the HST map suggestion thread and lets try and avoid hijacking this thread).

[Joseph]

Recently Gmap4 was updated to version 4.1 and now includes a unique map-in-a-link feature that is worth mentioning. Anyone can now make a custom map and save their data right in a Gmap4 link. You do not need to save your data in a separate file such as a GPX or KML file. This may be the easiest and faster way for you to make a custom online topographic map.

To try out this feature:
1. Click Menu ==> Draw and Save
2. Click the map a few times to set draggable symbols and draw a line
3. Rightclick any symbol and select “Gmap4 display long link”

You can copy the link that is displayed, paste it into a new browser address bar, hit enter and your custom map will be displayed.

This feature also works on your iPhone, iPad, android and other mobile device. Remember, Gmap4 is a browser app and your browser has to be online. After you tap the screen to set some draggable symbols then tap a symbol and select “Action Menu”. The list of actions include two different ways to save a Gmap4 link that includes your data.

More information on this map-in-a-link feature can be found in the following three places.

1. What’s new page
Note the tip about deleting the ll and z parameters from your Gmap4 link.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html

2. Example page
Scroll down to the section titled “Your map data saved in the Gmap4 link”. The examples range from basic to advanced and give you a quick way to see some of the kinds of maps you can make with this feature.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html

3. Help file
You can download the PDF file and search it (control-f) for the section titled “Make a custom map with Gmap4 and save it”.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.pdf

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
Redmond, WA