In field navigation software I use:

[silversand]

Its been a while since I've posted at EP, however here goes. I thought I would throw out there some of the navigation equipment I use when out on a recce/expedition:

-my IBM/Lenovo T60 laptop (with built-in motion sensor; good for detecting earthquake activity):
a)with several open source mapping applications, like MapWindow GIS (seen in this screen shot with GPS Tools plug-in with my current location, with excellent dilution of precision numbers BTW);
b)FW tools, under: OpenEV, for digital terrain model manipulation, and in-field mountainous navigation;

-my Galaxy Android phone, with bluetooth connection to my GlobalSat SurfStar III low power consumption GPS (good for 11~15 hours continuous use on a Li-ion charge, can be charged from my truck's several batteries or camper AGM batteries):
a)I'm using an Android app called Bluetooth GPS, that usurps the phone's lousy built-in GPS dedicated through 3G (thus I don't require any 3G or wi-fi connection to function with my GPS in the field).

Additionally, I find that caching a gig or 3 of 1:20 000 Google Earth route flyovers of the region of my interest in the laptop, and using this base data with the BT GPS extremely useful, too (no add-on GPS DVD data needed, saving money, and possible frustration.

Finally, I rely on the latest US Census data shapefiles (I find these extremely reliable and exceedingly accurate) loaded into my laptop and ready for GPS recall. We carry paper topo maps, too, of course, with several compasses.

It would be interesting to read what others here may have experienced with their set-ups (or, perhaps several of you are using some iteration of my set-up?).

Cheers,
Silversand

Truck Camper Journeys

 

[Count Fred]

I have a Mac mini w/touchscreen in my Land Cruiser. I've got a USGlobalSat BU-353 gps puck attached to it. The Mac uses gpsd to connect to the gps, and then redirects the feed to a few programs on the Mac side of things, as well as sharing it to my windows emulation to gps-gate which splits the data and allows me to run iGuidance for turn-based navigation as well as Overland Navigator for topographic maps.

In addition I carry outdated paper maps for various public lands (whatever I can find locally, not always the greatest selection) and printed copies of the Motor Vehicle Use Maps put out for various National Forests. The latter I would like to integrate into the computer, but I need a program that can geo-reference a pdf, and then display it. I have found that MacGPS Pro can do this on the Mac side, but it cannot use gpsd so it would take sole control of my gps, which is undesirable.

I'm not familiar enough with Windows programs that might be able to do the real-time tracking on the Motor Vehicle Use Maps, though I am looking for suggestions.

Cheers,
JFS III

 

[silversand]

Fred:

On the PC-side, you would want to have a look at the Adobe PDF reader extension called: GeoPDF "TerraGo Toolbar", by TerroGo Technologies (I'm not affiliated with them in any way, other than being a user). Their plugin can be downloaded from and read-up on here. Once you open the GeoPDF topo maps, you can set 3 coordinate systems, make measurements and distance calculations (available freely from the USGS as scanned DRG {ACE-initiative} or USGS topo {USGS-initiative}, at from ~5-MB to 15-MB, averaging 10-MB in file size), here. Additionally, you can acquire your GPS puck and live-track while viewing GeoPDF through the Toolbar, or annotate the GeoPDF.

I've already amassed several hundreds of GeoPDF topo maps, onto my laptop (and desktop server).

Have fun with that !
Silver-