Another free topo tool...USGS Topos in GeoPDF format

[DavidG]

The USGS has made their topos available as individual GeoPDF files. You may download files here and find more information about this free product here.

The GeoPDF file is viewed in Acrobat Reader and additional functionality is available by downloading the free plug-in from TerraGo Technologies. The application supports GPS and will display your position on the topo, but does not offer data capture. While they do not replace traditional mapping or navigation applications, they may be useful as a collateral data source.

Enjoy,

DavidG

 

[davegonz]

Downloaded the plug-in and found some maps...This thing rocks. You can zoom in and have nice resolution on those maps. Now I need to finish up my carputer setup.

 

[Schattenjager]

Solid info! Thanks for the post!

:REOutArchery02:

 

[edgear]

That is awesome, David!! Thanks!

I have also recently come across this website which has links to free public domain topo maps for most states. For example, this link takes you to the Utah website where you can download any of the 1:24000 quads. Excellent for cross referencing for trip planning or navigation.

 

[DavidG]

Excellent, glad to see the information is useful. Tacozona, the link to the NaturalGFX site is missing an 'm' on the end. Just wanted to point that out for others b/c that page is a great find!

Another USGS site to visit is http://seamless.usgs.gov/viewer.htm
You can download free imagery in GeoTiff format. Depending on the area, you may find 1'/pixel resolution. Many other datasets available here as well.

 

[Ursidae69]

You can now use Google Earth to find any Topo (1:24000) you want and download it for free.

If you have Googe Earth already installed, go to this link. Click the Green button labeled Download DDS Mapfinder for Google Earth. This will open a KMZ file in your Google Earth.

Once GE opens, clear the warning messages by unchecking the boxes to the left, then using the menu on the left, scroll to your area of interest (by state name) and turn on that state's Topo overlay. Now go to the Topo you want to download and click the (i) button showing on the screen. A pop-up box appears with the Topo's name and a link to download the free topo in .tiff format. I think it is pretty slick. :costumed-smiley-007

 

[cnskate]

Cool stuff. Thanks for the tips!

 

[tdesanto]

I cannot believe that I just discovered this stuff today. This is very, very cool.

I cannot wait to try the GeoPDF files.

Does anyone know if there's a way to print or create a file with all the quad names on it so that you can easily tell which quad you need for a particular area or to help when getting to the edge of one quad you know which quad you need next?

I just saved the google earth screen to a jpeg and then printed it. Then I moved my cursor over each "i" icon so that the name of the quad would appear. Then I wrote it on the image that I printed. That's a low tech way to go. It'd be great if I could simply print a page with all the quad names already on it.

Great nonetheless. I'm interested to see how the GeoPDF files work when connected to a GPS.

 

[Michael Slade]

Went to the site and tried to download the images. I can load them into Firefox, but not to my hard drive. I'm not the sharpest knife...so I'll try something else.

Any tips?

EDIT: To download the image as an image to your hard drive, download it from the list, not from the image view after you clicked on it. A bit frustrating, but hey at least I figgered it out on my own right? Hehe.

That is awesome, David!! Thanks!

I have also recently come across this website which has links to free public domain topo maps for most states. For example, this link takes you to the Utah website where you can download any of the 1:24000 quads. Excellent for cross referencing for trip planning or navigation.

 

[DavidG]

I cannot believe that I just discovered this stuff today. This is very, very cool.

I cannot wait to try the GeoPDF files.

Does anyone know if there's a way to print or create a file with all the quad names on it so that you can easily tell which quad you need for a particular area or to help when getting to the edge of one quad you know which quad you need next?

I just saved the google earth screen to a jpeg and then printed it. Then I moved my cursor over each "i" icon so that the name of the quad would appear. Then I wrote it on the image that I printed. That's a low tech way to go. It'd be great if I could simply print a page with all the quad names already on it.

Great nonetheless. I'm interested to see how the GeoPDF files work when connected to a GPS.

Something like this?
http://www.geomart.com/products/topo/freeindex.htm

AFAIK, the TerraGo Toolbar does not support Bluetooth GPS units but will support connected GPS' with NMEA output. I'll have to check to see if this has changed...

 

[tdesanto]

Something like this?
http://www.geomart.com/products/topo/freeindex.htm

AFAIK, the TerraGo Toolbar does not support Bluetooth GPS units but will support connected GPS' with NMEA output. I'll have to check to see if this has changed...

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for.