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MnGCA
Minnesota Geocaching Association
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| If the DNR had a downloadable set of hiking trail maps, would you use them? |
| Yes, but only if they automatically worked with my existing software. |
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15% |
[ 2 ] |
| Yes, as long as it didn't take too much work to install them. |
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76% |
[ 10 ] |
| No, I love relying on the base map. |
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7% |
[ 1 ] |
| No, why bother - the $40 ones from http://www.gpssledmaps.com are cheap enough. |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 13 |
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divercth
Geocacher
Joined: 03 May 2008
Posts: 74
Location: Eden Priairie, MN
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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: Rolling your own maps |
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I know that part of this was covered in the Topo Trail Maps discussion, but I'd like to know if anyone has had any experience in rolling their own maps.
According to some of the sites I've looked at, it should be possible to make maps using only free programs, but I'd like to know if anyone's had much luck with that.
It took me about half an hour to find the correct files, but I'm finally in the process of downloading LandView and MARPLOT (thank you so much the US Census Bureau) [ ].
Ultimately, I'd like to see us having a free set of downloadable maps similar to the set that the MN Snowmobiling Association is selling for $40. |
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divercth
Geocacher
Joined: 03 May 2008
Posts: 74
Location: Eden Priairie, MN
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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BTW, does anyone have a copy of the DNR-branded version of LandView? It's a government-created public domain program, but the USGS and EPA charge about $150 for "media duplication services" if you order it direct from them. Their FAQs say it's OK to copy, but you'll need dual-layer DVD-Rs
I saw a ranger working with it and she was able to download a USGS satellite image and draw a trail over top it. I've also found a few opensource GIS apps that look promising. |
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Pear Head
Past MnGCA President
Joined: 04 Apr 2004
Posts: 5600
Location: north of Duluth
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Rolling your own maps |
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| divercth wrote: |
Ultimately, I'd like to see us having a free set of downloadable maps similar to the set that the MN Snowmobiling Association is selling for $40. |
The site isn't run by the MN Snowmobiling Association - it's run by a private individual in MN.
He also offers a free map of the trails, it just doesn't have all of the 'extras' on it...
_________________
Hmm... |
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ghost640
Geocacher
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 268
Location: Independence, north of Twig
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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| divercth wrote: |
BTW, does anyone have a copy of the DNR-branded version of LandView? It's a government-created public domain program, but the USGS and EPA charge about $150 for "media duplication services" if you order it direct from them. Their FAQs say it's OK to copy, but you'll need dual-layer DVD-Rs
I saw a ranger working with it and she was able to download a USGS satellite image and draw a trail over top it. I've also found a few opensource GIS apps that look promising. |
This had me going for awhile - it looks like there are 2 programs named Landview, both do GIS, but are otherwise unrelated. Landview 5 is the Census Bureau's program. The DNR offers online map delivery through their Landview Page - very cool for online access to data, although I see some bugs in the data (e.g. the State Forest layer only shows named state forests, not state forest parcels). Finally, DNR has an standalone program called Landview, but it's not public domain software.
But, for a source of free MN GIS data, the MN DNR Data Deli is the place - you can download digital topos, orthoquad & FSA photos, ownership, roads, all that good stuff. If the census Landview doesn't pan out, check out ESRI's ArcExplorer program, a viewer for GIS shapefiles. You'll be rolling your own in no time... |
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divercth
Geocacher
Joined: 03 May 2008
Posts: 74
Location: Eden Priairie, MN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| ghost640 wrote: |
This had me going for awhile - it looks like there are 2 programs named Landview, both do GIS, but are otherwise unrelated. Landview 5 is the Census Bureau's program. The DNR offers online map delivery through their Landview Page - very cool for online access to data, although I see some bugs in the data (e.g. the State Forest layer only shows named state forests, not state forest parcels). Finally, DNR has an standalone program called Landview, but it's not public domain software.
But, for a source of free MN GIS data, the MN DNR Data Deli is the place - you can download digital topos, orthoquad & FSA photos, ownership, roads, all that good stuff. If the census Landview doesn't pan out, check out ESRI's ArcExplorer program, a viewer for GIS shapefiles. You'll be rolling your own in no time... |
Thanks,
I'd been having mixed results with the Data Deli, but I wasn't aware of the DNR LandView site. ArcExplorer looked promising, but it only has a 30 day trial for all the features you need to build a map.
Right now, I'm working through the tutorials on an opensource program called QuantumGIS that works with just about every format under the sun, including ESRI format shapefiles. |
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