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Source for U.S. Forest Service topo maps and vector files

A decade ago, B.G. (before GPS, at least for me), I lived in a part of the Southern Appalachians surrounded by National Forests. I loved exploring the area by mountain bike, and while I wasn’t yet into GPS, my love of maps was already deeply ingrained.

Not yet to the point of filling my hard drive with maps, I instead had a wall full of USGS topo quads, the collars cut from them, detailing a mosaic of the regional landscape. But one day my good friend, fellow biker and map junky, Sparrel, told me about U.S. Forest Service (USFS) maps.

The image above shows a portion of a map near my new neighboorhood, the Mendocino National Forest. Note that the map is brown and white, even though this is a heavily forested region. Unlike USGS quads, these maps don’t show vegetation. What you gain though, are Forest Service road and trail numbers, gate locations, and more legible boundaries. Sometimes these quads are even more up to date than the standard USGS 7.5’ series. Once I discovered these, I was well on my way to acquiring a second set of topo maps for the region!

I recently discovered a great portal for USFS maps and vector data. I stumbled across this via the OziExplorer message forum. They don’t have all the USFS topos, but you might want to check it out to see what they have for your favorite stomping grounds.

Free GIS Data GeoBlog

I've written before about all the wonderful and free GIS data available online. Well, I came across a great new blog the other day, the Free GIS Data GeoBlog. Much of this information is available in other places, such as this excellent resource. Still, the Free GIS Data GeoBlog looks promising. I am especially excited by the fact that they are posting international data. And remember, if you aren't a GIS professional with access to ArcView, OziExplorer is a great package that allows you to use your GPS and use GIS data.

Via Cartography.

NAIP aerial photography

The Map Room recently covered the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP). Now don't be confused by the Agriculture part of the name, because the NAIP is of value to a much broader audience. NAIP offers very recent, natural-color aerial imagery of almost the entire U.S., at a relatively high resolution. Full county mosaics are $50. For my county, there is a 2006 image with a resolution of 2 meters/pixel, and a 2005 image at 1 meter/pixel. The image at left, of the Big River estuary and Mendocino, CA, is supposed to be 2 meter resolution. The resolution doesn't look quite that sharp to me, but nevertheless, I can make out recent changes in logging roads in the area I frequent for mountain bike rides. The image to the right below, shows a 3-D view with waypoints, that I created using OziExplorer.

The color county mosaics are in MrSID format. You can use OziExplorer to work with these files, and the NAIP website lists several viewers. Quarter quadrangles are available in GeoTIFF format. Here's the latest (2005) aerial photo coverage map for color county mosaics.

Unfortunately, we're dealing with the feds here, so ordering is a pain and delivery is slow.

Waypoints - April 22, 2006

There’s lots to cover this week, so let’s get right to it:

GPS Hardware

• Looks like my TomTom GO 910 review was well-timed. It appears that TomTom is now shipping the new unit in the U.S.
• Magellan has posted info on the Roadmate 860T. It is expected to be available in May. More information is available in the Magellan Roadmate 860T press release. Via GPS Review.
• Garmin’s blog discusses the Auto Multi Sport feature found on the Forerunner 205, 301 and 305.
• Engadget explores the trend towards all-in-one GPS devices.

GPS Software / resources

• I’ve added GPS-Tour.info to my list of online sources of waypoints and tracks. Via Google Earth Blog.
• An extensive list of GIS resources, via Ogle Earth.
• GPSInformation.net covers changes to G7toWin.
• GpsPasSion reports on GPSGate, which allows you to connect a single receiver to multiple applications simultaneously.

GPS in the news

• I think the Darwin Awards needs a GPS category.
• Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in a GPS Amazing Family Race.
• GPS receivers are being used to help track down pets of Katrina victims.
• A report on a privacy group’s concerns over parents tracking their children with GPS. Via GPS Notes.
• Pocket Gamer speculates on the development of GPS-based games, which may be triggered by GPS-enabled Sony PSP devices.
• How about a GPS-enabled ATV wheelchair?
• Nielsen will use GPS to track exposure to outdoor advertising.

Geo-Google

• Google Maps Mania links to a U.S. campground map. Remember, you can convert Google Maps search results to GPS waypoints.
• Google Earth Blog links to Earthclimber, a Google Earth tool for exploring rock climbing destinations.
• Ogle Earth explores Iranian nuclear facilities via Google Earth and triggers a comment-fest in the process. Stefan goes on in his next post to explore  Google Earth myths and terrorism.
• Also from Ogle Earth, resources to check out global warming in Google Earth.
• Google Earth Blog carries info on new areas of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery.
• Google Local or Google Maps? Looks like an identity crisis to me.
• Ogle Earth reports on a KML importer being included in the newest release of NASA World Wind.
• Google Earth Blog reports on a new search feature in Google Earth.

Technorati tags: GPS

Waypoints - March 11, 2006

I have lots of links for you in this week's roundup, so let’s get right to it:

Garmin

• Ever wonder if there was a key to all those symbols on your Garmin GPS? There is! Found via Groundspeak.
• Garmin’s new blog unveiled a new tips and tricks feature that supposedly reveals “little-known” features. I hope they dig a little deeper than this one about saving searches.

GPS in your life

• Did you know that the FCC is requiring GPS on all cell phones? If you have an older non-GPS, check with your carrier; you may get a deal (and could be penalized if you don’t). U.S. Cellular customers have until April 29 to get a bargain upgrade.
• A bulky way to track your pet with GPS (or strangle him when he gets it hung on something).
• GPS is everywhere these days. Even in games.

Historic maps

• Cartography reports on a Portland, Maine historic map exhibit.
• Meanwhile, GeoCarta reports on a unique marriage of GIS and historic maps.

All the rest

• Satellite imagery is being used to make significant new discoveries about the natural and human history of the Earth. Check out these articles and images about a newly discovered impact crater and Mayan ruins.
• From GeoCarta comes news that TomTom will be utilizing scenic back road maps from MADMaps, Inc.
• Dale DePriest’s tip of the day for March 7 gives a great line by line explanation of world files. You’ll have to scroll to the date to find it. The same information is also available in Wikipedia’s world file entry.
• I only post about Google Maps mashups when they seem particularly appropriate or widely useful. This UPS, FedEx, USPS, Airborne/DHL package tracker seems to fit the latter criterion. Via Google Maps Mania.

Technorati tags: GPS

Waypoints - February 25, 2006

Odds and ends from the blogosphere and beyond:

• Researchers are reporting that cell phones may interfere with GPS in aviation settings. Maybe the FAA won't have us tortured by inane chatter after all.
• Ordinance Survey Ireland has released Trail Master mapping software for Ireland. Via Vector One.
• Slashdot hosts a discussion that asks, are in-car navigation systems too distracting? This was prompted by a widely reported insurance industry study on GPS navigation.
• In a new spin on location based services, free wi-fi with local ads is being offered by a Silicon Valley company. Duh!  How long till somebody thought of this?
• Very Spatial reports on a (not family friendly) IPTV video podcast that pits a person with local knowledge against a GPS in a navigation showdown.
• More geographically aware readers probably know that the poles migrate, but did you know how quickly it can happen?
• A nonprofit settles out of court for $15,000 for having produced a misleading map.
• AScribe has a story on the ethics and legalities of RFID and GPS tracking.
• To follow that, how about a press release on DriveSync, a GPS vehicle tracking system?
• Reaching back a couple of weeks, Google Maps Mania did an update on Google Maps, Google Earth and Macs.
• You pros out there may be interested in the GIS Tips & Tricks blog. Found via GIS Geoblog.
• Since my day job has me working as a conservation professional, I feel obligated to report that GIS Geoblog also has a story on the Society for Conservation GIS.
• This week's "Waypoints" list is long. Thanks to Planet Geospatial for helping me keep track of stories that I had seen, but forgotten where.
  

Technorati tags: GPS

Using GIS Data with GPS

There is a wealth of Geographic Information System (GIS) data available on the web — everything from public land boundaries to international contour files. It is amazing what you can find. A few examples:

• I live in an area dominated by private timber lands. I found private timber company boundary files offered through this website.
• Looking around for public land boundary files, I discovered that the California Department of Fish and Game owns a series of ecological reserves. Not only did I learn about this little known treasure, I found boundary files as well.
• I was fortunate to be able to visit Ecuador a year ago. I used files from the GIS Data Depot to create a contour map of the country, that I was able to load onto my GPS receiver. I was able to find other sources showing roads, streams, cities, provincial boundaries and major volcanoes

GIS files are most commonly found in either .shp (shapefiles) or .e00 formats. Unfortunately, few consumer-level GPS mapping programs allow you to utilize GIS files.  OziExplorer is my favorite program for working with GIS files. Using it, you can convert these files to tracks and points, and even display this info on your GPS. Another program, ArcExplorer, is a free GIS viewer, but it lacks GPS compatibility. The image, to the right above, was captured from OziExplorer. It shows public land boundaries in green and private timberlands in yellow, superimposed on a color aerial photo.