Maps Tool - new free app (with no ads either) to work with gps coordinate, maps and grids, including public land survey system (township, range, section)!
Do you happen to own some real paper maps? If so, my new app is designed exactly to make using them simpler. Or maybe you are just interested to learn something about geodesy, navigation and cartography? If so – read on.
While most online and other digital maps are now standardized around using decimal degrees latitude/longitude pairs using WGS84 geodesic datum, paper maps are not so simple. They use all kinds of different coordinate system. Many use UTM – Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system that was developed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s. NATO militaries around the world wanted their own thing and developed another grid coordinate system called MGRS. While these two are most popular there are many more other grids, especially once we go to local level. Maps in UK often use something called Ordinance Survey National Grid (OSGB) while Ireland had to use yet another system called Irish Grid.
To make things even more complicated years before recent standardization around WGS84, maps often used other geodesic datum, based on different models of earth ellipsoid and measurements. In fact many historic reference earth ellipsoids are still used in local areas, since they may provide better accuracy of measurements in certain territories. In practice this means that getting coordinates assuming wrong datum can put you hundreds of meters away.
Maps Tool is a powerful app that allows you to convert data between many coordinate system representations and also adjust for various datum. This app currently supports lat/lng, UTM, MGRS, Earth-centered, Earth-fixed Cartesian coordinate system, Swedish Grid, Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and Irish National Grid and many different geodetic datums, including, but not limited to: WGS 84, NAD 27, ED 50, ETRF 89, OSGB 36, OSI 65, RT 90, SWEREF 99, SIRGAS 2000, SAD 69, Córrego Alegre, SICAD, Astro Chuá and SK 42.
By default Maps Tool uses offline HERE+ maps already stored on your phone, but can also use Bing Maps, Google Maps, and OpenStreetMaps for better coverage. Overlays such as topographic map and satellite imagery are also available. Other handy function of Maps Tool include geocoding (finding location by address) and reverse geocoding (find closest address for a given location), sharing your location via sms/email and build-in database of around 3000 major cities and 9000 world airports for quick access (you can just key in a 3-letter IATA or 4-letter ICAO code).
Using web service from BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Maps Tool also gives you access to PLSS (Public Land Survey System) information (township, range, section) as a convenient map overlay (you can search for parcels by TRS or view parcels around you by tapping on the map).
Last but not least, Maps Tool app allows you to see rough altitude information from the GPS module in your phone, or (available as an optional download) query various GIS systems for accurate topographical altitude information including currently supported: USGS (US only), SRTM3, GTOPO30, ASTER and Google.
Best of all this app does not require a data connection to work, so you can take it with you into the field.
It is currently translated to English, Russian and Japanese and if you can help with more languages - please let me know.
Here is the store link:
http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=4bf54046-e1a3-4140-9f6f-7516948a5d29
This is good app, i am using that. Thx a lot
i am forest engineer. i wish i could use my own maps on my wp7 phone is there any app for this ? my maps is .tif format about 500 mb data is UTM 36T
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I downloaded the AndNav 0.6 app a couple weeks before I got my phone and I was very excited to have a decent application for GPS navigation. I loved having TomTom on my Windows Mobile phone w/ internal GPS.
But the author of AndNav is stalled in his development because his app violates the TOS for the GPS mapping so no navigation for Android that isn't lousy Google Maps which is a joke if you're trying to use it for "real" navigation.
Is there any way to get AndNav's APK loaded on the G1? It seems as though there is no way to install it from the web or locally. That seems to be the problem with most of the non-Market apps. I hope that this is a temporary issue where developers need to recompile their apps for the version of Android released with the phone. It would really suck that "open" Android with its tickbox for "install from other sources" is just a red herring.
Or alternatively is there a commercial GPS navigation app like TomTom, iGo, Garmin, whatever, being developed that stores the maps locally?
The TOS violation is for Google maps not the hardware. So if an alternative map source can be found then it's good to go. Besides, since Google maps is web based if you went out of a coverage area, or lost service, the navigation would die off too.
Even if you get the APK loaded the maps api checks for a key before releasing data, so it wouldn't work.
Android itself is open, Google maps is not... at least not entirely.
What I don't get is why they object, are there any lawyers out there that can explain that one to me? Perhaps it has something to do with the web based issue.
From what I understand google is only having a problem because they. Use multiple sources for map data and can't sublicense them for navigation. Navteq and Teleatlis don't want to undercut their relationships with TomTom, Garmin, etc.
It's a pity since AndNav looks like it's 70% done.
jcostantino said:
From what I understand google is only having a problem because they. Use multiple sources for map data and can't sublicense them for navigation. Navteq and Teleatlis don't want to undercut their relationships with TomTom, Garmin, etc.
It's a pity since AndNav looks like it's 70% done.
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*Hint* Get the dev to release the source for andnav, you can put in your own hash from google. And you can do it again and again... They really don't check up on individuals.
It's certainly worth a try to get him to release the source but I doubt he would do it. He could get in trouble from the map license holders and he's working on getting OpenStreetMap data to integrate to presumable make a product he can sell that is free of license issues.
On a side note, how useful IS OSM anyhow? So you get a bunch of GPS logs made by a bunch of people and it constitutes some street information. Who arranges the data? How useful could extremely incomplete street data be? How do the street names and numbers get entered so you actually know if you're on the interstate or an alley? The website (last time I checked) was lacking in information. I know they have a serious purpose but it seems laughable that they could possibly put something useful together.
I hadn't heard of OSM before you mentioned it, but after taking a look, it looks pretty complete. There's no "street view" or "sattelite imagery" but that stuff would be superfluous and distracting in a navigation system. The fact that it is user updateable is awsome. If AndNav can be configured to pass data back to OSM for detailing the maps then it stands the potential to be even more accurate.
I looked again and it SEEMS pretty complete but apparently they are using TIGER data for the US and it is... lacking.
Stirling Road, a large street in my area has huge gaps in it. It has existed for at least 60 years in the same spot and it's pretty inconsistent on the map.
Another concern is that apps that use tiger data (roadnav for Linux comes to mind) can't tell if a street is one-way or not.
I live in Israel.
If I click 'find me' in the Android Maps application, it shows me pretty much in the middle of nowhere with only the major roads shown on the map.
If I copy and paste my current location into regular Google Maps, it shows my current street and all the surrounding streets, i.e. it goes into a lot more detail.
Am I missing something here? For now the app is pretty useless for me
Anyone ?
As far as I can tell, the data available for android and web google maps as well as google earth is all the same.
Are the roads at least correct (despite being less detailed/less of them)? Google maps responds to the level of ZOOM by selectively adding or removing detail. The idea is that if you are zoomed far, that to display the full detail will give you an unreadable mess, so it cuts out the less significant roads. Have you tried zooming in (or out)?
lbcoder said:
As far as I can tell, the data available for android and web google maps as well as google earth is all the same.
Are the roads at least correct (despite being less detailed/less of them)? Google maps responds to the level of ZOOM by selectively adding or removing detail. The idea is that if you are zoomed far, that to display the full detail will give you an unreadable mess, so it cuts out the less significant roads. Have you tried zooming in (or out)?
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lbcoder - thanks for the response
This is not an issue of zoom, i've tried zooming in to the maximum, there are even no city names.
Can you look up Jerusalem on your android and web Google maps and see if there is a difference ?
The OP is right, I just pulled up Jerusalem on my PC and I see the surrounding cities. Pulled it up on my G1, and it simply shows Jerusalem with nothing around.
Can it be that the map application on G1 does some sort of weird optimization ?? I've seen reports of same problems by users from South Africa. Any ideas how to fix it ?
partyzan0 said:
Can it be that the map application on G1 does some sort of weird optimization ?? I've seen reports of same problems by users from South Africa. Any ideas how to fix it ?
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Could be, but I just did a search on where I was born (Lima, Peru) and both the web version and Android match exactly.
There are some differences between the Android and desktop version. I can't select busstops etc to show more info about it. On desktop, it shows busnr info. Also it's not possible to select walking to a destination when asking for directions on Android, only by car. Or am I missing something?
there has always bee na disconnect between google maps and google maps mobile. I ran into the same thing on my Touch a while back. Google is constantly rolling out new and improved maps to their main web maps (new countries, street name changes, better directions) but it seems they take a timely rollout approach for mobile maps.
I'm not sure why though.
hey partyzan0, i'm originally from Israel as well.
I'm almost positive nickmgray is right, because I don't remember any map info for streets in israel even in the desktop version for more then a couple of months ago. So they might've just added that to the desktop and we'll just have to wait for it to show up on the mobile. It's great seeing my old neighborhood, brings up memories. I think the aerial photos for mobile and desktop are better too now.
Peace.
While waiting this morning on something, I sketched up a tool to quickly mark spots you're at. Unlike regular GPS loggers, it just tags and saves locations (I frequently need something like this on bike tours).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjq9WiGEuGA (outdated)
http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=ee9c5dae-9fea-df11-9264-00237de2db9e
Tom Servo said:
While waiting this morning on something, I sketched up a tool to quickly mark spots you're at. Unlike regular GPS loggers, it just tags and saves locations (I frequently need something like this on bike tours).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjq9WiGEuGA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks good. May I suggest enabling the correction features on the keyboard in the Name textbox. (Change the InputScope property)
Sure, why not.
Looks pretty handy.
Is there a way to get directions to the saved spot in bing maps?
Not sure. Trying to invoke the installed Bing Maps with a target location isn't something I thought of or know if it's possible (I figure it should be).
Added some functionality. And I figured, why not put that silly EOS 550D of mine to use, instead of capturing the emulator. Praise my girly hands.
http://youtu.be/mpUQUWRyyJs
Marketplace has already v1.0, without description field and photos.
Giving it another look. Hitting the marketplace soon.
Old 'n' Busted!
Pro-Click Zone
New Hotness!
Pro-Click Zone
Looks really nice and useful.
What methods are there for exporting that data? Sharing via e-mail? SMS? Would be nice if it could also be exported directly to Bing Maps (My Places) or Google Maps (Starred), if even possible. Or even if you could import locations from those services.
Also, is saving locations based on GPS only? Or can you manually input and specify the location on a map (I suppose it'd be like dragging and dropping a pin on a map and saving that location)?
-sigh- if only all Windows Phone 7 developers could do UI like you seem to be capable of doing.
I haven't thought much of exporting yet, altho I have something on my mind. I figure exporting all of it in a KML via e-mail might be an idea, but if there are a lot of photos, it'd end up in a huge package, tho.
Locations are purely GPS based right now.
Hi. This looks nice. Shame there's no trial though. Does it use Bing maps for the map images or Google maps (or another service)?
Thanks
Bing maps. I could make it use a different tile source, but I'm not sure how Google feels about it, since it's against their ToS.
Just bought this app, not sure what I'll use it for but it looks great!
The update with the prettified UI has been submitted since a few days and is in testing apparently, but nothing happened as of now. The other versions passed testing rather quickly, this is mostly an UI update only, not sure why it's stuck in limbo.
Submitted an update today, probably available in a day or two.
Added a trial mode, allowing marking up to 5 spots. Added an options dialog to change GPS behaviour in background as well as changing distance units (kinda required, since it was Meters up until now and I sold the most to the US). And pinpoints in the full map are clickable now.
Version 1.4:
- Does resolve coordinates to addresses using the Bing SOAP webservice now. Happens retroactively on existing spots.
- Ability to send your current location to someone else via SMS and E-mail. Retrieves the actual address if the GPS accuracy becomes better than 150m. Adds a Google Maps link to the message pointing to the coordinates.
- Can also send stored locations, but formats them like current location messages thanks to late night coding dizzyness.
http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=ee9c5dae-9fea-df11-9264-00237de2db9e
Version 1.5:
- Can choose now, what service to use to create map links in SMS/E-mails (Bing, Google, OSM). Note: Bing doesn't have a mobile map site. If the receiving mobile gets a Bing link and identifies as smartphone to the website, Bing will mess it up and show a search site.
- Can save photos to the pictures hub now.
- Alternative coordinate formats. DMS, UTM and MGRS (both military). North and south poles aren't covered in the military ones. Examples:
Regular/Decimal: 50.71625 - 6.01385
DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds): 50°42'59"N 6°00'50"E
UTM: 32 U 289206 5622525
MGRS: 32UKB8920622525
Version 1.6 somewhen in a few weeks will limit sending adhoc locations. Currently, it's unlimited in trial.
1.6 is out. It was held up a long time with certification not pleased with the privacy policies I kept writing up, after being required one out of the blue.
Anyway:
- Distance math is fixed. It was off by half, no one apart two people seemed to have noticed.
- Option to add photos from the phone' library to locations as option in the menu roll-up.
Upcoming:
- Google and OSM image data as alternative options. (Works already)
- Custom pinpointing of a location on a map.
I know you hate me by now, but I have one more app under my sleeve. Err.. Straight from my keyboard. After a quite a few nights of development I’m ready to ask yet for your help once again in beta-testing a completely new application for windows phone 7 – Weather Stats. Weather Stats sources data from http://www.weatherbase.com/ (by permission from the owner) to bring back local (offline) climatological database (temperature and precipitation averages across the world) to your phone. Once released this app will be completely free and will have no advertisements (I hate both of the opposites). This database app will be useful for planning vacations or events and has massive amounts of data, almost 100000 charts among 26820 cities worldwide.
This app allows you to search by city name, navigate by country or search nearest places on map (using Bing maps). Integrates with Wikipedia too. It supports both metric and US units for charts. Finally it integrates with bing local search (place cards) to instantly bring you weather averages of the nearest location to your destination.
I want to make it good and reliable before I try to release it to the marketplace. If you want to help beta test it – please send me the liveid of your phone and I will give you a link to the app (this is needed for private beta-testing).
Thanks a lot for your help,
Nikita
Second Beta is released. Many bugfixes and improvements!
Learn about geography, plan your next vacation or event, or just browse through maps and charts to satisfy your curiosity. Weather Stats is your one authoritative source for finding monthly weather records and averages for more than 26,820 cities in 250 countries worldwide. The climatological information database is used by permission from weatherbase.com. Weather Stats accurately shows high, low and average temperatures and precipitation data.
Most functions of the app (excluding mapping and full-text search) work both offline and online. Various units and search methods are supported. App also integrates with Bing local search to bring you weather history information for your favorite places within one click.
Weather Stats is absolutely free and contains no advertisement.
The most advanced GPS calculations app is getting even more advanced.
You may know 'GPS Calculator' from this forum or reviews on wpcentral, wpxbox, addictive tips and other web sites.
http://www.wpcentral.com/windows-phone-app-review-gps-calculator
http://www.wpxbox.com/gps-calculator-wp-distance-area/
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...istance-area-coordinates-of-any-location-wp7/
GPS Calculator is an advanced app that does for free what other apps don't do for money. Now in addition to existing features of calculating areas, distances and projections 'GPS Calculator' will have an altimeter function (using 5 different elevation data models), elevation profile graphs, time zone in any given world location and some astronomical calculation (sunrise, sunset and length of day).
You can make it better by beta-testing.
If you have an unlocked phone just used attached xap file and let me know how it works for you. If your phone is locked - send me your live id (the one you are using on your phone) and I will add you to the private beta.
When using My Location I get GPS Altitude as "Vertical accuracy NaN Km" but when i choose something from Map, the GPS Altitude field is empty.
In both case I get to see the result.
Also when using USGS it says " Unable to get data from the elevation web service. Error : USGS Dataset has no elevation data recorded for the given location"
But thats happening for my location which is India. I guess its only for US.
wpxbox said:
When using My Location I get GPS Altitude as "Vertical accuracy NaN Km" but when i choose something from Map, the GPS Altitude field is empty.
In both case I get to see the result.
Also when using USGS it says " Unable to get data from the elevation web service. Error : USGS Dataset has no elevation data recorded for the given location"
But thats happening for my location which is India. I guess its only for US.
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Thanks a lot for testing it out. I will fix NaN km issue. This is because that GPS elevation is not always available. And it is not available from maps functions, because map is not really using GPS. In this case you can only see corrected elevation. And yes USGS only maintains data for US territory, I will add a note explaining that.
Probably you can check if any location is selected outside US, Just disable it
wpxbox said:
Probably you can check if any location is selected outside US, Just disable it
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Might be a good idea, though if in future they add support for more region data - will not work I'll think about it!