Digital hunt scouting - online high resolution topos

[Jelf]

The following link starts Gmap4 (I am the developer) and displays a high resolution topo map centered on Pat O’Hara Peak near Cody, Wyoming. Once upon a time when we lived in that area we rode our horses up there and watched an elk bugle while we ate our lunch.

These hi-res topos cover almost all the USA.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=44.660227,-109.374603&z=15&t=t4

This project is part of my way to "pay it forward". Translation: Gmap4 is free for non-commercial use. It is popular with people that enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities.

Gmap4 is a browser app, not a native app. Gmap4 runs in most browsers on most devices from smartphones to desktops. Note that the browser does have to be online. When Gmap4 is running in the browser on a smartphone or other mobile device it automatically uses a touch-friendly 'scroll' interface. (If your phone/tablet does not like the scroll interface then touch Menu ==> Button Interface.)

The button in the very upper right corner lets you change map types. In addition to topos for the USA, you can also look at vector topos for all of Canada. You can also surf the worldwide topographic OSM Cycle maps that include crowd-sourced trail data. The Menu button gives access to various features. A rightclick will show some useful info.

To show topo lines on top of the aerial:
1. Switch the basemap to the Google aerial
2. Open the basemap menu, go down to the “Overlay” section and click “USA_contour_lines”
3. Click the scale symbol (near lower right corner) to change it from meters to feet/miles.
4. Zoom in so the scale says either 500 ft or 200ft and then the topo lines should appear. If not, zoom in another tick.

The Gmap4 homepage has a FAQ, examples and more to quickly get you up to speed.

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php

Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

There is improved documentation on the beta page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_beta.html

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
Redmond, WA

 

[ERSS]

Been playing with it between patients all day, since you posted the link in another thread earlier today. Just plain awesome, THANK YOU for sharing this.

 

[Biscuit Hunter]

Hey Joseph the Gmap4 guy-- I don't who you are, but you're welcome in my camp anytime.

Thank you, sir.

 

[Beartooth83]

Excellent! Thanks for your work

 

[Nameless Range]

Well done. This is cool. Thanks!

 

[starvingoutdoorsman]

Nice! Mind if I add this to a digital scouting blog post I wrote a while ago?

 

[Festus]

Thank you for sharing

 

[Big John]

Thanks a million for the great info.!!!!

 

[recon6036]

Outstanding. Thank you!

 

[Jelf]

Thanks for all the kind words.

@starvingoutdoorsman: Sorry I did not see your question. Sure, everyone is welcome to spread the word about Gmap4.

Now here is an update.

Up until this summer I believed that Gmap4 would not work if your mobile browser was offline.

I was wrong.

If you follow a few simple instructions, many (but not all) of the Gmap4 features will work just fine on a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device when you are offline. Among other things, when you are offline you can:
* Look at high resolution topo maps (t4 Topo High)
* Look at Google aerials
* Look at other basemaps
* Look at GIS overlays
* Turn on the geolocation feature (Menu ==> My location) and see the map become centered where you are standing
* Move and watch the location symbol follow you and the map automatically move as needed
* Touch the location symbol and see your coordinates in the current coordinate format
* Change the coordinate format
* Turn on/off a UTM grid
* Turn on/off a USNG grid

Yes, you can do all of the above while the browser in your smartphone or tablet is offline. Now let’s pop the hood and see how this works.

Any map you see with Gmap4 consists of a bunch of small image files called “tiles” that are stitched together to cover your screen. When you look at a map while you are online, a copy of each image file is saved in the browser’s cache. If you keep the browser tab open that has the Gmap4 map, then you can then go offline and still pan the map over the area for which there are map tiles in the browser’s cache. If you pan too far, the screen will be white.

To read plain English instructions that I guarantee you will understand (I don’t know how to write computer babble-speak) please visit the Gmap4 Help page and download the pdf file “How To Use Gmap4 Offline”.
Help page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.html

From the Help page you can also find the FAQ, examples, a Quick Start guide (also on the Help page) and more.

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

Those are nice!

 

[starvingoutdoorsman]

Cool! I have actually been using QGIS and have made my own Montana Landowner map but the last thing I need to figure out is how to get it on my GPS I can mae a KML/KMZ file but all it does is show boundaries and does not have names and its very pixelated. So far its a pretty neat open-source software. I will take a look at your stuff also. I forgot all about this post. haha.

Thanks for all the kind words.

@starvingoutdoorsman: Sorry I did not see your question. Sure, everyone is welcome to spread the word about Gmap4.

Now here is an update.

Up until this summer I believed that Gmap4 would not work if your mobile browser was offline.

I was wrong.

If you follow a few simple instructions, many (but not all) of the Gmap4 features will work just fine on a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device when you are offline. Among other things, when you are offline you can:
* Look at high resolution topo maps (t4 Topo High)
* Look at Google aerials
* Look at other basemaps
* Look at GIS overlays
* Turn on the geolocation feature (Menu ==> My location) and see the map become centered where you are standing
* Move and watch the location symbol follow you and the map automatically move as needed
* Touch the location symbol and see your coordinates in the current coordinate format
* Change the coordinate format
* Turn on/off a UTM grid
* Turn on/off a USNG grid

Yes, you can do all of the above while the browser in your smartphone or tablet is offline. Now let’s pop the hood and see how this works.

Any map you see with Gmap4 consists of a bunch of small image files called “tiles” that are stitched together to cover your screen. When you look at a map while you are online, a copy of each image file is saved in the browser’s cache. If you keep the browser tab open that has the Gmap4 map, then you can then go offline and still pan the map over the area for which there are map tiles in the browser’s cache. If you pan too far, the screen will be white.

To read plain English instructions that I guarantee you will understand (I don’t know how to write computer babble-speak) please visit the Gmap4 Help page and download the pdf file “How To Use Gmap4 Offline”.
Help page: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_help.html

From the Help page you can also find the FAQ, examples, a Quick Start guide (also on the Help page) and more.

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy