Toughbooks, Linux, GPS and Mapping

So who is using all three in mapping projects etc? Presently I am dual boot running Mint and XP Pro and have a few ideas I'm fooling with. My principle interest is topographic maps. I would like to utilise Linux if I have the choice.
Any information from the experienced would be very helpful.

Jeff

 

This looks like it might be worth a read.

Review: Four GPS Software Packages for Linux | fsckin w/ linux

 

Thank you. So far in a Terminal I am using sudo gpsd -n -N -D 2 /dev/ttyS1 to launch the GPS which is an EM-408 with active patch antenna in the WWAN bump-out. Then xgps in another Terminal shows satellites. This does not have to be running but gpsd does. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thirdly so far I am using GpsDrive for the maps.
What I need to do is load some topographic maps and point GpsDrive at them. Next are tangoGPS and Viking. Haven't figured those out yet.
The search continues.
Does anyone know a quick and dirty way to use USAPhotoMaps with Linux or more to the point how do I get USAPhotoMaps to recognize a SirfIII GPS? Them I like...as they have the maps that I am used to. USGS Topographics.

Jeff

 

Of all the GPS software I have tried, I find Oziexplorer the most versatile. I don't have any experience of running it under Linux, but other users report that it works well

Running OziExplorer under LINUX

 

Ozi is a very good app. If you can get it to run in Linux(about which I know nothing) you will be able to down load all the USGS Topo Maps you need. Try here for starters: Free Online Sources of Topographic Maps and GIS Data
Don't be intimidated by the need to tag the maps, its a lot less complicated than getting Linux to see a touch screen , and I know you aren't afraid of that. I assume you have found the Linux drivers for USGlobalSat receivers on their website.
CAP

 

I have posted this link elsewhere, but if you are planning on venturing further afield, where topo cover isn't so readily available, try this place.

Digital topographic maps download - mapstor.com

Mapping dates from the 80's and scales vary from region to region, but even at 1:200,000 I found them remarkably accuate. All the maps are in Russian, which is a bit of a drawback, but they come ready georeferenced for Ozi, which is a bonus. Plus they are dirt cheap (or free if you want to download them one at a time)

 

Thank you for the information. I knew there was something besides what I have seen so far. For a good free M't program I like that program I mentioned USAPhotoMaps. You get images that look like a paper map. And I like what I'm used to. (xcept xp)
Still trying to get it to work on XP with the Sirf III just a settings issue I believe, (that means I don't know what I'm doing).
Made a little progress with downloading maps for GPSdrive. But they are the digital equivalent of a topo map.
The adventure continues.


Jeff

 

I was thinking of trying to download a few and see if you could use Abobe Photoshop to do an English layer overlay.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

I think that would be a mammoth task Az, but my ability with Photoshop is limited! If it's just place names and major features of interest you want to overlay, what I do is create a waypoint, name it accordingly in English, then play around with the font size and position until it directly overlays the Russian equivalent I want to rename. Once you get the hang of it, it only takes a few seconds.

 

Humm, I just need to download a map or two and give it a look. Thanks!

 

Well Azrial you got me thinking - so trawling around the WWW I found this site

Free GIS Data - GIS Data Depot

It's a source of (largely free) GIS data, as the name suggests and I've just downloaded a place name index of Libya, in English and fully coordinated. You have to register at the site, but it's quick and free (always a major consideration on my part!) The file I downloaded contains what looks like about 1000 place names and quite a few geographic features such as mountain ranges, wadis, wells, areas of sabkha (anyone who has driven into one of these will know what they are!) etc.

All I have to do now is figure a simple way of getting from a .dbf file into something Oziexplorer will recognise, which shouldn't be too difficult.

Looks like they have similar files for your places of interest too

 

Thanks Old Git, I am very interested to see how this will turn out!

 

Az.... Shoot me a map with all the correct place names and I'll give it a shot.

 

Wow, I would love to! However, I am still gathering some of that info myself.

Old Git may have some of this, he has been very helpful and knowledgeable in this area!

 

Rick, at the moment all I have is a .dbf file covering the whole of Libya, so I need to get it into .xls format, sort it on coordinates, then I can create single files to cover individual maps. Once I've done that I'll copy one map sheet and the associated place names to you - any help would be much appreciated.