Tasmap Survey

[tastrax]

Hi Folks,

For those folks that participated in the TASMAP survey some time ago there is an outline of the results in the December 2011 "Location Matters" publication on the DPIPWE website. There is some good news for folks wanting digital mapping...but no timelines or firm pricing as yet.

http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/ ... 567NZ?open

[Son of a Beach]

Thanks Phil, this is good news (although the conclusions about digital map images should have been obvious to them at least two years ago, even without an official survey).

I hope it doesn't take them long to get an online digital map store up and running, as the work required is very minimal, considering the eCommerce web apps already available, and that they've already got digital versions of their maps. However, knowing that there are currently very tough budgets for all areas of government, I won't be holding my breath.

I'll certainly be buying a lot of them when they do become available!

[tastrax]

Its also interesting that KMZ is one of the formats they will be supporting. This will make it heaps easier for folks wanting to load a TASMAP to the newer Garmin GPS's like the 62's. These should be able to be dropped straight to the GPS and bingo - instant map (depending on size limits etc etc)!

[Son of a Beach]

Yes, I've been considering adding KMZ support for map images to Bit Map too. This adds a little more incentive for it. If only I actually had the time to work on it.

[Azza]

If only it was that simple...
Garmin need to get their act together as the GPS 62s is quite disappointing in its ability to support raster maps.
I've converted the entire tasmap 1:25k geotiff's into KMZ files and loaded then onto the Garmin.
Then discovered that the GPS is very limited in the map size. Basically it would only allow a single 1:25k map.
tile sizes can be no larger than 1024 x 1024 pixels with 100 tiles. Which I think should allow for a few maps to be loaded.
I just never had any success getting multiple maps working the device.

Its a really fine line between sacrificing quality to get the map size down small enough for it to fit on the device and still having enough resolution so that you can read the map effectively.

[tastrax]

Can you do a screen capture from the 62s with a couple of examples (via Garmin xImage)? I am curious to see how they look. I did try some custom mapping on an early Oregon and ran into the same issues. Ended up staying with 60CSX (and some custom mapping from Johnny Appleseed) for that project (Macquarie Island Pest Eradication).

Lets hope that Garmin (and others) start thinking about how they can offer better custom maps.

[Azza]

I'll see what I can do.. I haven't played with the Garmin maps for almost a year, not since I got my 62s.

I wouldn't think that upgrading to the 62s from 60csx would be worth it. especially considering how much the device costs.

[Azza]

The 62s has inbuilt screen capture capability.

Here are a couple of shots of around Cradle Mountain.
The KMZ file is 6MB, and I think I've scaled it down a fair bit, to load a full map set of Tas it would need to shrunk even smaller.
While the screenshots don't look too bad, on the device itself its much less crisp. Borderline usable.
The resolution on the Garmin 62s isnt exactly cutting edge.
If I load anymore maps on then the device it just starts ignoring them.

There is not contour metadata so your only getting the image and not altitude information.
The 1:100k maps would probably be a better option for custom maps, I think I tried them but can't remember.
Once you turn on Shonky Maps, or the 5m Australia contours the raster maps are completely unreadable.

[mikethepike]

Probably not related to the original survey but having spent a lot of money on Tas maps in the past few years, I would like to make a couple of comments about them about .
The first in map scale. The choice is 1:20,000 and 1:100,00o. A recent cross country walk from Pine Lake to Derwent Bridge required 6 or 7 maps and it was surprising how quickly in the easier country, you can walk across a map. Walking E-W across a map has you needing to get the 1:20000 map out of the bag for refolding quite frequently and in windy conditions on the exposed Plateau and a bit of rain thrown in, it doesn't take long for maps to start falling apart along the folds and elsewhere. I have a major taping up session once I get home and the tattier ones still look pretty daggy. Maybe the 1:50000 scale of mast mainland topo maps is a bit small for seeing fine map detail but I think it generally suffices for bushwalking. The 1:33,333 scale often used for rogaine maps seems a good compromise. It certainly helps pick out contour detail.

Which leads to my second point - paper quality. British topo maps come in a choice of 3 paper formats - plain paper maps, plastic sealed folded maps (quite heavy) and at intermediate cost, lighter waterproof maps which are the sensible choice for walkers. The best maps I have come across in Australia are the WA Bibbulman Track's lightweight, waterproof, quiet (not crinkly) maps and printed on both side making them very good value. Their fold lines never tear.

I'd be interested to read your thoughts on this.

[durks]

The first in map scale. The choice is 1:20,000 and 1:100,000 ...

You mean 1:25000. I agree that a 1:50000 series would be very handy.

Which leads to my second point - paper quality ...

The quality of the paper used for Tasmaps has definitely gone down over the years - I mentioned the same thing in viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5194&start=30#p62693

I use British OS maps (either 1:25000 or 1:50000) all the time, and they last well. On recent trips to Tassie, my maps have all torn on the fold lines after a few days of use. It wasn't always that way: I still have some 1:100000 Tasmaps from the early '80s, and they're much more robust.

[taswegian]

I haven't bought any paper maps for yonks but a couple of years back was talking to TasMap blokes and they were trialling some more robust paper.
I haven't spoken to them since then but I imagine they wouldn't put that side down unless our current downturn has squashed it.
They (TasMAp) were aware of the complaints from the walking fraternity.

I agree - 1:50000 maps can pack a heap of detail and could be custom made so eaily these days.
The 'Cradle Mtn Lake St Clair National Park' map @ 1:100000 could easily be transformed to a 1:50000, double sided, made smaller and if they must have all the guff on trips and tips, then that could be strategically placed on areas of less interest.
But I haven't seen a modern one. Maybe one exists?

I have a really old Cradle - St Clair paper map, not sure vintage or scale but its small (600 x 400mm±) and contoured and very readable and with modern advances could be made even more readable and on a decent medium would be brilliant for most serious walks in my opinion. And its size would be a real advanatge.