How to: Aerial map with topo lines

Joelf · February 02, 2014, 12:12:22 PM

In case it helps anyone manage their land (think skid trails), here is how you can display topographic lines on top of an aerial.

The following link starts Gmap4 (I am the developer) and if you zoom in until the scale in the lower left says 500 ft then you will see topo lines on the Google aerial for anywhere in the U.S.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.640824,-83.571710&z=5&t=h,Topography_lines&rest=http://services.nationalmap.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services/USGSImageryTopoLarge/MapServer?name=Topography_lines&layers=34,35&transparent=true

To start zooming in to your area of interest, try Menu ==> Search to get close and then zoom/pan. To manually zoom, use your mouse wheel or the sliding control near the upper left corner of the map.

To turn the topo lines on/off, click the button in the upper right corner of the map then scroll down to the Overlay section and click "topography_lines".

The topo line data comes from a GIS (Geographical Information Service) server run by the feds. That GIS data displays the topo lines on top of any basemap.

The Gmap4 homepage has a FAQ, examples, quick start info (in the Help file) and more to quickly get you up to speed.

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php (does not include GIS topo line overlay)

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

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
Redmond, WA

samandothers · February 02, 2014, 01:34:13 PM

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Offthebeatenpath · February 02, 2014, 03:10:11 PM

There is tremendous potential for this sort of free software. Thanks for developing and sharing.

Magicman · February 02, 2014, 03:16:10 PM

Thanks Joelf, and it's good to see you finally posting something. Welcome. 8)

terry f · February 02, 2014, 05:45:25 PM

Nice, flatter than I thought.

John Mc · February 02, 2014, 08:19:09 PM

Interesting software.

I followed the directions for showing my own KMZ file as an overlay, but then I lost the topo information. Is there a way I can show the trails and boundary lines in my KMZ file, and still have the topo lines show up?

sprucebunny · February 02, 2014, 09:00:29 PM

That's really cool 8) Thanks.

Joelf · February 02, 2014, 11:14:05 PM

Quote from: John Mc on February 02, 2014, 08:19:09 PM
Interesting software.

I followed the directions for showing my own KMZ file as an overlay, but then I lost the topo information. Is there a way I can show the trails and boundary lines in my KMZ file, and still have the topo lines show up?

Yes, you can do that.

Here is a link that uses the 'q' parameter to point to a KML file. That file shows the GPS track of a hike I did in the Washington State Cascades. (Hint - see those camera icons?). This link also uses the 't' parameter and the 'coord' parameter. Note the UTM grid.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=s&coord=utm&q=http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml

Here is the 'rest' parameter that can add the topo line overlay to any Gmap4 link:

&rest=http://services.nationalmap.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services/USGSImageryTopoLarge/MapServer?name=Topography_lines&layers=34,35&transparent=true

The word 'rest' refers to an interface that many GIS servers use. Another such interface is called 'wms'. Gmap4 can display GIS data that is available via either interface.

Here is the trick! Any rest or wms parameters always have to be at the end of the link. Therefore to add the topo line overlay to the above link, make the link as below.

Note how the t parameter looks in this link. Zoom in to see the topo lines.

Code Select

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?t=s,Topography_lines&coord=utm&q=
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml
&rest=http://services.nationalmap.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services
/USGSImageryTopoLarge/MapServer?
name=Topography_lines&layers=34,35&transparent=true]
http://www.mappingsupport.com
/p/gmap4.php?t=s,Topography_lines&coord=utm&q=
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4/helpfile/Stafford_Creek.kml
&rest=http://services.nationalmap.gov/ArcGIS/rest/services
/USGSImageryTopoLarge/MapServer?name=
Topography_lines&layers=34,35&transparent=true

For plain english documentation (no computer babble!) on Gmap4's ability to display GIS data, please see http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_gis-viewer.html

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy and proud Seattle area resident - Go Hawks!

beenthere · February 02, 2014, 11:20:43 PM

Joelf
Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

If you would be so kind, to give your looong link a name so it doesn't blow us off our screen. Thanks...

Have been looking at your software.

Joelf · February 02, 2014, 11:40:02 PM

Quote from: beenthere on February 02, 2014, 11:20:43 PM
If you would be so kind, to give your looong link a name so it doesn't blow us off our screen.

Yeah, when you make a Gmap4 link to display GIS data the links can become nasty long.

I tried to edit my post with the really long link to give it a text name using standard BBcode syntax. However, the parser on this forum insists on ignoring the name and displays the long link.
Of course maybe I didn't do it right. ???

Joseph

beenthere · February 02, 2014, 11:49:32 PM

How about this? Or something similar? You can see the "code" by clicking on Quote

topo map

John Mc · February 03, 2014, 09:14:19 PM

It's helpful to actually see the text of the link (though I guess I could click on it, then read the link there)

For whatever reason, the link Joelf posted is not blowing me off the page (though other long links have done so in the past).

John Mc · February 08, 2014, 08:30:32 AM

Joelf -

I finally got it top work on my KMZ file. In addition to the "rest" parameter, I had to add ",Topography_lines" after my "t=s" parameter.

What a great piece of software you've got there.

RPowers · February 08, 2014, 11:42:02 AM

Very nice feature, thanks for posting!

Joelf · February 16, 2014, 06:16:57 PM

The ability to see topo lines on aerials got such nice reviews that this feature is now built right into the program. From now on you do not need any special Gmap4 link to use this feature.

For more info please see the "What's new" page:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_whats_new.html

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

giant splinter · February 18, 2014, 05:39:57 PM

Very nice and many great features !

SwampDonkey · February 18, 2014, 06:14:57 PM

Quote from: beenthere on February 02, 2014, 11:49:32 PM
How about this? Or something similar? You can see the "code" by clicking on Quote

topo map

I tried editing the long link beenthere and there is too many embedded http:// links, can only handle a couple per abbreviated link I think.

I also put that long link into code, so it is broken with carriage returns. But for me the original just wrapped around in the post window and didn't distort the web page width.

I've been using similar stuff since 1998 here in NB with a Mobile GIS and ArcPAD/Terrasync. I use it to map 100's of acres of thinning every year with an aerial photo overlay. ;D Plus we have GeoNB online as well from the government here. Fine for those with wireless GPS in the city, but no good out in the bush here, no cell towers or any kind of internet out there as soon as you get 10 miles from the river valley. Just GPS/GIS and CB radio. :D

Thanks for sharing all this Joe, things just keep getting better.