free 25k digital topo maps

Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.
Forum rules
Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.

free 25k digital topo maps

Postby mholling » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 5:47 pm

Hi. I've recently created a set of 1:25000 digital topographic maps for Tasmania. I've made them available online for use with a mobile GPS app called Avenza PDF Maps (https://www.pdf-maps.com/) for Android and iOS. You can download the maps directly to your device from within the app; they will appear when you zoom in to Tasmania. There are 415 maps, with the same extents and numbering scheme as the TASMAP series.

Thought this might be of interest to you guys, with the 25k paper sheets soon to disappear. The official TASMAP digital maps ($2 each) will also work with the app. Smartphone+app seems like a viable alternative to dedicated handheld GPS these days.

The maps were made with my own software (nswtopo) using publicly-available spatial data from theLIST. (You can use the software to make your own maps of custom areas, but it's probably not beginner-friendly.) The maps contain most but not all of the features of the TASMAP maps. Spot heights and some cultural features are missing, but nothing of concern to a bushwalker.

Enjoy!
mholling
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun 25 Dec, 2011 4:01 pm
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 5:56 pm

Wow! That's impressive work. Thank you! This post should be pinned.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby walkabout » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 6:13 pm

Great! Now, for a non-techhead like me, how do I load these to my GPS?
walkabout
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 9:32 am
Location: NW Tasmania
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 6:25 pm

walkabout wrote:Great! Now, for a non-techhead like me, how do I load these to my GPS?

They are for use in a 3rd party app (Avenza PDF Maps) for smartphones, hence not usable on a GPS. In any case, Garmin GPS units have other digital maps sets.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby walkabout » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 6:29 pm

That's set me straight :)
walkabout
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 9:32 am
Location: NW Tasmania
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby oyster_07 » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 7:30 pm

Fantastic!
It's a pity they cannot be saved and printed, but I suppose I might be able to stitch a series of screenshots together.
User avatar
oyster_07
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 413
Joined: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 5:57 am
Region: Victoria

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 7:36 pm

Do that on an iPad for a bigger screen shot.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby oyster_07 » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 7:51 pm

One step ahead....
User avatar
oyster_07
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 413
Joined: Mon 21 Nov, 2011 5:57 am
Region: Victoria

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Tortoise » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 8:44 pm

My oldish phone doesn't have the battery life to use for more than a day walk, if I have it on all day. Are there any magic tricks I can try?
User avatar
Tortoise
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 5136
Joined: Sat 28 Jan, 2012 9:31 pm
Location: NW Tasmania
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Fri 12 Jun, 2015 9:15 pm

Tortoise wrote:My oldish phone doesn't have the battery life to use for more than a day walk, if I have it on all day. Are there any magic tricks I can try?

Check out the following two threads,

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=20044&hilit=battery+iPhone
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=19706&hilit=battery+xiaomi

Fundamentally, bring a battery pack.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby PDF Maps » Sat 13 Jun, 2015 2:26 am

Hi from Avenza in Toronto Canada.
We are delighted to hear of support for our PDF Maps app by the Bushwalk Australia community and would like to avail everyone of our assistance should there be any questions about the app or the map store.
We are also delighted that this new series of maps has been uploaded to our map store and if anyone else has maps or knows of maps that they'd like to see in the in-app map store please do let us know.
Thanks and regards
PDF Maps
PDF Maps
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat 13 Jun, 2015 2:00 am
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Avenza Systems Inc.
Region: Other Country

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby rucksack » Sat 13 Jun, 2015 8:56 pm

mholling

Thank you for doing this. The maps are very useful indeed and I'm very grateful.

rucksack
User avatar
rucksack
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 279
Joined: Tue 25 Dec, 2007 9:16 pm
Location: Cygnet
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Lizzy » Sat 13 Jun, 2015 9:29 pm

Awesome! Is there anything like this available for NSW by any chance?
Cheers
Lizzy
User avatar
Lizzy
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1074
Joined: Mon 16 Nov, 2009 1:13 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Sat 13 Jun, 2015 10:14 pm

Lizzy wrote:Awesome! Is there anything like this available for NSW by any chance?

The same Avenza PDF Maps app can import and display LPI's eTopo PDF maps. $5.55 each from LPI.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Lizzy » Sun 14 Jun, 2015 7:04 am

Hmm interesting that NSW maps are over double the price of Tassie- must be out higher land values..... Anyway those Tassie maps mholling created are fantastic :)
User avatar
Lizzy
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1074
Joined: Mon 16 Nov, 2009 1:13 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby icefest » Sun 14 Jun, 2015 1:54 pm

These are incredible. Thanks for making them available.
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful.
User avatar
icefest
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 4475
Joined: Fri 27 May, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: www.canyoninginvictoria.org
Region: Victoria

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby north-north-west » Mon 15 Jun, 2015 7:38 am

I'm almost tempted to try this, except I bet the app wouldn't work on my ancient iPhone.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Mon 15 Jun, 2015 8:59 am

north-north-west wrote:I'm almost tempted to try this, except I bet the app wouldn't work on my ancient iPhone.

iOS 7 or later are compatible.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Mountain Rocket » Mon 15 Jun, 2015 6:40 pm

Thanks for this, going to check it out right now!

Wish I didn't have to use my crappy mobile and could get these straight to my laptop (OSX), but I will persist :o
User avatar
Mountain Rocket
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 871
Joined: Sat 27 Aug, 2011 5:46 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby icefest » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 12:21 am

Is there any way to save the PDF separate from the app?
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful.
User avatar
icefest
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 4475
Joined: Fri 27 May, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: www.canyoninginvictoria.org
Region: Victoria

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby north-north-west » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 8:01 am

GPSGuided wrote:
north-north-west wrote:I'm almost tempted to try this, except I bet the app wouldn't work on my ancient iPhone.

iOS 7 or later are compatible.

Does a 3S have iOS7? 'Cause I really haven't a clue what the thing runs on. Just know that most current apps won't work on it.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Mark F » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 8:56 am

The maps are pdf files so can easily be transferred from phone to computer and vv. Avenza have an addon for Adobe Reader (free) that allows the maps to be viewed with coordinates on any computer. You can log into pdfMaps.com from any computer and download them to your computer rather than the phone. Be aware that to use the maps on the phone for use in the PDF Maps application you need to "load" them which is slow (a few minutes) and this should be done before the trip. Once loaded they are fast to draw and redraw.

As well as the NSW lpi maps all the Victorian 1:25k maps are available but a bit pricey for downloads.
"Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove".
User avatar
Mark F
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2332
Joined: Mon 19 Sep, 2011 8:14 pm
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby devoswitch » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 8:58 am

north-north-west wrote:
GPSGuided wrote:
north-north-west wrote:I'm almost tempted to try this, except I bet the app wouldn't work on my ancient iPhone.

iOS 7 or later are compatible.

Does a 3S have iOS7? 'Cause I really haven't a clue what the thing runs on. Just know that most current apps won't work on it.

Lol, I didn't realise they were still around! I don't think you can get iOS 7 on them. If you go to settings- general- about and have a look at what version it says, you'll find out there which iOS you're running.
User avatar
devoswitch
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 424
Joined: Mon 30 Dec, 2013 5:36 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby north-north-west » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 10:06 am

devoswitch wrote: Lol, I didn't realise they were still around! I don't think you can get iOS 7 on them. If you go to settings- general- about and have a look at what version it says, you'll find out there which iOS you're running.

Thanks.
Version 6.1.6 And I'm pretty sure 7 won't run on it.
I don't need a fancier phone, and can't afford one anyway. All it has to do is a bit of texting and the occasional weather update.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby mholling » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 10:22 am

Mark F wrote:The maps are pdf files so can easily be transferred from phone to computer and vv. Avenza have an addon for Adobe Reader (free) that allows the maps to be viewed with coordinates on any computer. You can log into pdfMaps.com from any computer and download them to your computer rather than the phone. Be aware that to use the maps on the phone for use in the PDF Maps application you need to "load" them which is slow (a few minutes) and this should be done before the trip. Once loaded they are fast to draw and redraw.

As well as the NSW lpi maps all the Victorian 1:25k maps are available but a bit pricey for downloads.


The Avenza app works with both GeoPDF and GeoTiff files; the Tassie maps I uploaded are GeoTiff (which is a raster format) at fairly high resolution (300ppi). The app has some DRM/copy protection, i.e. you can't access the map files themselves once downloaded into the app. But it's a good distribution system.

I also have a set of NSW maps which I'm finalising and might upload to the Avenza map store sometime soon. (Though I'm contemplating listing them at the lowest price tier, i.e. AU$1.29, instead of free.)

Having just bought an Android phone, I've been trying it out as a hiking GPS and I'm thinking of switching from my Garmin foretrex. The phone is heavier but has GPS/logger/camera/phone all in one. So an overall weight saving if I were otherwise taking all three.
mholling
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun 25 Dec, 2011 4:01 pm
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 10:36 am

north-north-west wrote:Version 6.1.6 And I'm pretty sure 7 won't run on it.
I don't need a fancier phone, and can't afford one anyway. All it has to do is a bit of texting and the occasional weather update.

Unfortunately, iOS 7 needs iPhone 4 or later. So your 3S is out of range. Otherwise, Avenza just released an update (v2.5.1) today and dropped iOS 7 support.

Personally, the advances on PDA/smartphones have been incredible over the last 10 years. It's really turning into an all-in-one tool that's actually practical. Just need an external spare battery for some specific tasks to keep them juiced up... :mrgreen:
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Mountain Rocket » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 11:31 am

Mark F wrote:Avenza have an addon for Adobe Reader (free) that allows the maps to be viewed with coordinates on any computer.


Thanks for the heads up, I played around for a while this morning but couldn't get it to work. If someone does and wants to send me a link to all the Tassie pdfs that would be appreciated.
User avatar
Mountain Rocket
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 871
Joined: Sat 27 Aug, 2011 5:46 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby GPSGuided » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 1:11 pm

I could not find the Adobe Reader add-on that Mark talked about either. If anyone has a link I'd appreciate it.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Lizzy » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 3:48 pm

[quote="mholling]

I also have a set of NSW maps which I'm finalising and might upload to the Avenza map store sometime soon. (Though I'm contemplating listing them at the lowest price tier, i.e. AU$1.29, instead of free.)

Having just bought an Android phone, I've been trying it out as a hiking GPS and I'm thinking of switching from my Garmin foretrex. The phone is heavier but has GPS/logger/camera/phone all in one. So an overall weight saving if I were otherwise taking all three.[/quote]


Awesome- looking forward to the NSW maps :)
Cheers
Lizzy
User avatar
Lizzy
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1074
Joined: Mon 16 Nov, 2009 1:13 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Female

Re: free 25k digital topo maps

Postby Mark F » Tue 16 Jun, 2015 4:02 pm

Sorry! I was working from a failing memory.

The source of the Adobe Acrobat toolbar add-on is Terrago Technologies. http://www.terragotech.com/products/terrago-toolbar

mholling - you may want to be careful about charging as you could run foul of the usage license from lpi. They may turn a blind eye to free but profiting (even just a teeny bit) may incur their wrath.
"Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove".
User avatar
Mark F
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2332
Joined: Mon 19 Sep, 2011 8:14 pm
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Next

Return to Tasmania

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 35 guests