Print Page - More Minor Details

First, I must again say that the new color aerials are an absolutely fabulous additon to TF. They provide more recent, more detailed and just generally much better views than those from Terraserver. But you knew that.

OK, Let's add a "hot key" or other method of setting the zoom of the the current tileset at 1:1 resolution, that is, 1 tile pixel per monitor pixel. That way the resolution can be maxmized for any given view.

And while the "Zoom Box" has a negative function (right click) lets add the feature that the right click causes the "current view" to zoom out AND center on the clicked point. This is pretty standard functionality on many mapping packages.

For riding/training (and cheapskates).
Add in a formula for "power" based on GPS climbing data alone.
While riding I have found that the Garmin "vertical speed" indicator is actually a pretty good measure of performance (as also recognized by a Dr. Ferrrari), if not accurate to the tenth decimal place. For any given track segment, if speed and grade are known (which they presumanbly are via TF calculations) , then a rough calculation of power requires only the additional input of weight (total of bike, rider and "stuff"). This wouldn't replace, nor be as accurate as, a true power meter but would be a reasonable use of the available data for those who ride mostly hilly terrain and use only a GPS receiver and TF. Obviously this would be relatively meaningless for flat terrain.

Again, I expect this should all be very simple stuff.

Ken, thanks for the suggestions.

A hotkey for going to 1:1 is a great idea.

What software does the pan on zoom out right click? I just looked at two of my mapping programs (MS mappoint and Mapsource) and neither did it. Not opposed to it, but would like to see it in another program first.

Re: power. I have discussed this in some detail with Dr. Phil Skiba and in his opinion you just can't get anything reasonable from a GPS unit for bikes. You may as well make up a number, he says. He's talking about road biking -- for mountain biking it's even more pointless.

That said, if there's something simple that could give something to look at and use as an estimate, I might consider adding it. Should I look for Dr. Ferrari's work for the formula he suggests based on speed and grade?

Quote (ScottMorris @ Nov. 20 2008,9:46)

Ken, thanks for the suggestions.

A hotkey for going to 1:1 is a great idea.

What software does the pan on zoom out right click? I just looked at two of my mapping programs (MS mappoint and Mapsource) and neither did it. Not opposed to it, but would like to see it in another program first.

Re: power. I have discussed this in some detail with Dr. Phil Skiba and in his opinion you just can't get anything reasonable from a GPS unit for bikes. You may as well make up a number, he says. He's talking about road biking -- for mountain biking it's even more pointless.

That said, if there's something simple that could give something to look at and use as an estimate, I might consider adding it. Should I look for Dr. Ferrari's work for the formula he suggests based on speed and grade?

Quote

What software does the pan on zoom out right click?

TF already does a zoom out on right click. What I was suggesting was centering the "unzoomed" view on the clicked point.
Example here (using separate zoom-in, zoom-out functions):
http://arcims.laplata.co.us/laplataWEBSITE/

re: power - I realize the limitations of a computed true power figure from GPS data, but an "index" reflecting rate of climb (vertical speed) on any given segment would be as accurate as the grade and speed calculations presently supplied in the profile window and would allow "something to look at" in the power/ cadence/heart rate blocks that are presently blank. There's noting exotic about the formula - it's just a calculation of vertical speed from horizontal speed (which is what the GPS shows) and grade.
In fact it's just grade x speed (although converting the speed units into feet or meters per minute or hour will provide a more meaningful value).
Adding weight into the mix would provide a very rough estimate of power. 1 hp = 550 ft-lbs/sec. = 745.699872 watts

Look here:
http://www.53x12.com/do/show?page=article&id=21
or google for "ferrari" and "vam"

TopoFusion support forums

TopoFusion Development => Feature Requests => Topic started by: KenF on November 19, 2008, 07:15:00 PM