Messages

1

Feature Requests / TF already is a WMS client. Can it also be a REST client?

« on: November 07, 2013, 08:00:28 PM »

TF already is a WMS client.  And there is a ton of data on GIS servers that can be acessed via the WMS interface.

But many GIS servers only support the REST interface and do not offer the WMS interface at all.  Might TF support the REST interface at some point?

I have been able to wrap my mind around REST for use in Gmap4 and am happy to share what I know.  Some of the ESRI docs are (charitably speaking) incomplete.  The issue of tile-reprojection-on-the-fly comes to mind.

I ask since I am looking for a good way to produce custom maps (wrapped in KMZ files) for Garmins.  Some of the data I want to include on those maps is only available via REST.

If you would like to followup let's move this tech babble to PM so we do not bore the rest of the world.

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

2

Feature Requests / Re: Any interest in CalTopo Tiles?

« on: November 07, 2013, 07:23:13 PM »

Scott - I'm sure you are juggling lots of balls but I am curious if you have had a chance to contact Matt Jacobs (the CalTopo guy) yet and inquire about using the hi-res topo tiles he produced.  I know he was working on a way to let his users create KMZ files for use as custom Garmin maps so there would be some feature overlap in that regard.

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

3

Feature Requests / Re: GMAP4

« on: January 08, 2010, 10:18:48 PM »

Scott,

Yeah, I'm kinda surprised too at how easy it is to find seams that are 'off'.  Most of the time when I have seen that and then look close it becomes apparent that the adjoining maps are from different generations of maps.  Perhaps that's when the USGS shifted from NAD27 to NAD83.

On the other hand - the price is right.

Just wanted to clarify one thing.  The API is not "mine".  The MyTopo folks developed the API and I am just a lowly user of that API. 

Thanks for indicating you will check in with the MyTopo folks regarding your ideas for possibly using their API.  We certainly don't want to kill this goose.

And I looked at the Tracker site - what a neat idea.  Adding MyTopo maps to that site would be really cool.

4

Feature Requests / Re: GMAP4

« on: January 08, 2010, 06:28:04 PM »

Bob,

Thanks for noticing Gmap4.  I am the author.  Here is a link to Gmap4 showing the MyTopo maps for the area in the image posted by Scott.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=32.374489,-110.772572

And here is a Terraserver link for the same area:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&X=651&Y=4476&Z=12&W=3

Note that these two links appear to show different generations of USGS maps.  For example, the MyTopo version has section lines while the Terraserver version does not.  My understanding is that Terraserver has never been updated with newer USGS maps.  By contrast, the MyTopo company continues to scan all USGS maps as they are released and always has the latest version loaded on their tile server. 

Now focus on the lower half of this map area and compare the MyTopo and Terraserver maps.  To my eye at least, the MyTopo map has significantly better resolution.  Perhaps that reflects improvements in scanning technology - but that's just a guess.

Yes, I've also seen some alignment issues with MyTopo maps (and also with Terraserver).  Recently I traded email with the MyTopo staff and asked about this.  They said alignment issues have two causes:
1.  Mistakes in tile seaming
2.  Adjoining maps that the USGS produced with different datums.

#1 they can fix and are anxious to do so.
#2 cannot be fixed without warping the map to distort it and as a policy matter they have chosen not to do that.

The MyTopo people invite everyone to report mis-alignments so they can determine  whether they are fixable.  They can be reached at  support@mytopo.com

Regards,
Joseph