Packrafting in Utah

We’ve got a new release out that fixes a bunch of server issues and a few other tweaks.

Going forward we have eliminated the Basic version of the software. There is now only the Pro version, and that may be renamed to simply “TopoFusion” in the future.

All users that have a Basic version license are automatically upgraded to the Pro version. They can download all future updates by using the same name/code combo from the usual place.

We also removed Mapquest OSM and Open Aerial map types. They were redundant and also water marked. We did not find them useful and they often failed due to a 15,000 tile limit. So for simplicity they have been removed. Fortunately in v5.78 there were some excellent new additions of aerial, terrain and street maps.

Team TopoFusion
Scott Morris
Version compiled and distributed from a campsite on the beach in Baja California

Head over to the Download Page to try TopoFusion out, free of charge.

Registered users refer to your registration email for the download link, or go here to request your code and the download URL.

Full list of changes

For a complete list of changes see the Revision History, or keep reading here for what has changed since the last public release:

5.80 – [1/9/24]

New 2024 Splash Screen
Merged TopoFusion Basic into TopoFusion Pro. All previous Basic users are upgraded to TopoFusion Pro License!
Restored access to USGS Imagery and Color tilesets
Restored access to OZ Topos
Significant speedup for both USGS Imagery and Color tiles
Restored access to Landsat tiles due to server change
Removed Mapquest OSM and OpenAerial tileset types (email if you need access to them)
Slight change to double clicking of active track (for track ordering)

5.78 – [7/18/23]

New 2023 Splash Screens
Fixed Elevation downloads
Tileset 7,8,9 now public [color aerials, street, terrain]

Mountain biking to a view of the San Juan River

We’ve got a new release out that fixes a few server issues and also adds some nice new map types. There are new color aerials, terrain maps and other maps. Check them out in v5.78.

Team TopoFusion
Scott Morris
Version compiled and distributed from a campsite in the San Juan Mountains

Head over to the Download Page to try TopoFusion out, free of charge.

Registered users refer to your registration email for the download link, or go here to request your code and the download URL.

Full list of changes

For a complete list of changes see the Revision History, or keep reading here for what has changed since the last public release:

5.78 – [7/18/23]

New 2023 Splash Screens
Fixed Elevation downloads
Tileset 7,8,9 now public [color aerials, street, terrain]

5.77 – 5/27/23

Fixed Color Tileset
Fixed Google Sat Tiles
Updated Open Aerial tileset

TopoFusion’s main programmer was featured on the Singletracks.com “MTB voices” podcast this week. Jeff Barber is the owner and operator of Singletracks and has been mapping trails with GPS longer than just about anyone. His excellent website was one of the first to offer GPS mapping of bike trails and he’s been a user of TopoFusion since the beginning.

Jeff and Scott discuss topics from GPS accuracy, SPOT tracking, bikepacking records and cheating, plus mobile living and working. Listen here:

Singletracks.com – He works to give bikepacking racers more visibility and to keep them honest too

Twenty years ago we released v1.0 of TopoFusion. We want to thank all of our users for the support and for using the software over the years. We still love it and are quite happy that it continues to be relevant (Scott Morris uses it nearly every day for adventure planning and for route manipulation for Trackleaders.com).

We released a new version to help celebrate. Version 5.76 which upgrades / fixed access to the very important land ownership data layer.

Here’s to twenty more years!!!

——–

5.76 – 9/16/22

20th anniversary of TopoFusion’s release!! V1.0 was released 9/16/02.
Thanks for everyone’s support over the years!

Upgraded support for US Landownership layer to PADUS_3

5.75 – 6/2/22

Restored access to USGS Topo Map tiles
Fixed issue when waypoints won’t load in File Properties Dialog
NMEA debugging output limited to first 1000 messages (to prevent large debug files)
New 2022 Splash Screens

5.72 – 1/25/21

Upgraded support for US Landownership layer to PADUS_2 – the most current data
Old data may become unavailable in for older versions of TopoFusion
Fixed ‘downloading’ toggle not shown on ‘disabled’ dialog
UTM and LL grid lines can now be disabled by setting grid width to 0 or grid
alpha to 0
New 2021 Splash Screens
Fixed inconsistent climbing elevation in Profile Window. Profile mouse tool
was not using box filtering, vs right click “Profile” and active window were.

5.71 – 6/9/20

Fixed intermittant crash when panning/downloading maps, introduced in 5.7
Fixed swapped UTM East/North coordinates in waypoint dialog
Returned ‘D’ shortcut key for Draw Tracks Tool
Fixed about screen to display Basic version

We released a new version of the software today. There’s been some revisions since the last major release. This one restores access to the USGS Topo tiles — a key map for TopoFusion users.

A number of other smaller changes, as per below.

We’re coming up on TopoFusion’s 20th anniversary this year. How cool that it’s still around, people still use it (raises hand, I use it nearly every day!), and people still buy it.

——–

5.75 – 6/2/22

Restored access to USGS Topo Map tiles
Fixed issue when waypoints won’t load in File Properties Dialog
NMEA debugging output limited to first 1000 messages (to prevent large debug files)
New 2022 Splash Screens

5.72 – 1/25/21

Upgraded support for US Landownership layer to PADUS_2 – the most current data
Old data may become unavailable in for older versions of TopoFusion
Fixed ‘downloading’ toggle not shown on ‘disabled’ dialog
UTM and LL grid lines can now be disabled by setting grid width to 0 or grid
alpha to 0
New 2021 Splash Screens
Fixed inconsistent climbing elevation in Profile Window. Profile mouse tool
was not using box filtering, vs right click “Profile” and active window were.

5.71 – 6/9/20

Fixed intermittant crash when panning/downloading maps, introduced in 5.7
Fixed swapped UTM East/North coordinates in waypoint dialog
Returned ‘D’ shortcut key for Draw Tracks Tool
Fixed about screen to display Basic version

new Advanced Track Tools dialog in TopoFusion

There’s been plenty of time for programming lately and TopoFusion has some awesome new features. The “Advanced Track Tools” dialog is aimed at users that want to create and distribute high quality GPS tracks. There are easy tools to simplify, add elevation data and smooth that data. A unique feature is the ‘Highlight Noise‘ mode that will help identify errors in a track. It highlights any local intersections on a track in yellow, and any areas of repeated high angles in blue. Intersections (yellow) often mean there’s a small out/back section of track, or a section of backtracking that might not be visible, especially when zoomed out. Sharp angles (blue) are often indicative of a cluster of standstill random GPS error points — if, say, the GPS or phone was left tracking for some time while not moving.

One target audience here is a race director or someone otherwise charged with producing and editing a high quality GPS file. Statistics will be more accurate and anyone using the track to follow while in the field will be a happier camper.

In our work over at Trackleaders we see hundreds of race routes per year, and the quality varies. The hope is that with these tools some folks will be able to produce their own high quality tracks.

List of all functions in Advanced Track Tools:

* Full file simplify
* Highlight track noise (standstill and track intersections)
* Interpolate track segments to minimum distance
* Reorder (sort) waypoints based on track
* Strip time/cad/hr/power (already found in File Properties)
* Add elevation to track (with new max detail option)
* Smooth elevation (already found in File Properties)

packrafting on New Zealand’s west coast

New Topos – if you follow along with Scott and Eszter’s adventures over at the diary you may have seen the recent obsession with Oceania — New Zealand and Australia. We’re happy to release a new map mode (use shortcut key “Z”) that downloads high quality topo maps for all of Oceania!

Also check out the 2nd high quality topo maps, now available as USGS Topo under the “G” key. It’s a good time to be planning and mapping adventures! Full list of changes can be found at revision history.

To encourage further adventure planning while staying home (where needed), we’re continuing our TopoFusion sale. Through end of May you can take 40% of TopoFusion. Just use the coupon code “SMALLBIZ“. Good for single and multi-person licences, and both Pro and Basic versions of the software. (Single Pro license normally $69.95, down to $41.97).

Thanks for supporting this small business through a challenging time!

Purchase link:

Purchase TopoFusion

And don’t forget to add the coupon code.

new Public Land Ownership layer in TopoFusion

Hope everyone is doing all right out there.

With everything that’s going on, it’s a better time to stay home and plan adventures than to be out having adventures. So it’s time to fire up TopoFusion (plus other tools) and do some map dreaming. I know that’s what I’m going to be doing in the coming weeks.

To encourage adventure planning, we’re having a rare TopoFusion sale. April only.

Also check out the latest version, v5.6, which was released today. It brings a few map types back online as well as a number of usability tweaks.

Thanks for supporting this small business, and stay safe out there.

Purchase link:

Purchase TopoFusion

And don’t forget to add the coupon code.

3D data in the Moab, UT area

We lost another much beloved server today on May 3, 2019. Worldwind was one of the original 3D visualizations projects and they were kind enough to allow public access to their DEM/elevation data as well as worldwide Landsat.

Funding shortage finally forced NASA to shut down the project, but luckily there are other options for TopoFusion now. Version 5.55 restores access to both elevation downloads and Landsat. As an added bonus the elevation data is even higher resolution than before.

Update your TF and check out the new version (full list of changes below), or if you are new to TopoFusion, go ahead and try the demo. And as always, let us know what you think, especially if you have a suggestion for a new feature or different way the software should work.

Thanks!

Team TopoFusion
Scott Morris
Version compiled and distributed from a Scamp Trailer in the desert

Head over to the Download Page to try TopoFusion out, free of charge.

Registered users refer to your registration email for the download link, or go here to request your code and the download URL.

Full list of changes

For a complete list of changes see the Revision History, or keep reading here for what has changed since the last public release:

5.55 – 5/3/2019

Changed servers for Elevation Data – Worldwind shutting down May 3, 2019
New Elevation data is higher resolution
All older Worldwind data downloaded will be deprecated (new elevation data
will need to be downloaded everywhere)
Removed 3d setting for interpolation – Bilinear is the only option now
Changed server for worldwide Landsat images – due to Worldwind Shutdown

5.54 – 11/15/2018

Restored Land Ownership, added from previous beta
Adjusted settings and consistency of \223Map->Blend Land Ownership\224 function.
Fixed access to deprecated MSRMaps using UseMSRMaps=1 in .INI file
Restored access to Canadian Topos

5.53 – 10/6/2018

Added Land Ownership map type, including Map->Blend Land Ownership, which sets
up a combo blend mode with the current map type and land ownership layer.
Fixed hidden sat tiles

5.52 – 9/1/2018

Fixed problem with some elevation tiles not downloading

5.51 – 8/5/2018

Fixed ‘no map’ tiles in US Topo
Improved Elevation server downloads

5.5 – 7/23/2018

Restored access to Elevation data and LANDSAT tiles
Removed Juicy Trails layer from map menu (server removed)
Updated hidden sat tiles
New 2018 Splash Screen

public land ownership in the Moab, UT area

We’ve got a new release ready — version 5.54. Pretty excited to have a new “Land Ownership” layer in the software. This information can be key to planning adventures — especially new routes. Or for hunting access. The colors on the above map are the standard ones for BLM, USFS, NPS, state, local and private land.

You can download these tiles directly in TopoFusion (using the map type dropdown in the upper right) or go to the Map Menu and select “Blend Land Ownership.” This will add the ownership data to the current map type you are looking at — using the combo blend feature in TopoFusion to blend the two map types together. Super useful!

As one who camps and travels on public land I’m very happy to have this ability. Good to know when you are actually on public land.

There are a number of other updates, including some existing map types being restored or improved.

Update your TF and check out the new version (full list of changes below), or if you are new to TopoFusion, go ahead and try the demo. And as always, let us know what you think, especially if you have a suggestion for a new feature or different way the software should work.

Thanks!

Team TopoFusion
Scott Morris
Version compiled and distributed from a small Scamp Trailer in the woods

Head over to the Download Page to try TopoFusion out, free of charge.

Registered users refer to your registration email for the download link, or go here to request your code and the download URL.

Full list of changes

For a complete list of changes see the Revision History, or keep reading here for what has changed since the last public release:

5.54 – 11/15/2018

Restored Land Ownership, added from previous beta
Adjusted settings and consistency of \223Map->Blend Land Ownership\224 function.
Fixed access to deprecated MSRMaps using UseMSRMaps=1 in .INI file
Restored access to Canadian Topos

5.53 – 10/6/2018

Added Land Ownership map type, including Map->Blend Land Ownership, which sets
up a combo blend mode with the current map type and land ownership layer.
Fixed hidden sat tiles

5.52 – 9/1/2018

Fixed problem with some elevation tiles not downloading

5.51 – 8/5/2018

Fixed ‘no map’ tiles in US Topo
Improved Elevation server downloads

5.5 – 7/23/2018

Restored access to Elevation data and LANDSAT tiles
Removed Juicy Trails layer from map menu (server removed)
Updated hidden sat tiles
New 2018 Splash Screen

elevation tiles on Parkview Mtn, Continental Divide Trail

Version 5.51 is now out, which restores access to critical piece of TopoFusion’s magic: Elevation Data!

We are extremely lucky to be able to continue pulling data from a number of public domain and free data sources. That means that TopoFusion can still be a ‘one time’ pay type of software with no recurring costs — as it has been since 2002 — 16 years!

The time may come in the future when in order to continue with key features like USGS topo tiles and elevation DEM data, that we either need to charge a yearly subscription or users pay for subscriptions to other map servers. But that day is not today! We’re going to do our best to keep it that way.

Update your TF and check out the new version (full list of changes below), or if you are new to TopoFusion, go ahead and try the demo. And as always, let us know what you think, especially if you have a suggestion for a new feature or different way the software should work.

Thanks!

Team TopoFusion
Scott Morris
Version compiled and distributed from a small Scamp Trailer in the woods

Head over to the Download Page to try TopoFusion out, free of charge.

Registered users refer to your registration email for the download link, or go here to request your code and the download URL.

Full list of changes

For a complete list of changes see the Revision History, or keep reading here for what has changed since the last public release:

5.51 – 8/5/2018

Fixed ‘no map’ tiles in US Topo
Improved Elevation server downloads

5.5 – 7/23/2018

Restored access to Elevation data and LANDSAT tiles
Removed Juicy Trails layer from map menu (server removed)
Updated hidden sat tiles
New 2018 Splash Screen

5.48 – 11/16/2017

Restored access to USGS Imagery due to server change – expanded coverage?
Added support for “Dark” colors in gpxx:displaycolor – read/write
Fixed hang/crash in “goto coordinate”
Updated hidden sat tiles
Fixed hang in loading many photos at one time (looped linked list)

5.47 – 8/21/17

Fixed Runtime error in Batch Download tool
Added help/explanation to Batch Download tool

5.46 – 8/11/17

Fixed SSL refcount error

5.45 – 7/25/17

Further work on SSL refcount error
Further work on SSL through proxy server

5.44 – 7/16/17

Added API key for Open Cycle Map tiles (removing watermark)
Added support for “Basic” type authenticated proxy servers
Fixed ‘divide by zero’ in mercator tilesets when at extreme latitudes
Improved error checking for lat/lon ‘Goto-coordinate’
Added “Toggle Downloading” to the Toggles menu
Restored access to Juicy Trails maps
Changed Tileset dropdown to always be in ‘simple’ mode (removing 0.003, 0.062
numbered tilesets), for easier use.
Increased precision of track distance, in File Properties dialog only.
Removed menu options and tileset dropdown for old style Topo/BW Aerial maps
MSRMaps.com continues to be offline, does not seem to be coming back
To enable on legacy copies of TopoFusion, edit TopoFusion.ini file and change
UseMSRMaps=0 to UseMSRMaps=1

5.43 – 4/17/17

Fixed elevation download (server now requires HTTPS)
Fixed waypoint symbols in KML files with spaces