gps visualizer (pdf)
TRANSCRIPT
www.library.carleton.ca/find/gis
Page 1
GPS VisualizerGPS Visualizer
GPS Visualizer is a free, online u lity that creates maps from GPS data, simple coordinates,
or street addresses. This free online u lity allows users to create maps with their own data
and export it to Google Maps or Google Earth. Registra on is not required.
Input Formats Supported Users can have the following formats as their input data:
GPS Formats (Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, GPX, etc.)
Comma‐separated file (.csv) or Tab delimited text (.tab)
Microso Excel or Google Docs
For GPS Formats, users can export data from their GPS unit to a specific file format that is accepted by GPS
Visualizer. For simple coordinates or street addresses, users should use a spreadsheet so ware, such as Excel
or Google Docs, to create the file. Keep in mind that specific field names need to be used when crea ng the
data. Table 1 is an example of some of the most commonly used field names that are recognized by GPS
www.gpsvisualizer.com
Table 1. Example of data in Excel using street addresses
Field Names recognized by GPS Visualizer
Field Names Descrip on
Name Name of a point on a map
Address, City,
State, Prov‐
ince, Country
Iden fies the geographic loca on
using the address. Each part of the
address should be in a separate
field
Zip / Zipcode
Postcode
Iden fies the geographic loca on
by zipcode or postal code
Color Colour of the point
Sym / Symbol /
Icon / Style
Symbol of the point
URL Turns the point into a URL
For a more detailed list of field names that are used in
GPS Visualizer, see:
h p://www.gpsvisualizer.com/tutorials/
waypoints.html#summary
Create a customize Map:
Once users have properly setup their file or exported to a
supported format, they can begin to create their custom
map in GPS Visualizer by either using the simple or detailed
method as seen in fig.2. Users can Get Started Now, where
there are no op ons to set or they can create a map by
se ng more detailed op ons. Some of the more detailed
op ons include: Size of Google Maps Browser Window, Title,
Legend, Labels, Map Symbols, etc. In both cases, users will
have to select whether they want the output to be in Google
Maps or Google Earth.
Page 2
GPS Visualizer
To create a map with no op ons, go to Get Started Now and click on the Browse bu on next to Upload a GPS file.
Select the file to map and click Ok. Select Google Maps or Google Earth as the Output format and click on Go. In a
few seconds, a separate browser window will appear with the results for either Google Maps or Google Earth.
Google Maps: The Google Maps output will show a Google Maps map with the points plo ed on it. Users can
choose between many different backgrounds such as Google Terrain, Google Hybrid, Canada NRCan, Landsat 30m,
Daily MODIS and much more. To view only the map, click on this link at the top of the webpage to view the tempo‐
rary link to the map. To save the webpage, go to File > Save as...In save as type select Webpage, HTML Only*.
*Users can either run this webpage from their local computer at any me (need internet) or embed it into a website
(need the Google Maps API). They can also do a screen capture of the map and paste it into a powerpoint presenta‐
on or in a word document.
Google Earth: A kml or kmz file will be created for users to download. Download the file and open it in Google
Earth.
To create a map with mul ple op ons, use the Detailed Input Pages by selec ng either Google Maps or Google
Earth. Users will be brought to a detailed op ons webpage for either Google Maps or Google Earth where they’ll be
able to edit the op ons as desired. See Fig. 3 & 4 for a preview of the op ons available.
Google Maps Detailed Input Page Google Earth Detailed Input Page
Under Upload Your GPS Files Here, click on the Browse bu on next to File #1.Select the file to map and click
on Draw the Map (for Google Maps) or Create KML File (for Google Earth). In a few seconds, a separate
browser window will appear with the results for either Google Maps or Google Earth. Users can save the
Google Maps or Google Earth in the same way as explained earlier in the ar cle. GPS Visualizer is an extremely
useful tool that should be considered when wan ng to add data to Google Maps or Google Earth. It is an
extremely useful tool for students with li le or no GIS background.