Free topo maps for Canada

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woodypecker

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Yak_KLR650 wrote:
You can put both maps in your GPS (or more). I have mapsets with Ibycus, Topo Canada, City Navigator v.7 and City Navigator 2008 all loaded to the GPS. When you create the mapset, in Mapsource, pick the map segments you want from Ibycus, then select Topo Canada and select the segments you want from there. Save that mapset and upload to the GPS. From the "map info" page on the GPS, select the map product you want to use at any time. If you want more detail, select Ibycus, more road names, Topo Canada, Auto routing, topo Canada, points of interest City Navigator, etc.

You have to load all the desired maps as one mapset, because every time you load maps to the GPS unit the previous maps get over written.
Click to expand...

Seeing that i sent mapset to my sd card, can i not send another one there with a different name? Or can you only send 1 mapset with all highlighted areas from all different maps? It sounds to me like you are saying that they overlay. Is that right? Crikey what a newbie i am. hehe
 
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ibycus

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woodypecker wrote:
Yak_KLR650 wrote:
You can put both maps in your GPS (or more). I have mapsets with Ibycus, Topo Canada, City Navigator v.7 and City Navigator 2008 all loaded to the GPS. When you create the mapset, in Mapsource, pick the map segments you want from Ibycus, then select Topo Canada and select the segments you want from there. Save that mapset and upload to the GPS. From the "map info" page on the GPS, select the map product you want to use at any time. If you want more detail, select Ibycus, more road names, Topo Canada, Auto routing, topo Canada, points of interest City Navigator, etc.

You have to load all the desired maps as one mapset, because every time you load maps to the GPS unit the previous maps get over written.
Click to expand...

Seeing that i sent mapset to my sd card, can i not send another one there with a different name? Or can you only send 1 mapset with all highlighted areas from all different maps? It sounds to me like you are saying that they overlay. Is that right? Crikey what a newbie i am. hehe
Click to expand...

You don't get the option of what to call the mapset on your SD card (assuming you did it right...at least you don't with any GPS I've played with). So if you send another mapset, it will overwrite the older one.

In order to get multiple mapsets on there, you have to send them all at the same time (select one set of maps, and then the other, and then load to the GPS). There is an option in the GPS to turn on/off the different mapsets you have loaded.

Dale
 
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woodypecker

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Ok. thanx. i will erase what i have on the sd card then and try again. probably in next couple days. im on night shifts for a couple days soprobably wont get much done.But i do enjoy all the answers.You guys have been great at helping me along.
 
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woodypecker

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I do see how it all works now. Thanx guys.I put whatever i needed forBC on my 250w garmin. City nav, which was on and added topo for my backroads and bluecharts for the ocean. Ended up only 500mb on card. Now i need to play with trip and waypint manager and p.o.i editor.
 
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FixerDave

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Hi Dale,

FYI: I mentioned your Topo Canada maps in a blog post on making GPS maps. Basically, it's just spreading the word on the tools available and a great how-too by Pierre Sauvé from NRCan:
http://www.geod.nrcan.gc.ca/edu/pdf/gps_gis_toolkit_e.pdf

The blog's at:
http://gpsdave.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-make-gps-maps.html

I didn't think you'd mind.

Good job, by the way. I was toying with the idea of doing that but, rather, on the fly. Basically, get someone to pick a region then go off, download the Geogratis data, and compile the map for them. But then, I forgot how much CPU cgpsmapper takes - last time I ran it, I went out and bought a new computer because I got tired of waiting. I thought about just writing a script to do everything at the client end too, but that was messy. It never occurred to me to source out 1.5Gb compiled datasets. Ouch, your ISP must love you. Anyway, I never made it past the "toying" stage - way, way too much work. So, yeah, I'm really impressed with what you've put together. I haven't looked at the maps yet, doubt I'll be able to use them on my old B/W Legend (topo lines look too much like roads), but I have a pretty good idea of the effort you've put into it.

Thank you,

David...
 
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FixerDave

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okay, they're fixed. Thanks for pointing that out - the automatic conversion to hyperlink, in both cases, managed to pick up trailing characters. Lesson learned, on this forum, put hyperlinks on their own lines.

David...
 
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FixerDave

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Update:

As it turns out, I'm finding the Ibycus topo maps quite useful. In doing some experimenting, I've discovered that by using GPSmapedit (unregistered version) and cGPSmapper (free version), I can edit the IMG maps pretty easily.

So far, on one test map, I've managed to find an easy way to delete all the topo lines (sorry, but they look too much like roads on my GPS) and added many of my favourite tracks as actual trails and roads, with names even. It's looking great so far; I've been wanting to do this for a while. It's just that I'm getting tired of shuffling tracks around; I just want the trails to be trails on the map.

Other than one small glitch, where cGPSmapper wouldn't compile with "Type=0x0", it's been pretty easy. I just used a text editor to replace all the "Type=0x0" with "Type=0x3", or one road type with another.

I'm also fooling around with the idea of making particular roads stand out by using alternate line types - again, so far, so good. I've made the route to the back side of Burnt Bridge an "international boundary"... what the hell, I'm on an Island - I don't think I'll get confused and think I'm in Russia or something. I'll see how it looks once the map is dumped to the GPS. One of the alternate line styles should do the trick.

Is anyone else building custom Garmin maps specific to DualSporting? I'm thinking we could build a central repository of custom IMG maps, maps we could use as drop-in replacements for the Ibycus maps. I mean, it's a real pain to go through making a small mapset that you can plug into Mapsource, but if we use the Ibycus maps then all the hard work is done. We just need to copy one IMG map over-top the area we want bike-specific info and it should just be there in Mapsource.

If enough people got involved, it could be like the adopt a highway program. Each person could pick a map in their area and edit in all the updates, their's and anyone else's that wanted to email a track. Thanks to the open license on the Ibycus maps, this has become possible. Just a thought...

Anyway, once I work out the kinks, I'll write up a how-to and post it on the blog.

David...
 
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ibycus

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Hi,

One kink you're likely to run in to (if you haven't already) is you're going to need to recompile the preview map otherwise your modded maps won't upload to the GPS.

Also, I'd recommend running these maps in a seperate mapset directory to mine, that way if you run "MapUpdate" (the program to update to the latest version), it won't wipe out all your hard work. '

Another thing you might want to look at, is "TYP" customization. This allows you to customize how the various entity types will appear on your GPS (assuming you're running a relatively recent GPS... I think the first model to support it is the 60CS, anything later should too).

cgpsmapper used to not mind entity type 0x0, unfortunately now it does (it looks awful on the Colorado series). I'm recompiling the whole mapset using 0x6 instead.

Another option is to use the -e flag in cgpsmapper to ignore the error.

On a side note, one of the most effective ways to add tracks to maps that I've seen is to use transparent overlays. There is a guy in Alberta who's compiling trail maps for the "Calgary Area" (most of southern Alberta really). Basically you create your maps as a transparent map, and then you can overlay them on any other map you like.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to flag me down.

d a t k i n a t i b y c u s do t c o m
 
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FixerDave

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ibycus wrote:
One kink you're likely to run in to (if you haven't already) is you're going to need to recompile the preview map otherwise your modded maps won't upload to the GPS.
Click to expand...
Well, so far, it's been fine. I've done 6 maps or so on S.Vancouver Island and all have uploaded to my GPS together without issue. Then again, I'm using an old Etrek Legend GPS; newer ones may be more picky. Maybe it's because I'm not changing the map extents? Also, I'm not combining different mapsets.

To be honest, it's really easy and I've not run into any issues. Well, the 0x0 type code was one, but you've explained that, and I've figured out how to change it within GPSmapedit.

I tried building my own Garmin maps a few years back. I managed to do it but the process was so awkward and the tools so primitive, I decided it wasn't worth the effort. I still twitch when thinking about trying to trim ripped Garmin data in ArcView. Now, with your maps as a starting point and GPSmapedit, it's a breeze.

My Workflow:
  1. in GPSmapedit, open the appropriate IMG file from your mapset.
  2. save as MP format in a subfolder (I called it edit).
  3. to fix the compile error: Edit - Select - By Type -> Polyline - 0 Road. Find one of the selected roads, then - with the pointer - right click and choose: Modify - Type -> and pick Polyline - 3 Road.
  4. to eliminate most colour, because my GPS is BW: Edit - Select - By Type -> Polygon - 20 State Park. Find a selected polygon, then - with the pointer - right click and choose: Modify - Type -> and pick Polygon - 40 Map Region
  5. to eliminate the topo lines, because I'm a dualsport biker and I don't care about hills - just roads: Edit - Select - By Type -> (multiple) all 3 Topo Polylines and the Point elevation. Hit DEL and those pesky topo lines are gone.
  6. save the map.
  7. File - Export - Garmin cGPSmapper - save with default name (should still be in the edit folder) - hit RUN.
  8. Repeat for all target maps.
  9. Go into the main IMG folder for mapset.
  10. rename all target maps from .img to .old.
  11. move the recompiled IMG maps from the edit folder to the main IMG folder.
  12. Start Mapsourse, select the Ibycus mapset, and TA-DA, I now have a mapset of high-resolution non-Topo maps ready for my GPS.
The best part is, anytime I have a track that I'd like to be part of the basemap, all I have to do is open the .MP file from the edit folder, File - Add the track, trace out any sections that aren't already represented as roads, maybe change the entire route to a funky line type like International Boarder (which works really well on my BW GPS), save the map, re-export it, move the IMG over to the IMG folder (maybe keeping the the last edit if I'm feeling paranoid about data loss), and it's there waiting for the next time I upload a mapset. I'm a very happy camper.

As for not using an existing mapset. Well, I understand your concerns about updating but when I consider the advantages: not having to build a new mapset, not having to worry about regions and the preview map, not having to build reg files to get the mapset into Mapsource - just a simple 1for1 replacement. You have to admit, it's a lot easier.

However, if you still have concerns, let me know - here, PM, or email. You put all the work into building the maps in the first place. Well, okay, the government compiled the data, but you know what I mean.

David...
 
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ibycus

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I'm kinda surprised you haven't run in to the problem with updating a maptile the way you've been doing it. I'm betting its because you're only loading one tile at a time. If you try loading two tiles (any two), I'm you'll run in to trouble.

(Typically you get an unhelpful/cryptic error message from Mapsource along the lines of "This mapset requires 200kB, but the selected device only has 8MB available")

That being said, its not very difficult to regenerate the Mapsource install stuff. Check out MapSetToolkit ( http://cypherman1.googlepages.com/) for a quick and dirty method.

For a look at a more finessed final product, check out http://www.calgarycachers.net/trailmaps/Calgary%20Trail%20Map%20Preview%20Beta.zip(this is actually a beta release, but it looks really good).

I've you'd like any 'hand holding' through the initial bumps, I'm more than willing to help. The more custom maps out there, the better.

Have you run my updater yet at all? http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/download/MapUpdate.exe (don't run it with all your custom maps in the imgs folder, or it will blow them away, but I suggest you run it to see why I'm concerned.)

All said, you're free to do it however works for you. I only ask two things if you distribute them.

Number one, you don't sell the maps (I don't expect you to, but it has to be said). First of all, this would be a violation of my agreement with cgpsmapper, and second, it really wouldn't be fair for you to be making money off of my work (of course its your work too, but difficult to determine how much is who's).

Second, I ask that you acknowledge the source (both myself, and the government sources). I'd be pretty annoyed if I started seeing mapsets substantially identical to my own showing up, and people claiming credit for them.

Dale

(P.S. Given that you're using a presumably older GPS, I"m not sure if TYP customization will work for you)
 
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FixerDave

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ibycus wrote:
I'm kinda surprised you haven't run in to the problem with updating a maptile the way you've been doing it. I'm betting its because you're only loading one tile at a time. If you try loading two tiles (any two), I'm you'll run in to trouble.

(Typically you get an unhelpful/cryptic error message from Mapsource along the lines of "This mapset requires 200kB, but the selected device only has 8MB available")...
Click to expand...
Actually, so far, I've uploaded a set of 6 at one time - no issues. But, thanks for the error message quote. At least if I see it, I'll know what's going on.

As for being free and the copyright, of course. Though, the approach I'm taking won't even work unless your base is installed first. Besides, my focus here, other than making maps for myself, is on writing up a how-to. I do find the idea of having a whole bunch of people each maintaining their one map section oddly appealing. But, the realities start sinking in: I don't want colour - most do, what happens when I want colour or some other fundamental change - now I have to re-edit from a new base... It starts to get ugly. Overlay maps have their place.

The next thing I'll try is to see if I can force the error you mentioned. I expect changing the extents of a map ought to do it. I could see a GPS flipping out if 2 maps took the same space. After that, then I'll go through the process with MapSetToolkit; I've already downloaded it but figured I'd try the above simple editing first. And, yes, I intend to try the transparent overlay maps too. That's actually what I set out to do, before thinking "hmm, I could just edit these basemaps."

The final product of all this experimenting will be a set of custom maps for me and a blog entry on making custom Garmin maps - probably with several approaches. However, if the above workflow pans out without any error messages springing up, I can't see anything easier ... we are talking about bikers after all ;)

David...
 
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ibycus

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Strange. I really would have expected problems. Don't know how you've managed.

I wonder if the map is smaller than expected if it will allow the old TDB file to be used.

I know I've run in to trouble even in cases where the actual file size is identical (although the internal file sizes were likely slightly different).



Anyways, new release up today, along with a new version of MapUpdate.

http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/download/MapUpdate.exe
 
250ccforme

250ccforme

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When running Mapupdate.exe it places a file, filelist.lst on the desktop; should that be deleted after mapupdate has finished? :?
 
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ibycus

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You can. I've left it there as a few people have asked for it. Its a list of all the files, tile names and sizes included in the download.
 
250ccforme

250ccforme

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I had tried initially to open it but nothing opened .lst automatically. Just now I tried again and had Wordpad open it. Workedjust fine. Thanks.
 
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ibycus

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Originally I'd called it a .txt file, but this caused the end of line characters to be converted to UNIX style as opposed to windows style (due to the MIME type handling). Callingit .lst avoids that problem.
 
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ibycus

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Currently uploading a new version. Its a biggy. It fixes most of the holes, and the coverage is now mostly complete. The update from version 1.34 will be ~1.7GB, to give a total of nearly 4GB of data.

It should be ready some time tomorrow (in the meantime the updater is offline).

This will likely be the last update for some time, as I'm going to be busy looking after my dog over the next couple of weeks... he's scheduled for knee surgery on wednesday, and its a fairly lengthy recovery.

Dale
 
Swinada

Swinada

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so is your server down or is it just my restricted internet access that I cant connect to the update?
Error MSG: Unable to get update list...Site may be down for updates
and then runtime error 53 "file not found"

Sorry never mind just didnt see, your comment about being available tomorrow and just posted today. Ahhh stupid me :(
 
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