Anyone else make their own maps?

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IntrepidXJ
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by IntrepidXJ »

arvinsmee wrote:So I'm not sure why they haven't fixed it, or why someone hasn't founded a company to compete with them.
http://www.latitude40maps.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by arvinsmee »

Conor wrote:This seems like an example of measuring with a micrometer and cutting with an axe. As pointed out, using raster data and plotting points on top of it, which are most likely measured with inaccurate devices in the first place, is a poor way to do it.
If you can three or more tracks for the same trail, generally their pretty accurate. The noise tends to become obvious the more data you have. Trails drawn in from satellite data are even closer. In any case they're far better than NatGeo.

I'm not sure it's that time intensive though. Clearly I've been going about this incredibly inefficiently, but an organized effort could churn out maps based on crowd sourced data pretty quickly. You just need a source for your GPXs (partnership with Gaia?) and the someone to analyze them, draw in the trails, and maybe compare that to satellite data to confirm accuracy. I get the feeling that a lot of the more casual hikers don't realize how bad the maps are. More serious hikers, who know better are generally knowledgeable enough to get by with a bad map, make their own, or rely on their GPS.
IntrepidXJ wrote:
arvinsmee wrote:So I'm not sure why they haven't fixed it, or why someone hasn't founded a company to compete with them.
http://www.latitude40maps.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes! Those look great. Not sure why I haven't stumbled across them before (probably not looking hard enough).
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by Conor »

take your gis class, and report back. You're over simplifying the mapping process. Of course, who wants a map from someone who just looked at sat images? If an anomaly exists, one would need to figure out if it is the base map that is off, a layer that is off, or inaccuracy from a measuring device or some combination of the above. Reconciling the differences without discovering the problem just leaves one with maybe an accurate map, but most likely an inaccurate map.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by arvinsmee »

I’m making maps for personal use. I realize the layers can be off, there are anomalies, and there are multiple ways for it to go wrong. I’m sure GIS methodologies are more accurate.

But I’ve been doing this for 6 years, probably made 25 maps, and I always compare my GPS tracks with the map once I get home. I haven’t run into a serious error yet. When I compare my maps to ones I buy or find online they’re always more accurate. It might not be the best, but for my purposes it’s pretty damn good (if stupidly inefficient). Not sure why that seems to bother you so much.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by Conor »

I was answering the question of why someone doesn't make "more accurate" maps commercially. I could care less what you do with your spare time. No reason to throw shade when I'm merely offering my opinion to one of your questions.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by arvinsmee »

You're acting like maps would need to be very accurate to sell, when shitty maps seem to be selling fine.

If NatGeo is simply drawing in trails based on a whim with no effort to verify accuracy, it can't take that much effort to improve on them. Maybe I should have said "more accurate" rather than "accurate" when talking about crowd sourcing data to make maps. Still, I'm not throwing shade, I just don't appreciate being talked down to.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by IntrepidXJ »

arvinsmee wrote: If NatGeo is simply drawing in trails based on a whim with no effort to verify accuracy
I believe the NatGeo maps are just based off of the USGS Topo maps.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by Conor »

arvinsmee wrote: I just don't appreciate being talked down to.
Hey man, just trying to help. Good luck to you and I'll be sure to break out the millennial whine (sic) next time.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by arvinsmee »

Ah, the internet. Where half the people "trying to help" just want to feel important and let everyone know how smart they are.
IntrepidXJ wrote:I believe the NatGeo maps are just based off of the USGS Topo maps.
I wouldn't be surprised, that would explain why a lot of them are out of date. It's clear they don't make much of an effort to put people on the ground to verify.
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by justiner »

It's pretty interesting to think about all the GPS data that's now out there, which can be used to see where people are reporting on hiking. That could be pretty useful for verifying trails, as well as figuring out where to make new ones.
long.jpg
This is on Longs Peak. Kinda fun to see people approach the mountain from the Trough, Kep. Up and over Storm, etc. Lots of paths E. of Jims Grove makes me suspect an unorganized social trail system up there, but I also know there's the group campsite people are heading towards. (I know a lot more, but...)
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by arvinsmee »

that looks awesome! where'd you get the data from and what's the platform?
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Re: Anyone else make their own maps?

Post by martinleroux »

arvinsmee wrote:that looks awesome! where'd you get the data from and what's the platform?
http://labs.strava.com/clusterer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;