If you need a mapping tool to get the job done, GPS Visualizer is for you. There are now many routing/mapping sites (see resources at the end of the post) that let you post your routes, either manually or uploading a GPS file. Their main purpose, being social sites, is to share those routes between their users. GPS Visualizer takes a different approach.
It’s simply a map creation tool: you upload you GPS file and it creates a map for you, that’s all. There’s no need to register and you don’t have to describe anything. You only need a GPS file (or a text file with some coordinates).
I’m saying it’s simple because the site is really easy to operate. It has a clear interface and the numerous options don’t get in your way. In fact, I could generate my map in less than a minute, just uploading my Forerunner’s course file. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Adam Schneider, its creator, is constantly updating the site to include new formats and improvements on the existing features.
To start with, GPS Visualizer can read a lot of different data formats: GPX, OziExplorer, Geocaching.com (.loc), IGC sailplane logs, Garmin Forerunner, Timex Trainer, Cetus GPS, PathAway, cotoGPS, CompeGPS, TomTom, IGN Rando, Emtac Trine, Suunto X9/X9i, NetStumbler/WiFiFoFum (yes, you can plot your wardriving logs as well), and old plain text files.
What about the output? You can generate maps in the following formats:
- SVG (viewable with Adobe’s SVG Viewer plug-in).
- JPEG/PNG.
- Google Maps.
- Google Earth KML file.
- Elevation/speed profile.
For each format you have many parameters for controlling the output. This picture shows the options you get for a Google Map generation (these are the normal options. By clicking on ’show advanced options [+]’ on the title of each group you get more parameters) :
And this is the elevation profile my regular MTB route:
GPS Visualizer doesn’t stop here, though. The site is packed with many utilities related to mapping:
- A file conversion utility to create a text file or a GPX file from any GPS file.
- A front-end interface to GPS Babel.
- Geographic calculators.
- An address geocoder.
- A Google Earth KML overlay creator.
- A Forerunner file splitter.
There’s also a great help system and many tutorials in case you need assistance.
And the best of all, it’s free.
Resources:
- GPS Visualizer.
- Adam Scheider’s web page (the creator of GPS Visualizer).
- Post about other routing/mapping sites.
- TrailRunner, a Mac software for route planning.
