B
Bruce W.1
Guest
On Usenet people are always asking for good GPS waypoints, either to enter into their GPS unit or to
calibrate scanned maps from which tracks, routes, and other waypoints are made with software like
OziExplorer and ExpertGPS.
Many websites offer GPS waypoints. Some sites have millions of waypoints. Yet very few of these
sites have accurate waypoints. The source of the data is always uncertain.
Waypoint accuracy is not a great concern when you are driving an automobile. But when you are in the
wilderness or backcountry, especially in foul weather, accuracy of a kilometer or mile is not
acceptable.
Maps are not always drawn accurately, and their level of precision is nowhere near that of the GPS
system. In my experience maps can be off by hundreds of meters or more. When compared to current GPS
accuracies of ten to twenty feet, maps leave a lot to be desired. And so if we want accurate
waypoints we must do one of the following:
1. Skip the maps altogether and find good waypoints for the locations.
2. Get maps and calibrate them with good waypoints.
3. Compute waypoints from the maps and hope for the best. So people on Usenet are forever asking
for good GPS waypoints. Now there is a place to get and leave accurate GPS waypoints.
This message is to tell you about a website I created to store only good GPS waypoints. You can find
it at: http://trailwaypoints.com From now on when I take a backcountry trip I will be marking GPS
waypoints and adding them to this site. If you have any good waypoints (accurate to under 30 meters
or 100 feet) then it would be great if you added them to Trail Waypoints too. That way they can be
used by everyone. And you will know where to find them in the future when you need them.
The Trail Waypoints website has interactive mapping that covers -- at this time -- most of the
english speaking world. Just click on the map to zoom in. It can show waypoints that are just a few
meters apart. The waypoints are divided into the following regions:
4. Australia
5. British Isles
6. Canada
7. New Zealand
8. United States
To filter your area of interest, the waypoints (and types of waypoints) are also divided in to the
following activity categories:
9. Backpacking
10. Canoeing, kayaking, and rafting
11. Climbing
12. Horseback riding
13. Mountain biking
14. Winter snow (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling)
15. 4-Wheel drive and motorcycling
Trail Waypoints is brand new so it doesn't have many waypoints yet. Watch for more as time goes on.
And thank you for any waypoints you contribute.
Bruce
calibrate scanned maps from which tracks, routes, and other waypoints are made with software like
OziExplorer and ExpertGPS.
Many websites offer GPS waypoints. Some sites have millions of waypoints. Yet very few of these
sites have accurate waypoints. The source of the data is always uncertain.
Waypoint accuracy is not a great concern when you are driving an automobile. But when you are in the
wilderness or backcountry, especially in foul weather, accuracy of a kilometer or mile is not
acceptable.
Maps are not always drawn accurately, and their level of precision is nowhere near that of the GPS
system. In my experience maps can be off by hundreds of meters or more. When compared to current GPS
accuracies of ten to twenty feet, maps leave a lot to be desired. And so if we want accurate
waypoints we must do one of the following:
1. Skip the maps altogether and find good waypoints for the locations.
2. Get maps and calibrate them with good waypoints.
3. Compute waypoints from the maps and hope for the best. So people on Usenet are forever asking
for good GPS waypoints. Now there is a place to get and leave accurate GPS waypoints.
This message is to tell you about a website I created to store only good GPS waypoints. You can find
it at: http://trailwaypoints.com From now on when I take a backcountry trip I will be marking GPS
waypoints and adding them to this site. If you have any good waypoints (accurate to under 30 meters
or 100 feet) then it would be great if you added them to Trail Waypoints too. That way they can be
used by everyone. And you will know where to find them in the future when you need them.
The Trail Waypoints website has interactive mapping that covers -- at this time -- most of the
english speaking world. Just click on the map to zoom in. It can show waypoints that are just a few
meters apart. The waypoints are divided into the following regions:
4. Australia
5. British Isles
6. Canada
7. New Zealand
8. United States
To filter your area of interest, the waypoints (and types of waypoints) are also divided in to the
following activity categories:
9. Backpacking
10. Canoeing, kayaking, and rafting
11. Climbing
12. Horseback riding
13. Mountain biking
14. Winter snow (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling)
15. 4-Wheel drive and motorcycling
Trail Waypoints is brand new so it doesn't have many waypoints yet. Watch for more as time goes on.
And thank you for any waypoints you contribute.
Bruce