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  <h3 style="margin-top:0px;">Get started now!</h3>
  <div style="padding:4px; margin-bottom:8px;">
    <nobr>Upload a GPS file:</nobr>
    <input type="file" name="uploaded_file_1" style="width:160px;">
  </div>
  <div style="padding:4px; margin-bottom:8px;">
    <nobr>Choose an output format:</nobr>
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      <option value="leaflet" selected="">Leaflet Map</option>
      <option value="google">Google Maps</option>
      <option value="googleearth">Google Earth</option>
      <option value="png">PNG map</option>
      <option value="jpg">JPEG map</option>
      <option value="svg">SVG drawing</option>
      <option value="profile">elevation profile</option>
      <option value="gpx">GPX file</option>
      <option value="text">plain text table</option>
    </select>
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Text Content

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies
and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information
sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement,
and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products. With your
permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and
identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our
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detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse
consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not
require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your
preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at
any time by returning to this site or visit our privacy policy.
MORE OPTIONSAGREE

Make a map

- Leaflet/Google

- Google Earth

- JPG/PNG/SVG

Make a profile

Convert a file

Draw on a map

Calculators

Geocode addresses

Look up elevations

Atlas: Share a map

GPSBabel

Examples

Help/FAQ

About GPSV

No ads? No problem! You can support GPS Visualizer by making a donation with
PayPal instead.


click here for example maps


GPS VISUALIZER: DO-IT-YOURSELF MAPPING

GPS Visualizer is an online utility that creates maps and profiles from
geographic data. It is free and easy to use, yet powerful and extremely
customizable. Input can be in the form of GPS data (tracks and waypoints),
driving routes, street addresses, or simple coordinates. Use it to see where
you've been, plan where you're going, or quickly visualize geographic data
(scientific observations, events, business locations, customers, real estate,
geotagged photos, etc.).


GET STARTED NOW!

Upload a GPS file:
Choose an output format: Leaflet MapGoogle MapsGoogle EarthPNG mapJPEG mapSVG
drawingelevation profileGPX fileplain text table


To set more options, use the detailed input pages:

Google Maps /Leaflet

Google Earth KML

JPEG/PNG/SVG maps

Plot data points

Profiles (elevation, etc.)

Convert to GPX

Convert to plain text

Sandbox (drawing)

Geocoding

KML overlays

Help keep GPS Visualizer free

GPS Visualizer is a free service and hopefully always will be; however, if you
find it interesting, time-saving, or just plain fun, you can say "thanks" -- and
encourage further development -- by clicking the button above and making a
contribution via credit card or PayPal. Or, you could send an Amazon wish list
item.

GPS Visualizer can read data files from many different sources, including but
not limited to: GPX (a standard format used with many devices and programs,
including Garmin's eTrex, GPSMAP, Oregon, Dakota, Colorado, & Nüvi series),
Google Earth (.kml/.kmz), Google Maps routes (URLs), FAI/IGC glider logs, Fugawi
(.trk/.wpt), Furuno, Garmin Fitness (.fit), Garmin Forerunner (.xml/.hst/.tcx),
Garmin MapSource/BaseCamp/HomePort (.gdb), Geocaching.com (.loc), Google Sheets,
iGO (.trk), Lowrance (.usr), Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (.xls/.xlsx), NMEA
0183 data, OziExplorer (.plt/.wpt), Suunto X9/X9i (.sdf), Timex Trainer, TomTom
(.pgl), U-blox (.ubx), XML feeds, and of course tab-delimited or comma-separated
text.

GPS Visualizer is based in Portland, Oregon, and has been on the Web since
October 2002.

News & Updates

European DEM data update [09/15/23] New 30m-resolution digital elevation files
from Europe -- compiled by "Sonny" -- have been installed on GPS Visualizer's
server. GeoJSON support [1/28/23] GPS Visualizer now has basic support for
Points, LineStrings, MultiLineStrings, Polygons, and MultiPolygons in GeoJSON
(.json) FeatureCollection files. USGS 3DEP data [10/13/22] GPS Visualizer's
"NED1" collection of elevation data has been updated with the latest files from
the US Geological Survey's 3D Elevation Program, which uses LIDAR to improve the
accuracy of elevation data. Google Elevation API [10/10/22] The JavaScript-based
tool that can retrieve elevation data from the Google Maps Elevation API (using
your Google API Key) has been updated so that it can look up 500 points at once;
this saves both time and calls to the API. Folder zoom [12/14/21] If you create
a Google or Leaflet map where the markers are displayed in folders in the marker
list, you can use the gv_options.marker_list_options.folder_zoom parameter to
automatically include a "zoom to contents" link next to the name of the folder.
Better tickmarks [11/16/21] When tickmarks are added to a Google or Leaflet map,
the "description" field of the tickmark will now contain the distance (for
time-based tickmarks) or time (for normal distance tickmarks), if your input
file contains the relevant data. New DEM files [03/18/21] More 30m-resolution
DEM elevation data has been installed on GPS Visualizer's server: new
LIDAR-based files ("ODP1") for Iceland, and NASA SRTM1 data for Central America,
the Caribbean, and northern Queensland. OpenSnowMap [11/29/20] Leaflet and
Google maps created by GPS Visualizer can now display ski trails from
OpenSnowMap as a background map option. Profile improvements [05/11/20] You can
now draw an in in-map elevation profile of a single track, using an icon in the
track's info window. Automatic.com .csv files [02/24/20] CSV export files from
Automatic.com's Connected Car Assistant device and smartphone app can now be
converted or mapped with GPS Visualizer. Google Location History [02/18/20]
Location History and Semantic Location History JSON files from Google Takeout
are now supported by GPS Visualizer. Slovakian, Czech, & Hungarian maps
[01/01/20] Freemap.sk (styled OpenStreetMap data with shading and contour lines)
is now available as a background option in GPS Visualizer's Google & Leaflet
Maps. ASTER v3 data [12/22/19] The ASTER DEM files on GPS Visualizer's server
have been upgraded to ASTER version 3, which was released in 2019. Filled
profiles [11/11/19] The profile utility can now draw filled "mountain range"
profiles, in addition to lines; also, colorized SVG profiles can use gradients
for smoother and more accurate color. More 30m elevation data from Europe
[10/29/19] New DEM (digital elevation model) files from Europe have been
installed on GPS Visualizer's server, thanks to OpenDataPortal. Dynamic
elevation profiles in maps [10/24/19] GPS Visualizer maps can now build
on-the-fly elevation profiles, if the tracks contain elevation data. Full
documentation of the new feature is available here. Convert Google Maps to
Leaflet API [10/13/19] If you want to convert an older GPS Visualizer Google Map
into one that uses the free Leaflet API instead, instructions and a conversion
utility are now available. OfflineMaps files [07/17/19] Track, waypoint, and
area files (.trk, .wpt, .are) from the OfflineMaps Android app are now supported
by GPS Visualizer. Leaflet maps [06/30/19] Leaflet, an open-source mapping
library, is now fully supported by GPS Visualizer! The map input forms now give
you a choice between Google Maps or Leaflet for browser-viewable HTML maps.
German topo maps [02/16/19] Two German topo map options (TopPlusOpen & DTK250,
from BKG) are now available in GPS Visualizer's Google Maps. Spanish topo maps
[02/13/19] Topographic maps of Spain, as well as a "base map" (from www.ign.es),
are now available in GPS Visualizer's Google Maps. Lowrance .usr repair
[07/05/18] Some Lowrance USR v3 files don't work properly with GPSBabel, which
GPS Visualizer normally uses to parse Lowrance files. GPS Visualizer will now
try to repair those problematic files. Novatel track logs [04/24/18] Tracklog
files containing #BESTPOSA statements from Novatel OEM GPS receivers can now be
read by GPS Visualizer. XCSoar .tsk files [02/14/18] GPS Visualizer can now read
task files (with a .tsk extension) from XCSoar open-source gliding computer
software. Rotatable waypoint markers [01/26/18] Rotatable "arrow" and "wedge"
markers are now available in GPS Visualizer's Google Maps. Supply a "rotation"
field in your input file to make them rotate. Google Maps overzoom [12/18/17]
All of GPS Visualizer's Google Maps backgrounds can now be zoomed up to level
21; if tiles do not exist at the higher levels, the lower-level tiles will be
enlarged. The overzoomed levels show up as gray bars in the zoom control.
Raymarine .fsh files [12/07/17] Support for Raymarine waypoint/route files
(which are usually named "ARCHIVE.FSH") has been improved greatly, thanks to
Bernhard Fischer's parsefsh utility. Native .gdb support [11/30/17] Code has
been added to read Garmin .gdb files directly — rather than relying on GPSBabel
as an intermediary. This should ensure compatibility with newer .gdb variations.
Re-order & merge scrambled tracks [11/29/17] GPS Visualizer can now re-order
(and optionally connect) scrambled, out-of-order track segments. Look for
"Reorder/merge coterminous tracks" in the advanced track options. OpenStreetMap
data [11/21/17] GPS Visualizer can now read .osm XML files downloaded from
OpenStreetMap.org. "Nodes" will be processed if they have names, and "ways" will
be processed if they are roads or trails. (Individual /node or /way URLs on
openstreetmap.org can also be used.) Elevation gain/loss calculations [11/15/17]
GPS Visualizer's input forms now have a parameter called elevation gain/loss
threshold, which can help get you more accurate elevation gain calculations.
Read more about it in the new Elevation Gain Tutorial. JPEG/PNG maps to
Garmin/Google Earth [11/07/17] JPEG or PNG maps created by GPS Visualizer can
now be exported into a .kmz file that can be used as a Garmin custom map. Look
for the "Make this map into a Garmin/KMZ overlay" link on the output page after
you create your map. Google Maps label colors [10/18/17] When you create a
Google Map, you can now choose colors for permanent marker labels via menus in
the input form. (But if you need more control, you can still supply CSS
directives if you want.) Profile gridlines [09/22/17] In the profile input form,
you can now enter a distance for "X divisions" and "Y divisions". (Make sure to
include a unit, or it'll work the way it always has and just split your profile
into that many sections.) KMZ icons [08/26/17] When you make a Google Map out of
a KMZ file that contains embedded icon graphics, GPS Visualizer will now embed
those icons in the guts of the map. OpenOffice spreadsheets [03/19/17] GPS
Visualizer can now read the text contained in spreadsheets (.ods files) from
OpenOffice. Coxmate .CMT files [03/18/17] Rowing tracklogs (.CMT files) from
Coxmate GPS devices are now supported by GPS Visualizer. Topo maps for Belgium,
Netherlands, France [03/13/17] Topographic maps from RouteYou, covering all of
Belgium and the Netherlands, have been added as a background map option in
Google Maps. Topo maps from IGN.fr have also been added to the Sandbox, but IGN
maps are only available in your own maps if you get an API Key from IGN.
Elevation data: JP, KR, TW, AU, NZ [03/09/17] The collection of SRTM1 elevation
data from NASA has been expanded to include Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong
Kong, New Zealand, and southeastern Australia (Adelaide to Brisbane, plus
Tasmania). Elevation queries in the Sandbox [03/04/17] GPS Visualizer's drawing
utility now allows you to right-click on any point on the map to retrieve the
DEM-derived elevation for that point. Simulated timestamps [03/02/17] GPS
Visualizer's conversion form, as well as the Sandbox's export function, have the
ability to add simulated timestamps to tracklogs that don't have time
information. This feature has been implemented because OpenStreetMap's data
import function requires time stamps for some reason. "Save settings" in a
browser cookie [02/28/17] Each input form (Google Maps, Google Earth,
SVG/JPEG/PNG, profiles, conversion) now includes a "Save settings" link that
will record the form's current settings in a browser cookie for later retrieval
via the "Load from saved" link. File upload boxes can be reset [02/27/17] If you
change your mind about uploading additional files to a GPS Visualizer input
form, you can now clear/reset/delete the file input boxes using the "x" link
next to the box. Corrupt GPX file auto-correction [12/10/16] GPS Visualizer will
now attempt to repair corrupted GPX files. Not all files will be able to be
fixed, but prematurely truncated files (the most common error) should be able to
be handled. Share files with Wikiloc [10/06/16] You can now save/share your
tracks and waypoints on Wikiloc.com; look for the Wikiloc "share" link after you
create a GPS Visualizer map or profile. (Unlike some other trail-sharing sites
out there, Wikiloc is 100% free to join and use.) Trywin .cpw files [08/09/16]
GPS Visualizer can now map and convert .cpw binary files from Trywin/Posma
cycling computers. Sandbox icons [06/03/16] GPS Visualizer's Freehand Drawing
Utility now allows you to assign specific icons to your waypoints. U-Blox .ubx
files [05/24/16] GPS Visualizer can now read .ubx binary files from GPS devices
that use U-Blox chips. Polygons in the Sandbox [03/23/16] By popular demand, you
can now draw polygons in GPS Visualizer's Freehand Drawing Utility ("The
Sandbox"). To access the polygon tool, click the "trk" label under the track
tool, and it will change its function. (Note that you'll have to export to KML
to see the difference; GPX does not support polygons.) Animated GIF marker icons
[02/17/16] If you want to use the URL of an animated GIF as a marker in a Google
Map, you need to prevent Google from "optimizing" your markers by providing the
following option in the guts of the map: gv_options.optimize_markers = false;
(Or, you can de-optimize individual markers with optimized:false in the
GV_Draw_Marker function.) Seamaster Pro .stk files [12/08/15] GPS Visualizer can
now read .stk files from Pinpoint Systems' Seamaster Pro software. (Note that
these files do not include any time information.) Export data from GPSV maps
[11/20/15] The Google Maps input form now includes the option to "Allow export
of data from the map." This puts a link in the map's Utilities Menu that lets
people download the data from your map as GPX, KML, or plain text. Styled GPX
[10/18/15] In the conversion form, there's a new setting (under "Advanced Track
Options") labeled "Include styles in GPX output." This could be useful if you're
converting a KML/KMZ file, and you want to preserve track colors & widths.
Furuno binary waypoint files [08/26/15] USERIMG.BIN waypoint files from Furuno
GPS units are now supported by GPS Visualizer. More elevation coverage
[08/26/15] GPS Visualizer's collection of digital elevation model (DEM) files
now includes high-resolution coverage of northern Europe (above 60°N), including
all of Scandinavia and Iceland. Sygic .log files [08/24/15] Tracklogs (.log
files) from Sygic GPS navigation software are now supported by GPS Visualizer.
MINI 0806 dashcam logs [08/13/15] GPS Visualizer can now read GPS .log files
from the "mini 0806" dashboard camera (and possibly others in the mini 08xx
series). "No icon" is now an option [08/01/15] When creating a Google map or
Google Earth KML file from plain-text/spreadsheet data, you can now specify
no_icon as the symbol for a waypoint. This could be helpful if you want to
simply place a geo-located label on a map without an associated graphic.
30-meter elevation data for Europe [06/20/15] Thanks to JPL/NASA's SRTM project,
GPS Visualizer's elevation database now includes 30-meter resolution DEM data
for all of Europe. More global coverage may be coming soon. OpenTopoMap
[06/16/15] GPS Visualizer's Google maps now include OpenTopoMap.org as a
background option for European data. The contour interval is the same as 4UMaps
and OpenCycleMap, but for large areas, the colored relief shading in
OpenTopoMaps looks nice. LawTraK LawMate log files [05/17/15] Plain-text track
logs (.TXT files) from the LawTraK LawMate GPS logger are now supported.
Expanded DEM coverage [03/30/15] GPS Visualizer's DEM elevation database has
been updated and expanded. 30m-resolution data (NED1) now covers all of the
U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and the 90m data for the rest of the world (SRTM3) now
goes all the way to the poles instead of stopping at 60° latitude. Evermore .dat
files [02/20/15] Support has been added for the "gpslog.dat" files generated by
the EverPhoto GT-800 & GT-800BT data loggers from Evermore Technology. Maptech
files [02/08/15] GPS Visualizer can now read .TRK and .MRK files from Maptech
Terrain Navigator. Geolocation [02/05/15] If you need to be able to center a GPS
Visualizer map based on the user's current location, the function GV_Geolocate()
can do that for you. Here's an example. New server! [12/20/14] GPS Visualizer
has been moved to a new, faster server. Because the new machine can handle a
little more stress, the upload limit in the input forms has been raised. Fugawi
.wpt files [11/11/14] Waypoint files (.WPT) from Fugawi software can now be read
by GPS Visualizer. Swiss Map Mobile .xol files [10/03/14] GPS Visualizer can now
read tracks and waypoints in .XOL files created by SwissTopo's "Swiss Map
Mobile" software. IE 11 bug [07/24/14] Fixed a bug that caused file uploads to
fail when targeted to a new window in Internet Explorer 11 running in Windows
8.1. Locosys SPN/SPB, Bushnell BTK/GTK [05/05/14] GPS Visualizer can now read
.sbn and .sbp tracklogs from Locosys Genie GPS devices, and .btk tracklogs and
.gtk waypoint files from the Bushnell Backtrack D-Tour. EnerGymPro & CycleOps
[04/21/14] Two new input formats are supported by GPS Visualizer: .cpo files
from the EnerGymPro GPS sport watch, and .xml files from CycleOps'
VirtualTraining software. SeaClear .srw files [03/29/14] Waypoints created by
SeaClear chart plotting software (.SRW files) are supported by GPS Visualizer.
GPS III+ .trk files [02/26/14] Tracklog files from GPS III+ (which have the
suffix .trk and which contain the text "GPS III+ Softw") can be read by GPS
Visualizer. Dash-cam data [02/05/14] .log files from TrueCam dashboard cameras
can now be read by GPS Visualizer. Track segment time threshold [01/30/14] If
you have plain-text data, you can now set a specific time threshold beyond which
tracks will be broken into segments; look in the "advanced track options" of the
map or conversion input form. Google Maps elevation lookups [01/25/14] There's a
new Elevation Lookup Utility for finding elevations using the Google Maps API.
It's based on the batch geocoding utility, so it's entirely browser-based and a
bit slow, but it might be helpful if you need a few high-latitude or alpine
elevations that aren't covered by GPS Visualizer's built-in DEM database.
Sandbox updated [11/19/13] GPS Visualizer's freehand drawing tool, a.k.a. "The
Sandbox" -- which allows you to draw markers and tracks on a map and then save
them as KML or GPX -- has been improved and updated to v3 of the Google Maps
API. Sportek XML files [11/08/13] XML files from Sportek's sports-oriented GPS
units can now be read by GPS Visualizer. Filter by trackpoint distance threshold
[10/23/13] GPS Visualizer can now smooth out GPS tracks by only plotting points
that are at least a certain distance from the previous plotted point; you'll
find the new parameter in the Track Options sections of the map, profile, and
convert input forms. A detailed explanation is available in the Tutorials
section. Merge tracks [10/21/13] The conversion utility now has an option (in
the "advanced options" section) to merge all uploaded tracks into a single track
in the output file. Quick Geocoder improvements [10/03/13] GPS Visualizer's
Quick Geocoder has now been updated with the same data sources as the Batch
Geocoder. Batch Geocoder improvements [09/29/13] GPS Visualizer's batch
geocoding utility has been updated with two new data sources: MapQuest and Bing
Maps. (Yahoo's free geocoding service no longer exists.) Transas RT3 files
[09/07/14] Files from Transas marine ECDIS systems (typically ending in ".rt3")
can now be read by GPS Visualizer. Google Maps v3 migration [09/06/13] Version 2
of the Google Maps API is going away soon. If you have older GPS Visualizer maps
that need to be upgraded, read the v2 to v3 migration guide. Garmin icons in
Google Earth [07/04/13] If you generate a KML (or .kmz) file with GPS
Visualizer, and your waypoints use standard Garmin icons, those icons will now
be displayed in Google Earth. OakLog, SmartMaps, Northstar [06/23/13] GPS
Visualizer has recently learned how to read three new file formats: OakGPS .olg
files ("OakLog"); .trk files from a Czech-language Android app called SmartMaps
Navigator, and ancient "WayPtDB.dat" files from some Northstar marine GPS units.
ViewRanger .VRTP files [05/28/13] Raw .VRTP track logs from the ViewRanger app
for Android devices can now be read by GPS Visualizer. Remote files in GPSBabel
[05/24/13] GPS Visualizer's online "front-end" to GPSBabel now supports the
conversion of remote files via a URL (e.g., from dropbox.com). This should make
it more usable for mobile users whose browsers won't let them upload GPS data
files. Google Maps v3 [04/30/13] The process of converting GPS Visualizer's
Google code to utilize v3 of the Google Maps API has begun and is progressing
well. Many "power-user" functions still need to be tested, however. Topo maps of
Europe (et al.) [03/16/13] European topo maps from 4UMaps.eu (OpenStreetMap data
with 20m contour lines) are now available as a background option in GPS
Visualizer's Google Maps. These are similar to the OpenCycleMap topos, but with
a less bicycle-centric presentation. UPDATE: 4UMaps.eu now covers the United
States and southern Canada; U.S. users should note that the elevations are given
in meters, not feet. OpenAerials and better OSM data [03/01/13] Two new Google
Maps backgrounds are available; they're labeled "World aerial (MQ)" and "World
streets (MQ)." Both come from MapQuest; the first is MapQuest's "OpenAerial"
satellite pictures, and the second is their excellent rendering of OpenStreetMap
data. U.S. NAIP aerial photos [02/11/13] GPS Visualizer now lets you use
background maps from the USDA's National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP).
Imagery from the NAIP map server can be used in Google Maps, in JPEG/PNG maps,
or as a KML overlay. Thanks to Joseph Elfelt at MappingSupport.com for the tip!
Pioneer AVIC .LTB files [02/08/13] .LTB track logs from Pioneer AVIC navigation
systems are now supported by GPS Visualizer. Google Maps v3 coming soon
[12/14/12] Google recently notified the world that version 2 of the Google Maps
API might be going away soon. Therefore, GPS Visualizer's JavaScript functions
will have to be updated in the next few months. Once that happens, changing
existing GPSV maps to the new code should be pretty straightforward -- it will
just be a matter of changing a couple of URLs. GpsLogger .gpl files [10/13/12]
Another file format supported: .gpl files from "GpsLogger" software, which comes
with the SkyRC GPS logger for remote-control vehicles. (Apparently GpsLogger's
own export functions aren't very good and produce "chunky" tracks with no
elevation data!) DataCenter .gsr files [10/12/12] GPS Visualizer can now read
.gsr binary files from the DataCenter software supplied with USGlobalSat's
DG-200 GPS logger (and possibly other devices as well). Icon offsets in Google
Maps [09/20/12] New feature for power users: using an "icon_offset" field in the
input data, you can now shift the placement of an individual waypoint's icon --
in pixels (not degrees or meters), so the offset is the same at any zoom level.
This should be helpful for showing multiple markers in the same location. Orion
SkyTrack [09/19/12] GPS Visualizer can now read binary .Trk logs from Orion
Electronics' "SkyTrack" devices, which are frequently used by law enforcement
vehicles. Skydemon logs [09/18/12] GPS Visualizer can now read plain-text flight
logs from Skydemon GPS devices. These files usually have a ".flightlog" suffix.
SpeedView track logs [06/09/12] GPS Visualizer can now auto-detect and process
raw track log files (yyyy-mm-dd.log) from the SpeedView app for Android.
However, the developer notes that it might be a lot easier to just use the
"Export GPX" function! TrackMaster 2000 track logs [04/08/12] GPS Visualizer can
now read .trk files from "TrackMaster 2000." KML tag order [03/28/12] The tags
in KML files are now output in the exact order that Google specifies; this
should help compatibility with fussy apps. MaxSea waypoints [03/23/12] GPS
Visualizer can now read .wpt files from MaxSea Marine Software. URL shorteners
[03/12/12] URL-shortening tools (is.gd, bit.ly, & tinyurl.com) have been added
to the "Link to this view" feature in GPS Visualizer's sandbox and Atlas. Backup
server [02/27/12] When you make a Google Map wih GPS Visualizer, the JavaScript
code and waypoint icons are loaded from "maps.gpsvisualizer.com"; that domain is
now hosted on a different server, to reduce the load on www.gpsvisualizer.com.
OpenGTS [02/18/12] The .csv tracklog files from OpenGTS (Open-Source GPS
Tracking System) can now be read by GPS Visualizer. GPX colors [02/09/12] Some
GPX files (e.g., from Garmin software) have display colors defined for tracks.
GPS Visualizer will now honor those colors, unless you change the "Preserve
colors and widths from input files" setting (in the Advanced Track Options) to
"No." GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr [11/01/11] GPS Visualizer can now read the
"GisteqLog.dat" files generated by GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr. Crossbow Xsensor track
logs [08/08/11] Sensor logs from Moog Crossbow's xSensor app for iPhone can now
be processed by GPS Visualizer. GPX styles [07/29/11] GPS Visualizer will now
recognize line and fill colors from the official GPX Style Schema; the syntax is
basically <trk><extensions><line><color>... This should be helpful if you want
to manually control the colors of the tracks in uploaded GPS files. In the
future, GPS Visualizer may include support for colors in GPX output (from the
conversion utility). Twitter & Flickr feeds [07/01/11] You can now make
dynamically-generated maps from Twitter and Flickr feed URLs. (Note that
flickr.com URLs must include your user ID in the 12345678@N09 format.)
InstaMapper [06/15/11] GPS Visualizer can now read data feeds from InstaMapper,
a GPS tracking solution for smartphones (iPhone, Android, & Blackberry). You can
paste your InstaMapper feed URL into GPSV's Google Maps input form -- either as
"static" or "dynamic" data. Routepoint bug [05/11/11] Fixed a small bug that was
causing the "force type = routepoints" option to create duplicate track lines.
(In the future, that code may be altered so that ALL data files (not just plain
text) can have their type altered -- e.g., from waypoints to trackpoints.)
Marbella, ArkNav, Xplova files [02/12/11] Three new file formats are supported:
.bin files from Maka GPS devices (from Singapore & Malaysia), including the
Marbella M880 Slim Deluxe; NMEA files from ArkNav loggers that can include
manually-inputted "Marks"; and .log files from the Xplova G3 bike computer.
Geonaute Keymaze .ghd files [01/02/11] Tracklogs on the Geonaute "Keymaze"
series of GPS units (Keymaze 300, Keymaze 500, Keymaze 700) are stored in a
".ghd" file. Those files can now be read directly by GPS Visualizer. Pace
calculation [12/30/10] GPS Visualizer now lets you use "pace" (minutes per mile
or kilometer) as a parameter for colorization, or as an axis on a profile. But
because pace is an "inverse" function, it will be very large when travelling at
slow speeds. So you may want to manually set the maximum colorization or y-axis
value when using pace on your map or profile. The "moving average" option in the
conversion and profile forms might also be helpful. <gx:Track> tags in KML files
[12/08/10] Recent versions of Google Earth can create KML files with <gx:Track>
tags, which can contain time stamps (unlike the old <LineString> tags). GPS
Visualizer can now read the new time-stamped tracks -- but it can't create them
yet. New topo maps for Canada [12/06/10] Natural Resources Canada has a new "
Toporama" server with nicer images than the old ones. These are now available in
GPS Visualizer as a Google Map background layer, as JPEG/SVG backgrounds, and as
KML or Garmin overlays. There are two versions: one is complete, the other omits
place names and man-made structures. (Whether the NRCan maps are better than the
MyTopo.com layer available in Google Maps is a matter of opinion.) Garmin .fit
files [12/05/10] Some Garmin fitness-oriented devices have the ability to
generate files with a .fit suffix; GPS Visualizer can now read basic information
from these files (time, latitude, longitude, altitude, speed). Timex .pwx files
[12/01/10] GPS Visualizer can now read .pwx files from the Timex Global Trainer
wrist-mounted GPS system; the files are associated with "TrainingPeaks" software
from Peaksware. .nmeadb files [11/24/10] NMEA-like files with a ".nmeadb"
extension -- which apparently come from "Navibe" GPS receivers -- are now
supported by GPS Visualizer. Garmin .tcx Course Points [10/31/10] If you have a
Garmin .tcx file that contains "Course Points" (left, right, straight, summit,
valley, water, etc.), those points will now be displayed on Google Maps created
by GPS Visualizer. (The points will also appear in Google Earth, but without the
fancy Garmin icons.) Measurement tools on Google Maps [10/29/10] All Google Maps
generated by GPS Visualizer (including ones you've already created) are now
equipped with a small "ruler" icon in the lower-left corner that you can click
to bring up a floating panel containing tools to measure both length and area on
your maps. Velocity made good [10/27/10] GPS Visualizer can now calculate an
estimate of "velocity made good," if you supply the name or coordinates of a VMG
target waypoint (if you supply only a name, make sure that waypoint is included
in your data). VMG is available as a colorization parameter in maps, or as an
added field in plain-text conversion. Trackpoint templates [10/25/10] When you
use GPS Visualizer's "Draw trackpoints as waypoints" feature with Google Maps or
Google Earth (preferably Google Earth), you can now specify a custom template
for both point names and point descriptions. It works just like the existing
"synthesize descriptions" feature, using field names in {curly brackets}.
LiteTrack .ltf files [10/08/10] .ltf files from the Windows Mobile application
"LiteTrack" are now supported. They're simple text files, but with some unusual
formatting that had to be accounted for. The Atlas: map sharing [10/06/10] GPS
Visualizer can now host some simple maps for you, if you have the data stored on
the Web somewhere. This new feature is called The Atlas. Unlike normal GPS
Visualizer maps, which are deleted after a few days, links to Atlas maps should
work forever (as long as your data remains online). Learn more. More Garmin GPX
cleanup [09/27/10] GPX files from some Garmin GPS devices (especially the nüvi
series?) frequently end up with corrupt data in them, usually in the
"gpxx:Address" or "gpxx:PhoneNumber" extensions. GPS Visualizer will try to
overcome this corruption by eliminating "bad" bytes before processing your
files. Meanwhile, those address & phone number fields can now be exported by GPS
Visualizer's converter or used with the "synthesize descriptions" feature in the
map form. New formats: Suunto X10, Bendix, iGO Primo [09/13/10] Three new input
file formats have recently been added to GPS Visualizer's capabilities: (1) XML
tracklog files from the Suunto X10 GPS watch. (2) Flight logs (.txt format) from
the Bendix King AV8OR handheld GPS. (3) Binary track logs (.trk files) from the
latest version of the "iGO" software (iGO Primo). As always, all formats should
be automatically detected. UTM output [08/30/10] The conversion utility now has
an option to convert latitude & longitude to UTM coordinates when generating
plain-text output. Look for the new menu near the bottom of the "advanced
options" section. (Fields called utm_easting, utm_northing, and utm_zone can
also be used in the "synthesize names" or "synthesize descriptions" features.)
Range rings around waypoints [08/24/10] If you supply a "circle_radius" or
"range_ring" field in a manually-created (plain-text) waypoint file, you can
simultaneously draw circles around multiple points. In fact, if you separate a
list of distances with commas (e.g., "10mi,20mi,30mi"), you can even draw
multiple rings around multiple points. (Triangulation and range ring examples)
Extended data in KML files [08/14/10] Placemarks in Google Earth KML files can
contain an <ExtendedData> tag, with extra information that can be displayed in
Google Earth markers. GPS Visualizer will now read that extended data, which
means it can then be used in "synthesized" names, descriptions, or labels. (See
the map form's help file for more info on synthesizing fields with GPS
Visualizer.) Label colors [08/11/10] You can now use a "label_color" parameter
in your input data, if you want some markers' "name" (in Google Earth) or
"label" (in Google Maps) to have a different color than the default. Read more
about manually creating input files in the waypoints tutorial. Cleaning up
Garmin's mistakes [08/04/10] It seems that Garmin's technical support department
has been referring people to GPS Visualizer to help get their corrupt GPX files
cleaned up! This week, two more patches have been added to GPSV's code
specifically to deal with more of Garmin's bugs. Sport Tracker .gst files
[07/30/10] GPS Visualizer can now read raw .gst files from the "GPS Sport
Tracker" application for Windows Mobile. New legend and track options [07/27/10]
There are two new options in GPS Visualizer's map input form: first, you can
enable "color blocks" in the colorization legend, to make it easier to see which
colors correspond to which values. Second, you can make it so tracks are not
"clickable" in Google Maps; this may allow very complex maps to load a bit
faster. Both new items are in the "advanced" track options. Garmin Edge raw .dat
files [07/25/10] Support has been added for the raw .dat files that are found in
a Garmin Edge's file system when it's connected to your computer (e.g.,
"/Garmin/History/Laps/1/Lap1.dat"). Turns out they're a lot like .tcx files, but
with a bit less information in them. MapMyIndia .bin files [07/19/10] GPS
Visualizer can now read binary tracklogs produced by "MapMyIndia" GPS devices.
Facebook [07/12/10] There is now a GPS Visualizer page on Facebook. In the
future, updates that are posted down here will also go on the Facebook page. To
get GPSV updates on your Facebook feed, be sure to click the "Like" button.
GPSed files [07/09/10] GPS Visualizer now supports binary .gpsed files from the
"GPSed" BlackBerry app. Wintec WBT-202 .TES files [06/07/10] GPS Visualizer now
supports binary tracklogs (with a .tes suffix) from the Wintec WBT-202 Bluetooth
Data Logger. About GPSV [05/15/10] There is finally a page where you can learn a
little bit about GPS Visualizer. Canmore .logg files [05/06/10] A bit of code
has been added that allows GPS Visualizer to read decompressed .logg files
produced by Canmore GPS loggers -- for example, the Canmore GT-730F(L). Jeppesen
FliteStar .fpl files [04/26/10] GPS Visualizer can now read XML files exported
from Jeppesen FliteStar flight-planning software. These files normally have a
.xml or .fpl extension. Note that FliteStar's route packs (binary .rpk files)
are not supported. "Link to this view" in the sandbox [04/15/10] The Freehand
Drawing Tool ("The Sandbox") now has a link in the lower-right corner that you
can click on to get a URL that will take you back to the same view later. This
could be helpful if you want to show a specific location to a friend, using the
background map of your choice. Label alignment in Google Maps [03/29/10] A minor
but potentially useful new feature for power users: in addition to label_offset,
you can now specify label_left or label_centered to adjust the position of
permanent labels on markers in Google Maps. See the waypoint tutorial for more
on customizing and fine-tuning Google Maps. Chrysler MyGig .wpt log files
[03/15/10] GPS Visualizer can now detect and read ".wpt" files from the MyGig
navigation system in Chrysler/Dodge vehicles. (Despite the waypoint-like
filename suffix, these are actually time-stamped tracklogs.) New Magellan binary
formats [03/14/10] Support has been added for a couple of new file formats that
come from the SD cards in Magellan GPS devices: ".bin" files from Magellan
Roadmate GPS (which are really just standard NMEA data wrapped up in some binary
junk); and ".pvt" files from Magellan Maestro GPS units. For the .pvt files,
only latitude and longitude are supported so far; more sample data is needed
before the other fields can be confidently decoded. Newer, bigger Garmin icons
[02/21/10] When you create a Google Map from files created by Garmin's software
(Garmin Mapsource, Garmin Road Trip, etc.), GPS Visualizer uses Garmin's actual
icons whenever possible. Until now, the icons used have been the ones displayed
on the GPSMAP series of devices, but now you have to option to either use the
small 16x16 icons from GPSMAP (), or the newer, larger 24x24 icons that come
with the newer versions of Garmin's applications (). Look in the "advanced"
section of the waypoint section of the Google Maps form to enable the larger
icons if you want them. Easier-to-edit Google Maps [02/15/10] Some more
behind-the-scenes changes have been made to the way GPS Visualizer builds Google
Maps. The appearance of the maps themselves hasn't changed, but the JavaScript
commands that build the various configurable options are formatted differently.
In the new format, they take up a little more room but should be a little easier
to follow, and there are more helpful comments at the end of each line, in case
you want to edit the HTML yourself. Cross/plus waypoint icons [01/12/10] Google
Maps created by GPS Visualizer now have a new set of icons available for
waypoint markers: crosses (or plus signs, or crosshairs, or whatever you want to
call them; they look like this: ). They're available in any color and opacity.
Dates included in profile labels [01/05/10] A minor update to the profile
utility: if you use "time" as one of the axes and your data spans more than 36
hours, the date will be included in the gridline labels. UTM Coordinates
[12/16/09] GPS Visualizer now supports UTM coordinates in plain-text input. Just
be sure to label the columns correctly; you need one for UTM Zone, one for
Easting, and one for Northing. The ellipsoid will be assumed to be WGS-84. If
you convert from plain-text to plain-text, the output file should contain both
latitude/longitude and UTM coordinates, which may be helpful. More input formats
[12/14/09] Support for several GPS data file formats has been added in the last
couple of days, including: MapAsia MapKing track logs (.ppg or .tr7 files);
MemoryMap (.mmo files); Nokia Sports Tracker XML export files; and a weird old
Garmin text format whose header begins with "Garmin:Trk:L001". Northstar
waypoints [12/10/09] GPS Visualizer can now read waypoint databases (possibly
named "NSTAR_DB.DAT") from Northstar marine GPS systems; the files are a
modified NMEA format where each line begins with "". Routes in these files
(which are basically lists of waypoints) should be supported as well.
Bearing/distance calculator [12/09/09] The Calculators page now includes a form
that will tell you the latitude and longitude of a point at a given distance and
bearing from another point. FlightAware track logs [11/29/09] FlightAware is a
Web site that tracks commercial airline flights and allows you to see a "track
log" of any given flight. If you select the text in a table containing track log
data on flightaware.com, you can paste it into GPS Visualizer's input forms to
map it, see it in Google Earth, or convert it to GPX. Supplying the URL of a
FlightAware tracklog page will work too. Excel 2007-2008 (.xlsx) files
[11/24/09] You can now upload newer Microsoft Excel .xlsx files to GPS
Visualizer. However, copying and pasting from your worksheet into the input
forms is still quicker and easier in many cases! Fugawi .trk files [11/23/09]
GPS Visualizer can now read binary track log files (.trk) from Fugawi navigation
software. Time stamps may or may not work properly, depending on the version.
Garmin Nuvi track logs [11/06/09] Many models in the Garmin Nüvi series of GPS
devices have the ability -- via either an obvious menu or some button-pressing
voodoo -- to store a raw GPS track log. These files, typically called "gps.bin"
in the device's file system, can now be read by GPS Visualizer. (See GpsPasSion
for a thorough discussion about these tracklogs and how to enable and access
them on your Nüvi.) Garmin GPS Custom Maps [10/14/09] Some small
behind-the-scenes changes have been made to the way KML overlays are created, to
allow them to be used as Garmin Custom Maps with Garmin's latest handheld GPS
devices (Oregon, Colorado, and Dakota series); this will allow you to easily
load topographic maps, among others, onto your Garmin device. There is also a
new Garmin-optimized version of the network link/plug-in that creates overlays
from within Google Earth. Sonocaddie golf GPS files [10/04/09] GPS Visualizer
can now read .bin files from Sonocaddie devices, which record your track on a
golf course. Note that the files must retain the default name of
"RecordTrack.bin" or "RecordShotTrack.bin" for GPS Visualizer to recognize them
as Sonocaddie files. Axis titles on profiles [09/24/09] A long-overdue option
has been added to the profile input form: the names of the X and Y axes (e.g.,
"Distance" and "Elevation") can be printed below and to the left, respectively,
of the graph. Drawing the axis labels is the new default behavior; if you want
to turn them off, open the "advanced options" in the General Parameters section.
Star icons on Google Maps [09/23/09] A new star-shaped icon has been added to
the collection of built-in icons that can be used in Google Maps. The list of
recognized symbols is now: circle, square, triangle, diamond, star, cross, pin,
airport, camera, googlemini, googleblank, google, & blankcircle. Of course, as
always, you can also supply the URL of a graphic on the Web, but keep in mind
that only the built-in ones can be colorized or made semi-opaque. OpenCycleMap
global topos [09/20/09] In Google Maps created by GPS Visualizer, you can now
select map tiles from OpenCycleMap.org as the background. TMQ C-Plot .usr/.mrk
files [09/19/09] GPS Visualizer can now read marine waypoint/marker files
generated by TMQ's "C-Plot" software; these files have a suffix of .usr or .mrk.
Support for C-Plot tracklogs should be coming soon. Filters in dynamic data
[09/14/09] When you create a Google Map using dynamically-loaded data (e.g.,
from a Google Spreadsheet), you can apply filters that will only cause some of
the data to be read from the source document. For example, you can only let in
the first X or last X markers (e.g., first:10 or last:2), or you can filter on
any data field using text-matching patterns (e.g.,
filter:{field:'name',pattern:'[A-M]'}). This filtering needs to be applied by
editing the map's HTML after it's been created, so contact me if you have
questions on how to set it up. Clickable tracks [09/06/09] In Google Maps
created by GPS Visualizer, you can now click on tracks and polygons to see their
name and description (if they have one). Note that unlike some other
improvements, this one is not retroactive; maps created before today will not
have clickable polylines. Custom icon defaults [08/27/09] In the Google Maps and
Google Earth input forms, you can now specify the URL of a graphic on the Web as
your default marker icon. (Just keep in mind that in Google Maps, you can't
apply a color to a custom icon.) Select "custom icon" from the bottom of the
marker icon drop-down menu, and a box will appear where you can enter the URL of
your image. GPSMeter .gpm files [08/12/09] GPS Visualizer can now read .gpm
files from GPSMeter PDA, an application for measuring areas and lengths with a
GPS-enabled PDA or mobile phone. GPSLogger .gpl files [07/26/09] GPS Visualizer
can now directly read raw files from GPSLogger, a track-logging application for
Blackberry devices. GPSLogger binary files have a suffix of ".gpl"; it's the
same file extension as DeLorme tracklogs, but GPS Visualizer can detect the
difference in the structure of the files. WKT polygons [07/23/09] Support has
been added for text files containing the "POLYGON" command from the WKT
(Well-Known Text) markup language, which is apparently used to pass information
around between various GIS systems. Note that only polygons are supported so
far; more WKT support may be added if there is demand for it. USGS NED elevation
data [07/01/09] There's a new choice in the "Add DEM elevation data" menus in
GPS Visualizer conversion and profile utilities: The USGS's 24-gigabyte
"National Elevation Dataset." It only covers the United States, but in many
cases it seems to be more accurate than the SRTM data, and more importantly,
there are no "holes" in the coverage. Read more about elevation data. Open
Street Maps [06/16/09] When you draw a Google Map with GPS Visualizer, you can
now choose road map tiles from OpenStreetMap.org as the background; supposedly,
in some areas, they have more detail than Google's street data. Multi-stop
Google routes [05/26/09] GPS Visualizer can now draw complete maps and elevation
profiles from Google Maps URLs that reference multiple destinations. (Due to a
bug in Google's KML output functions, previously only the first leg of the trip
would be mapped.) Just plan your trip in Google Maps, then click the "Link"
button to get a URL that you can paste into GPS Visualizer's input forms.
Geocoder updated [04/02/09] GPS Visualizer's "Quick Geocoder" now uses
JavaScript for faster results from Google and Yahoo, and displays results on a
map so you can double-check the location of the address you entered. New file
types supported [03/27/09] GPS Visualizer can now read files from Furuno NavNet
3D (*_wpt.csv waypoint files, *_trk.csv track files, and *_rte.csv route files);
from Silva Multi-Navigator (.cwp waypoint files, .ctr track files, and .crt
route files); and .nav files from some unknown GPS logger (they're usually
called "gps_log.nav" or "gpsdata.nav"; if you know the source, please tell me).
Elevation data installed [03/06/09] Thanks to a much bigger hard disk on the new
server, GPS Visualizer is now hosting 70 gigabytes of worldwide digital
elevation data from NASA, which can be plugged into your data upon request. Look
for the "Add SRTM elevation data" menu in the profile, conversion, and Google
Earth input forms, or read more on the Elevation Lookup Utility page. New
server! [03/02/09] GPS Visualizer is now running on a new Linux server. It's not
orders of magnitude better than the old setup, but it's definitely faster and
has 4 times as much memory; hopefully those midday overloads will a bit be less
frequent. Tracklist zoom links [02/01/09] It's a minor detail, but "track lists"
in Google Maps now include a small icon by each track's name that allows you to
zoom in on that track. (Clicking the track's name still toggles the track's
visibility.) Map-enabled geocoder [01/30/09] The multiple-address geocoding
utility now shows a progress map while it's finding your locations. It also has
the ability to use Google again. Locate-GPS CSV export [12/26/08] GPS Visualizer
can now handle the bizarre .csv export files from locate-gps.com, the online
service associated with tracking devices such as the Espace Mobilité "Locate
Box" or the Flextrack "Lommy." iGO 8 files [12/18/08] Tracklogs (.trk files)
from Nav-N-Go's "iGO" software for Windows Mobile devices are now able to be
detected and read by GPS Visualizer's mapper and converter. Geosetter track logs
[12/10/08] Geosetter tracklogs (.gst files) are now supported by GPS Visualizer.
Dynamic GPX example [09/26/08] A side effect of GPS Visualizer's new-found
ability to read data dynamically (e.g., from Google Spreadsheets) is the ability
to read KML and GPX files on the fly; there's an example map that reads tracks
and waypoints from a GPX file. NoniGPSPlot track logs [08/27/08] Track logs
(.ngt files) from the PocketPC program NoniGPSPlot are now supported by GPS
Visualizer. Google Docs spreadsheets [07/01/08] You can now supply the URL of a
"Google Docs" spreadsheet as input for a Google Map. When the spreadsheet is
updated, the map will be updated! See an example here; to try it with your data,
paste its location into the "URL that will be loaded into the map dynamically"
box in the Google Maps input form. (And make sure your spreadsheet is
"published," preferably using the "auto-publish" feature.) Note that if you want
to use data from a Google Spreadsheet but DON'T want the map to be dynamically
updated, you can supply its URL in the "static data" box. Google Maps marker
folders [06/17/08] When you enable a "marker list" in a Google Map (look for
"Generate list of waypoints" in the form), you can now group the markers into
"folders" in the list by simply providing a "folder" field in your input data.
An example map is here. Synthesized "desc" fields [06/06/08] A new input widget
for "power users": Using the "synthesize descriptions" box under the map form's
Advanced Waypoint Options, you can build a description field for points that
don't have one! For example, if your data has columns labeled "x", "y", and "z",
you could enter this into the description synthesis box: coordinates =
{latitude}, {longitude} <br> x = {x} <br> y = {y} <br> z = {z} -- this would
cause each bit of info to go on its own line, thanks to the HTML <br> (line
break) tags. There's no limit to how much stuff you can load into a description;
just insert existing field names by surrounding them in {curly brackets}, and
include any HTML tags you want. (Note that any existing "desc" field you may
have supplied will be overwritten, although you can use it in the new
description by including {desc}; this might be useful to, for example, quickly
apply a style or color to all descriptions.) This new feature should be easier
than having to dump your data into Excel and building text formulas. Google Maps
marker filters [05/28/08] This is sort of an advanced feature, as it involves
editing the HTML of your maps after GPS Visualizer creates them, but it's
potentially very useful: you can use the new GV_Filter_Waypoints_With_Text
JavaScript function to filter markers on a map based on their name, description,
or color. To see how it works, look in the source of this example page, and feel
free to drop me a note if you have questions. Tracks in custom folders
[04/24/08] A small update to last month's "custom folders" feature: you can now
use a "folder" field put both tracks AND waypoints into custom folders in a
Google Earth file. Google Earth custom folders [03/07/08] It's a small thing,
but it may come in handy for some people: you can now supply a "folder" column
in your raw waypoint data, and GPS Visualizer will use that field to group your
points into folders in Google Earth. 3-digit ZIP codes [02/26/08] You can now
plot ZIP codes (and Canadian postal codes) using only the first three
characters, which could be very helpful for plotting information using the data
form. Note that GPS Visualizer will not automatically truncate and compile
5-digit ZIPs; you must reduce them before uploading. (It's easy to do it in
Excel.) Google Maps tickmarks [12/06/07] Distance- or time-based tickmarks in
Google Maps now show the direction you were traveling at that point, indicated
by a small triangular icon. Look for "tickmark interval" in the advanced track
options. Freehand drawing tool [12/04/07] This is an interesting new utility,
still in the experimental stage: the Freehand Drawing Utility (a.k.a., "The
Sandbox") lets you click on a map to create tracks and waypoints, which can then
be saved as GPX or KML files. It's also handy for exploring alternate background
imagery (e.g., USGS topo maps) using a Google Maps interface. Easily editable
Google Maps [11/29/07] You've always been able to edit the HTML source of Google
Maps created by GPS Visualizer to make them meet your specifications, but it's
much easier now. Most of the parameters you'd want to change are in an
easy-to-edit list in the guts of the page. Google Maps BG opacity [10/05/07] You
can now alter the background opacity in Google Maps; this could be very helpful
for creating maps that are intended for printing. And despite the fact that this
is the first "news" item in almost 4 months, smaller updates are happening all
the time... Directional KML icons [06/15/07] Icons in KML files can be rotated,
so distance/time tickmarks in Google Earth are now much more useful. (Instead of
a circle, they are now represented by arrows pointing the appropriate
direction.) You can also manually rotate any waypoint's icon by including a
"rotation" field in your plain-text data. Automatic geotagging [04/12/07] GPS
Visualizer can now assign coordinates to time-stamped waypoints that have no
latitude and longitude, as long as you provide other valid time-stamped data
(such as a tracklog) from which the waypoints' locations can be
interpolated/extrapolated. This may be very helpful for things like mapping
digital photos. Address distances [03/21/07] New on the Geographic Calculators
page: the ability to find the great-circle distance between two addresses.
(Before, you needed to enter a latitude and longitude for each point.) Elevation
lookups [03/13/07] A new, experimental Elevation Lookup Utility is online, which
takes pairs of coordinates and adds elevation data from NASA's Shuttle Radar
Topography Mission via a remote Web service. Easy Batch Geocoder [03/01/07] GPS
Visualizer is now home to a JavaScript-based Batch Geocoder, which lets you
geocode a whole pile of addresses -- using either Yahoo or Google's geocoding
API -- without the intervention of GPS Visualizer's server. Canadian postal
codes [02/26/07] The server now includes a database of Canadian postcodes, so
looking up codes in Canada should be quite a bit faster now. (Before, you could
do it, but it was slow because they had to be fetched from a remote site.)
Donations to offset the cost of the new data would, of course, be much
appreciated! Globalsat & iBlue support [02/26/07] GPS receivers by both
Globalsat (DG-100) and Transystem (iBlue 727, 737, 747, 757) come with software
that produces strange output files, but GPS Visualizer can now (hopefully)
sensibly read the .csv track files that each produces. Excel files [02/07/07]
GPS Visualizer can now read .xls spreadsheet files from Microsoft Excel. Of
course, a header row is still required. Garmin icons [01/28/07] If you draw a
Google Map using a file that came from Garmin MapSource or a Garmin receiver,
GPS Visualizer will now attempt to display the Garmin icons that you applied to
your waypoints. To turn this feature off, say "No" to "Preserve waypoint colors
and symbols" in the advanced waypoint options. Forerunner .TCX files [01/25/07]
GPS Visualizer now supports the latest XML format generated by Garmin's
"Training Center" software: .tcx files. The Forerunner splitter can read them
too. New input formats [12/04/06] A couple of new formats have been added to the
list of file types that GPS Visualizer recognizes: plain-text track logs from
Jeppeson Flightdeck, and "course files" (.crs) from Garmin's Training Center
software. Customized spectrums [11/05/06] You can now specify the starting and
ending hues of the colorization spectrum on your maps and profiles. This means,
for example, that you could set minimum values to green and maximums to red,
instead of always going from red to magenta (which is still the default, of
course). Enable "advanced track options" to see the new hue controls. Tutorials
[09/20/06] A set of tutorials is now available that will show you the best way
to organize your data for upload to GPS Visualizer. They're not complete yet,
but they'll be added to over time. Google Maps improvements [09/15/06] Two
notable updates: (1) When you draw a track on a Google Map, GPS Visualizer can
automatically reduce the number of points in a way that won't seriously alter
the shape of the track. (2) Tracks are now hidden when "off-screen." Both of
these improvements should result in slightly faster performance with Google
Maps. Google marker lists [09/07/06] When you create a Google Map that includes
waypoints ("markers"), GPS Visualizer can now automatically generate a list of
markers; mouseover or click on the list items to identify the markers on the
map. .ZIP input [08/22/06] You can now upload zipped (.zip) or gzipped (.gz)
files to the map forms. New server [06/02/06] GPS Visualizer now has its own
server. Of course, having a dedicated server isn't cheap, so keep those
donations coming! Topographic Google Maps [05/06/06] This is huge: you can now
use USGS topographic maps with Google Maps. The USGS 1m black-and-white aerial
photos are also available, as are NRCan/Toporama maps for Canada. Easy geocoder
[05/01/06] The address converter page now has a Quick Geocoder for finding the
coordinates of a single location (street address, city, ZIP code, airport)
without having to worry about the formatting. Google Maps point labels
[04/26/06] Thanks to the "ELabel" function at Mike Williams' very helpful Google
Maps API Tutorial, you now have the option to display permanent waypoint labels
on Google Maps. Google Earth overlay plugin [03/13/06] There is now a GPS
Visualizer Network Link for Google Earth that allows you to download static KML
overlays (aerial photos, topo maps, etc.) of your current position. Yahoo! Maps
[03/03/06] Yahoo! Maps can now be created with GPS Visualizer; unfortunately,
tracks are not supported yet, but waypoints are. KML overlays [02/23/06] There's
a new utility that creates alternate overlays for use with Google Earth. That
means USGS aerial photography and topo maps for the entire U.S., as well as
NRCan maps for Canada and daily satellite views of the whole world. Updated the
help file [02/14/06] The documentation about all the options available in GPS
Visualizer's map forms has been updated again; it now includes many of the
Google Maps and Google Earth parameters. (This is the help file that pops up
when you click on the little help icons next to the map form input widgets.)
Legends in Google Maps [01/29/06] Now, when you choose colorization in a Google
Map, you can also get a legend showing what the colors mean; the legend can be
moved around, plus you can click on the track names to hide or show them. Google
colorization [01/20/06] Tracks drawn in Google Maps and Google Earth can now be
colorized by altitude/elevation, speed, heading, etc. It actually works very
well with Google Earth KML files (even though each track must be broken into
innumerable individual placemarks to allow for different colors), but it can be
slow in Google Maps, so be careful. Airport database [12/14/05] You can now
enter waypoints as 3- or 4-character airport codes. Also, the geographic
calculators page supports airport codes in the Great Circle Route and Range
Rings forms. Google Earth [11/13/05] GPS Visualizer can create Google Earth KML
files from your data. Please let me know how it works. Google maps [11/07/05]
GPS Visualizer can now plot your data using Google Maps. GPS Babel [11/03/05]
GPS Visualizer is now home to an on-line interface to the freeware program
GPSBabel. It'll come in handy if you have data that's in a format that GPS
Visualizer's map form doesn't support (e.g., Garmin Mapsource binary files).
JPEG output [05/19/05] GPS Visualizer can now draw maps in JPEG and PNG format
in addition to SVG. Just choose "JPEG" or "PNG" from the "Output format" menu on
the map input form. See the FAQ for the pros and cons of SVG vs. JPEG.
Calculators [04/15/05] There's now a stand-alone page with some useful
geographic calculators on it. For now, you can convert between decimal degrees
and degrees/minutes/seconds and draw the great circle route between two points.
More to come later.



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