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The Insider
Where on Eartha
After a brief summer break, the Where on Eartha Challenge is back. Thanks to all of you who responded to June’s challenge and to those of you who followed up wondering what happened in July and August. Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything!
Judging by the low response rate, identifying the capital city and country in the image in June was more difficult than usual. The correct response was Port-au-Prince in Haiti, which occupies the western section of the island of Hispaniola in the northern Caribbean. The first correct answer pulled from the hat was sent by Lary Eichel from the Geospatial Solutions Group of the Essex Corporation/Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. For his efforts, Lary will receive a copy of the newly released XMap 5.2 Professional along with an Earthmate USB GPS receiver.
This month we visit a country whose coastline is inundated with countless estuaries and river channels. If you know the name of the country and its capital city, write them in an e-mail and send it to contest@delorme.com before September 30, 2007. The person who sends the randomly selected response containing the correct answer will win a copy of XMap 5.2 Professional and an Earthmate USB GPS receiver.
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To order 14.25-meter resolution satellite imagery for use within XMap 5.2, click here.
To find out more about XMap please visit us at www.xmap.com.
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Upgrade to XMap 5.2 for free
XMap_PN.jpg) XMap 5.2 contains two key enhancements over XMap 5.0: it allows the exchange of maps and data with DeLorme’s Earthmate GPS PN-20 and it now installs on computers running the Windows Vista® operating system.
XMap 5.0 users can upgrade to XMap 5.2 for free by clicking on the update link in the NetLink tab and following the instructions to receive your upgrade (normal delivery charges apply). Because of the size of the installation package and because the XMap 5.2 disk includes pre-cut map datasets for use with the PN-20, a downloadable upgrade is not available.
The upgrade path noted above will not provide XMap 4.5 or earlier users with XMap 5.2 capability. XMap 4.5 users and users of previous XMap releases can purchase XMap 5.2 here.
All of your existing XMap projects, routes, draw files, OpenSpace GIS layers, base map datasets and other XMap files will be retained during the upgrade process and will be fully compatible with version 5.2 of XMap.
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Get the Most Out of Your Mapping Technology Investment with a Custom Training Program
While many XMap users are able to get up and running with a little assistance from the included Help system, there are those who prefer to learn about the various features and functions, along with a few tips and tricks, by attending a training program hosted by DeLorme.
We can deliver training at your location, at DeLorme headquarters in Yarmouth, Maine, or online. The training agenda and schedule are arranged on a case-by-case basis and the content of each program is uniquely adapted to meet the individual needs of those in attendance.
XMap users who have recently taken advantage of the training service offered by DeLorme include Debenham Energy, Compass South Inc., and the Maine State Police.
For more information on training options click here or e-mail training@delorme.com.
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XMap Developments
DeLorme Releases XMap 5.2 GIS Enterprise
DeLorme is pleased to announce the release of the XMap® 5.2 GIS Enterprise suite with GPS map and data exchange capability that puts aerial imagery, recent topographic maps, and GIS layers in the palm of your hand.PN20Glove_poster.jpg)
This latest XMap release supports the unique Earthmate® GPS PN-20 color-screen receiver. The PN-20 delivers a unique array of data layering and display features that are indispensable for remote navigation, field data collection, and updating GIS data files.
You can download Aerial Data Packets (black & white DOQQ, USGS Topographic Quads, and SAT10 sattellite imagery) and color aerial imagery from DeLorme or load your own raster files in MrSID or GeoTIFF formats. Any of these datasets can be transferred to the PN-20 for use in the field. The device’s transflective TFT bright color screen provides crystal clear resolution in any light conditions.
“Aerial imagery has gained a higher profile in recent years, thanks in part to the emergence of online viewing tools,” said Geoffrey Ives, Director of Professional Sales at DeLorme. “The PN-20, when used with XMap 5.2, offers access to much of that imagery in a mobile handheld GPS receiver. This imagery is often freely downloadable from government agencies and organizations in MrSID or GeoTIFF format.”
“With high-resolution imagery on the PN-20, from DeLorme or online sources, you will be able to accurately identify visible assets and map critical locations on a device that fits in your pocket. Now you don’t need to be tied to your desk to appreciate the value of an aerial image for your mapping and GIS work.”
Beyond its GPS interoperability, XMap 5.2 GIS combines high-end spatial data management capabilities with exceptional affordability and ease of use. It is an ideal choice for a variety of users ranging from large corporations or government agencies to small businesses or municipal offices.
XMap continues to grow in popularity across a broad spectrum of GIS market segments, including energy and telecom (gas, oil, wind, solar, electric, cellular) water and natural resource management (wardens, foresters, civil engineers, surveyors), public safety (first responders, emergency managers, crime analysts), government agencies, business (sales and marketing), real estate, and insurance.
To learn more, request a risk-free trial, or upgrade immediately, call DeLorme Professional Sales at 800-293-2389 or click here.
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XMap Q&A
I noticed on the DeLorme Web site that the Earthmate GPS PN-20 can be bundled with either Topo USA 6.0 or XMap 5.2. What is the difference between these two software options and why should I choose XMap?
You can use both XMap 5.2and Topo USA to transfer maps and data to and from the PN-20; however, there are key differences between these two software packages that reflect the intended use for each product.
Nest_Sites_PN.jpg) Topo USA was developed as a recreational mapping software product and it excels for such applications as hiking, biking, hunting, and off-road navigation. Combined with the PN-20, it offers a powerful set of tools for planning and undertaking virtually any backcountry adventure.
XMap, which includes all of the features and functions of Topo USA, was designed specifically to meet the needs of the professional user and it achieves this by offering several mechanisms for integrating third-party data into the software. For example, all versions of XMap include the ability to geocode an address database that places a user-selected symbol on the map at the location of each record. These symbols can also be displayed on the PN-20.
XMap offers access to vast collections of aerial imagery that are often freely available for download from online GIS data archives. The most common formats for delivery of these datasets are MrSID and GeoTIFF, both of which can be added as map layers within any version of XMap and subsequently transferred to the PN-20. Available data can often be located using an online search or by contacting a local or state GIS department.Parcels_PN.jpg)
The ImageReg tool in XMap allows scanned or digital versions of paper maps to be registered or aligned to the appropriate location. Once again, this raster data layer can be copied and sent to the PN-20.
The two higher-level versions of XMap 5.2, GIS Editor and GIS Enterprise, provide the means for importing and managing GIS or CAD data layers, which again are often freely available for download. You can edit, classify, symbolize, query, and perform spatial analysis on these layers, allowing you to develop your own personal vector map library for display on the PN-20. You can easily download field-collected point or track data from the PN-20 and use it to create additional GIS layers within XMap.
As the name implies, Topo USA is a U.S.-focused mapping product. However, because of its ability to import or integrate a wide variety of spatial data, XMap allows the PN-20 to display maps and imagery for literally anywhere on earth.
If you intend to use the PN-20 for professional applications, you should choose the appropriate version of XMap as a complementary software product.
For more questions and answers on XMap5.2 and the PN-20 click here.
If you have a question that you would like to have answered in the DeLorme Professional Newsletter XMap Q&A section, send it to newsletter@delorme.com with XMap Q&A in the subject line.
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Tab Tip – Creating a PN-20 Map Package in XMap 5.2
With the introduction of the Earthmate GPS PN-20, XMap takes on a significant new role. No longer is it just a desktop or laptop spatial data management tool, it now assumes the role of a map archive or library from which you can create and transfer custom maps to the PN-20 for viewing in the field.
Because of the extensive variety of map data PN_Options.jpg) types that can be displayed in XMap, the creation of map packages for the PN-20 offers several options for choosing the appropriate type of map.
Before beginning the process, and at the risk of stating the obvious, make sure that the map data that you want to transfer to the PN-20 is currently displaying in XMap. For instance a MrSID image will not be available if it is not listed in your current XMap project. For this reason, the first tab you should visit is the Map Data tab, where the contents of your project are managed.
Furthermore, any customizable datasets should be adjusted to your preferences before the map package is created. For example, GIS layers should have the desired symbolization applied as this cannot be changed on the device.
You select the geographic area to cut with XMap’s Handheld Export tab. Use either the search function or the manual selection tool to highlight the area of interest on the map. You can adjust the grid size to allow more precision during the selection process.
Before saving the map package, click the Options button and make sure the type or types of data you want to include are checked and that the zoom level range of each type is adjusted to your preferences. Note a single map package can include multiple types of data and you can adjust the layering sequence and visibility of this data on the PN-20. Alternatively, you can create individual map packages with a single type of map data in each. If the selected data type in Options is not available in the region selected on the map, the map package will not include it.
The following table describes what will be included in each dataset selection:
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Next month, we’ll discuss the options for efficiently exchanging maps and data with the PN-20.
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