This is another custom map tutorial which I believe will help many users who have access to USGS maps using USAPhotoMaps or has access to any other referenceable map source.  As with the other tutorials, all the software can be found in the downloads area.  The example files in this tutorial are also in the download section. You'll need USAPhotoMaps, Mapedit and OziExplorer.  Obviously for compiling the maps.

Unlike the first tutorial, this one is going to focus on better map construction.  The running of CGPSMap is better covered in the other tutorial.  Here we will cover taking a map, aligning it and then placing the information from the paper or digital map into files ready for CGPSMapper (for input to MapSource).

Step 1. Gather A Good Map

To begin, we start out much the same way as we did in the last tutorial.  We want to load up USAPhotoMaps and this time get a Topo map up on your screen.

Obtain a map of the area that you want to work with.  For those of you looking to do this outside of the US, look for any good Topo map that you know the coordinates to.  If you look in the top title bar of this photo you'll see that the WGS84 coordinates are listed there.  In USA Photo Maps wherever the mouse pointer is pointing is exactly where the coordinates are.  You'll need this information when we align the map in OziExplorer.  In USAPhotoMaps export the file to a .JPG and then convert this to a .BMP file.  (Easily done with Microsoft Paint).  Then record the coordinates of the upper left and lower right of some area on the map.  Preferably the Upper Left and Lower right of the whole image.  In this example though we are only mapping a small area.

Step 2. Align The Map with Coordinates

This next step becomes a little tricky and of course is subject to some error.  How much precision you need is up to you.  I believe that for most end user maps you'll have enough precision in the following explained map calibration.

At this point you should have your .BMP and coordinates ready for OziExplorer.  Load up the software and now select the option to load and calibrate a map.  The shareware version allows you to do this without any registration.  You should register the software if you intended on using this software.  Registration also allows you to calibrate with more than 2 points which increases your accuracy.

You will be presented with an open file dialog to open your .BMP file.  OziExplorer can read other formats but the shareware version is limited to BMP files so we used that in this demonstration.  Select your BMP file and it will load and display on the screen in OziExplorer.

Next step is to calibrate the map.  Refer to those points where you obtained the coordinates for.  If you are doing this without a USAPhotoMaps you'll need to know the WGS84 coordinates for an upper right and lower left corner of the map. 

Start by picking the first point on the map to calibrate.  OziExplorer allows you to see a zoom of just what's under the mouse.  Make sure you click on the spot as accurately as possible of where you're going to calibrate the map from.  You'll then need to take this information and enter it into the calibration tabs on the right (and shown right) of OziExplorer.

You'll also need to do the exact same thing with the lower right section and using the tab 2 of the calibration tool enter the proper coordinates for the area.

This will then give you a calibrated map from which to work from in MapEdit.  You'll need to save this as a .MAP file to a directory for Map Edit. 

Note that this calibration is important to make as accurate as you need it.  By not properly calibrating it you could end up 50 or more feet off from where you think an object or a landmark, etc.  While this is not very important in a trail map, it is very important if you want to use this for boating or any other navigation.  As always you take full responsibility for your maps!

Step 3. Load Your Map Into MapEdit

This next step is easy, simply use the open/add from MapEdit and select an OziExplorer Map.  This will then load in the map that you just calibrated and put it right on the correct location.  The rest is easy.  Trace the map features you want.  Afterwards you can save the file and then use CGPSMap to compile the file and load it into your GPS. 

Example 1 - Map with regions traced over it

Example 2 - Map with solid polygons

These examples illustrate that you simply need to trace over what's already there on the Topo map.  You can add other things like your tracklog of trails to the same map then trace over those to give you local trails or other information not on the standard map.

Once this is completed you can then compile the information and load it into MapSource.  See the first tutorial for information on this. 

Here is a photo of the map as it looks in MapSource.

Questions?  Comments about this tutorial?  Post them in the forum.