road maps

by uconnlibrariesmagic

Integrating Mapping and Technology

Today, mapping is not just handwork of artists; time has revolutionized the technology, bringing about innovation that repeats to an unforeseen future. People no longer take pain drawing irregular curves and corners in maps using their pencils and sketches, rather they convert the digital images of geography into information tools and maps. In this scenario, discussing on reliable mapping technology like Photogrammetry is promising and incisive.

Photogrammetry, in general, is the latest available technology, which helps to shape, orient, size and position objects from numerous pictures taken at different angles. It is widely used in Geospatial arena to produce topographic maps, which includes both orthophoto maps and line maps. These maps help to determine the accurate position, height, width, orientation, and shape of geographical features. Pictures generated after photogrammetry are photochemical images or photoelectric images depending upon the photographic methods followed in the process. The output of photogrammetric analysis can be numbers, drawings, geometric models and images. Photogrammetry is used for different purposes, such as topographic mapping, architecture, engineering, manufacturing, quality control, investigation, and geology. This technique is employed to combine live action with computer generated imagery in movie post-production.

Photogrammetry process includes two key processes- Orthorectification and Remote Sensing. Orthorectification is the technology employed to transform the central projection of the photograph into an orthogonal view of the ground, thereby removing the distorting effects of tilt and terrain relief. Remote Sensing is used to acquire geospatial information about earth’s surface using the reflective and refractive properties of electromagnetic radiations (EMR). In a way, both are distinctive parts of photogrammetry offering the technology for substantiating map information.

The by-product of orthorectification process is orthoimage or orthophotos. Digital satellite images and aerial photographs play a vital role in general mapping, as well as GIS data acquisition and visualization. The orthorectification process provides you a solid visual effect and a basis for gathering spatial information.  The output generated would then enable you to do functions like making direct and accurate measurements of distances, angles, positions, and areas. Through remote sensing spectral, spatial, and temporal information about material objects, area, or phenomenon is acquired. In other words, remote sensing enables space information transfer without direct physical contact with the objects, or area, or phenomenon under investigation.

While these two technologies are nodal in photogrammetric services, there has been continuous improvement in the technologies used for mapping. The arrival of high speed desktop computers has made remarkable changes in the photogrammetric processes over the years. However, the basic principles have remained the same until this day. Today, a graphics program allows the operator to digitize the features and save the vectors and points to a digital file. The latest technologies used for photogrammetry services include Aerial triangulation, Digital Elevation Model (DEM)/ Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generation, Stereo compilation, Topographic and planimetric feature extraction, Orthophoto production, Color balancing, Mosaicing and tile generation, Pan Sharpening, Contour Generation, and LiDAR data processing.

Concisely, Photogrammetry helps to collate accurate information to topographic maps and thereby provide reliable resources for geographical studies. With the introduction of new-age fast processing systems and technological advancements, we can expect simplification of photogrammetric services and enhancement of Geospatial information System (GIS).

by nick_bl

GPS System – How GPS Improved Over the Years

Man has yearned to explore the world since time immemorial. Since the early days of human civilization, mankind has been able to derive awareness of the importance of knowing where they are. Man has been very keen in improving cartography until they could finally make a map of the whole world. Early sailors were able to pinpoint their location by observing the sky through stars. It was not long when the compass has been finally developed. Since its needle always points north, people will then have an idea where to go.

In modern times, the technology of navigation has come a long way. Scientists have learned that the exact location of an object by listening to radio frequencies. The first Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed in 1973 which is known as the Navstar GPS. So in 1978, the United States Department of Defense launched the first satellite until its full operational capability of the whole network is announced in 1995.

During this period, it was used as a guide by the US military for strategy formulation, combat and missile guidance. It was in 1983 when the use of the GPS system is made available to the public. At that time however, the accuracy of the GPS system was suffering from intentional interference of its signals by the military for security reasons which is known as Selective Availability. Such interference was removed in the year 2000 due to a growing demand for GPS systems.

So far, more than fifty satellites have been launched. Thirty one of them are currently orbiting the earth while twenty four are operational. Lately, the first IIR-M GPS-satellite was launched which provides better GPS performance for both civilian and military use.

GPS systems are widely used today for vehicle navigation. A substantial percentage of cars in the United States have a GPS receiver already installed while millions are made available in the market. In lieu of this, many private and public companies have been constantly making and updating road maps all over the world. GPS software updating is one of the most important industries of today to achieve the full benefit of GPS technology. Aside from mapping system, many features have been added to modern navigators. This includes the development of high sensitivity receivers in order to pick up signals even amid tall buildings, bridges, forests and steep terrain.

Voice enabled navigation systems offering turn by turn directions are also being availed of as a safety feature because looking at the GPS screen could be hazardous while driving a vehicle. Moreover, certain driving convenience features are offered by the market such as traffic detection and avoidance systems, speed limit warning system and lane guidance which could really help a driver to safely reach its destination. Some systems also have entertainment features such as DVD players, MP3s and hands free calling with Bluetooth technology.

Mankind has high hopes for the future. Thanks to GPS technology, everyone is now able to cope up with our fast paced development. The possibilities are limitless. We can now safely say that technology has enabled us to go anywhere we desire.

by Moskua

Antique Prints And Maps Auctions

There is something inherently intriguing about ancient maps. As a child, most of us have played games where we have imagined that we had found a map giving the location of hidden treasure. If only it were true! This may be one of the reasons that many people have a fascination for antique maps. The physical characteristics of the world may not have changed remarkably since map making began, but the political aspects most certainly have. Imagine being in possession of a pre-Columbus map that did not show the Americas correctly, now that would be a truly priceless antique. The technology involved in mapmaking is constantly improving but there is still a desire to own some of the earliest examples of cartography.

Unfortunately, just as there are millions of people who yearn to own a genuine antique map of Columbus’s expeditions or of the early astronomers’ guides to the stars there are just as many, if not more, people out to pass off a modern map as a genuine artifact. You do need to be extremely careful about researching the authenticity and provenance of these allegedly antique maps. This is undoubtedly the case if you want to purchase one of the more rare examples of cartography. This can only be achieved by hiring experts in the particular era that the map relates to. Many of the earliest maps were drawn on parchment that requires particular care and conditions to prevent it from being destroyed. Only national museums are lucky enough to house such treasures.

However, the greater majority of us simply want to buy a print of an old map to hang on a wall. We do not want a map because of its financial value but more because of its personal value. This type of print is far more easily obtainable and certainly more affordable. The most popular types of prints are those of maps relating to a city, county or state that family ancestors originated from. These can usually be found relatively easily and are on sale for a reasonable price. Of course, the paper is not going to be ancient parchment or manuscript, but placed in a good frame, they will certainly make conversation pieces at your next dinner party.

Auctions, both online and offline are fast becoming the most popular place to find prints of specific maps. You may also find that there are antique maps for sale if the owner has not sought advice on its genuine value, but that is becoming less common. In summary, you need to decide what price you are prepared to pay for a map, whether it is an original or a print. There is nearly always an option available to suit any budget to enable you to have an interesting piece of history on your wall. By far the best starting point for a new collector is to buy prints of maps, whether regional, global or astral. These can be bought from numerous outlets. Be warned, once you have begun collecting these fascinating pieces of history, you may find it difficult to stop. The only limit to the size and content of your potential collection is the amount of money that you are prepared to spend!

by thejourney1972 (TRAVELLING)

How to Write a Book Using a Road Map for Success

Everyday someone hops a train to start writing a book. Unfortunately as one person gets on the train to write a book there are several people who decide that it’s hopeless, they’ll never complete their book and get off the train.

My hope is that you will be the one who starts the journey of writing a book and stays on to completion. Staying on track to write a book is not without effort and diligence; even so you can do it with an easy road map (a system.) If you’re reading this article, I’m almost certain you’ll have to change your priorities, the times that you write and the amount that you write. This is why writing a book is so difficult for some because it requires you to change your priorities. Or at the least it requires you to move your book writing project to one of the top 3 priorities in your day.

Most of us, don’t want to change, we put our goal of writing a book at the bottom of our list and think voila, and someday soon I’ll have a book! In reality, this way it could be years before we reach our goal.

The people who get off the train of writing a book are most likely the ones who didn’t use a roadmap for success. They did not sit down and create a book writing plan. You must have a plan for your book writing; if you don’t then there’s no point in starting. You might be on a program that brings you close to finishing your book but because you didn’t have a plan or a practical goal you abandon it and say it was not working.

The road map for success in your book writing program is to have a specific, but sensible goal. Be specific about your book writing goal. Do not tell yourself that you would like to write a book by the end of this year. That is not a specific goal. You have not set a start date, you have not set an end date and you have not stated what book you would like to write.

A specific book writing goal is stating that you are going to start your book writing program on January 28th at 5:00 a.m. during which time you want to complete your 156-page book ’10 Ways to Stop Divorce Before It’s Too Late’ and it will end at midnight on June 30. Be as precise as you can. Now you have the beginning of the road map to start your book writing journey.

Your next step in this plan is to be practical. Your goals have to consist of a goal that can be achieved. If you state that you would like to write a book in the next few weeks working a couple of hours a week, you are setting yourself up for failure. Not only will you not achieve this goal but also it will cause you to possibly give up because your plan was unrealistic.

Start your book writing plan with a goal that you know you will be able to achieve if you just challenge yourself to achieve. Writing a book in 6 weeks working at least 20 hours a week is something you can do and you will not have to say good-bye to your family and become a hermit to achieve it.

Don’t wait any longer; begin your book writing journey with a road map. Start seeing yourself writing and completing a book by your end date. Before you know it, you’ll have a finished book in your hand all because you started with a road map to guide you to the finish line.

by cmpalmer

How to choose the gps maps for your auto?

At present, there are many kinds of gps maps. In this part, we will have a compare the most Well-knowned gps maps, they are IGO maps, Garmin maps, TomTom maps and Route66 maps.

IGO map

Most of user thinks IGO is really fast for navigation, especially if you live in Europe, iGO is the best. Now I’m pleasure to list some features for iGO8, then we could have a check, and choose the best one.

New Features

* Real 3D navigation with outstanding graphics of buildings, landmarks, and entire cities
* Two different user modes let the user interface fit your needs: with Simple mode the main functions are close at hand, while in Advanced mode you have access to the full functionality of the software
* Search for POIs anywhere, near certain locations or along the planned route to minimize the detour
* Have the whole route displayed on the map with a touch of a button, and check all relevant route information on a data screen
* Advanced POI management: Search, save, and load your own POIs and routes and share them on the Internet! (supporting Google Maps/Google Earth formats)
* Easy updating and extra content downloading with the help of the Content Manager application

Detailed description

Compatible with most mobile devices on the market, just plug in the SD card and go
iGO My way 8  gps software is available on a memory card with 3-in-1 adapter: full-size SD adapter, mini SD card and micro SD card providing universal compatibility with all devices, even with ultra-small mobile phones. It supports different screen resolutions and orientations including widescreen devices.

TMC support, speed-camera support
All of the European free TMC sources are integrated. When TMC information is available, it is possible to view the TMC events either on the map as icons or as a list on a dedicated traffic information listing. Your PDA device should have an integrated TMC reciever or external TMC aerial connected.

Real 3D navigation with outstanding graphics of buildings, landmarks, and entire cities
iGO My way 8 has separated 2D and 3D map visualization.

The full 3D visualization is including: road elevation, terrain elevation, 3D city maps, 3D landmarks. The 3D mode gives the driver a real-life driving experience directly onto the screen device. The space orientation becomes easier when on the screen the user can see picture-like buildings or outside the city when there are visible all landforms from the widest plains to the highest mountains harmoniously disposed.

The engine has a unique capability: it renders realistic and detailed 3D terrain up to 20 kilometres away seamlessly.

Two different user modes let the user interface fit your needs: with Simple mode the main functions are close at hand, while in Advanced mode you have access to the full functionality of the software
The Simple mode can be used intuitively, even without reading the manual. It contains the simplest commands to drive the user to the desired destination.
At the same time, a rich and powerful user interface capabilities are retained via an advanced mode. The Advanced mode is made for those picky users and gadget lovers who expect the best innovative features from their navigation devices.

Advanced POI management: Search, save, and load your own POIs and routes and share them on the Internet! (supporting Google Maps/Google Earth formats)
The users can add their own POIs into the User POI section, they have full flexibility to put the POIs on categories, and they can modify or delete them.
The POI search allows for searching around a position or also searching along the planned route. Search around a position can be around the current position or around any address.

More features

Improved rendering for complex 3D junctions
Terrain-shaded map
Country specific road-shield visualization
Multi-route planning with seamless border crossing
Better orientation on the map
Select route from Favorites
Load and save your routes
Detour function
Routing methods to review distance and time
Fit to screen – see your route on a full screen
Better voice guidance instructions, new voices
Visual warnings for restrictions
GPS data screen
Automatic switching between Day/Night modes
Automatic route planning
Screen orientation

Garmin map

You will have to decide between two types of maps. Road or Topo. Garmin sells both and you can use both in one unit. You can view the maps on the appropriate page (it matters what the initials are after Vista. If you go to a map page, you can select the view map tab and get a preview of what detail is on the map.

I have the road map and it works for most things but it does not have topo lines and some lakes are missing. It seems that there are too many lakes in Minnesota for the road map makers to collect all this “non-road” data. It also does not include the regionall (over 100 miles in our metro area) bike trails and no hiking trails.

The topo maps are based on the USGS maps and include all that informations.

Route 66 map

a. Detailed street information.

One user in Australia find that Route 66 maps offer much more detailed street information than that of TomTom and Destinator. In his neighborhood, he says, those small streets like Lennon Street in Parkville and Caprice Avenue in Port Melbourne can be found on Route 66 maps, but not on the other two maps. Although Route 66 has to make further efforts in offering much more detailed information in suburban areas, it is so far users’ first choice for detailed street information.

b. User-friendly address entry.

Users don’t have to enter the full name of a certain street. Instead, they just need to enter the first few letters of the street name, and Route 66 would automatically give them a list of street names to choose from. For example, if one wants to find “251 Salmon Street，Port Melbourne”, entering the main information “Sal 251 Melb” would just do.

c. Effective route planning and route management.

Route 66 proves itself to be a match for TomTom in this respect.

d. Fast route re-calculation.

Route 66 map system would get users re-calculate their route when they are no more than 10m off their original route.

f. Convenient phone numbers offered.

When one hits on a certain POI (points-of-interest), Route 66 map would show the company’s phone number. TomTom map does not have this function.

TomTom map

For this  gps map, I just skim their official website and find the features below.

We cross-check our map data with more than reliable 50,000 sources, including government agencies, satellite imagery and of course anonymous TomTom users’ journeys.

Our maps cover more than 27 million km of roads worldwide.

To date, users from around the world have created and shared over nine million Map Share corrections.

During an hour-long journey, a TomTom user typically encounters around 30 Map Share corrections.

We collect Map Share corrections and build them back into our maps.

IQ Routes has collected more than 800 billion speed measurements to date. This equals more than 15 million kilometres driven – or every road on our map being driven an average of 2000 times.

More than a billion new measurements are collected each day.

TomTom is the only satnav manufacturer able to do this, thanks to its millions of users connecting to HOME software every day.

HD Traffic covers more than 97% of UK motorways, slip roads, trunk roads and A roads. This is more than 10,000 km of roads than other traffic information providers, such as RDS-TMC.

HD Traffic gives you traffic updates up to five times more frequently than other providers. That means that instead of waiting up to 15 minutes to hear about a jam, you can be sure you’ll know about it within just three minutes.

TomTom offers wonderful route planning, but the map, drawing on Sensis sources, is not detailed enough; Destinator is detailed enough but is rather poor at route planning.

To choose the best  gps map for your auto, we should pay more attentions to the points below: detailed map information, route planning quality and search database.

by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts

Vintage Maps: Décor With Direction

Vintage Maps: Décor with Direction

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases;
It will never pass into nothingness;”
- John Keats

Maps have long enjoyed a special place in our heritage. Capturing the wayfaring spirit of the traveling adventurer, the intrigues of shifting kingdoms and political fiefdoms, the historical perspective and routes of our forefathers, and the unique colors and flavors of the world, maps offer what most pieces of vintage art do not—a romantic appeal to most everyone. With unique allure, maps can serve as focal centerpieces or merely serve as interesting accents. These attractive pieces of vintage art offer Old-World charm and captivate our fascination, even if for a brief moment, wherever they are placed, as conversation starters or as meaningful pieces with eternal appeal.

As a Design Feature

1799 Map of The World
Antique world maps encapsulate the essence of a changing world and provide unique pieces of historical romance and splashes of adventurous color to any room.

The vintage map is unique in its ability to mesh its design with virtually any type of design scheme, color palette, or enclosed space. Maps speak artfully across the ages of the desperation of esteemed ancestral émigrés, the derring-do of heroic explorers, the determination of military minds, and the doggedness of beleaguered cultures by framing time within man-made land boundaries and natural seascapes. The crisp graphics and subtle tints allow us to capture an entire era, a nation or a culture that has receded into the past but demands not to be forgotten.

The use of the vintage maps as a décor item allows us to capture a time and place which we may have never experienced directly or one that we wish to cherish as a memory. As the human lifespan extends, the length of our future makes the extent of our history seem all that more important. The vintage map can give us a starting point and a sense of direction contained in a clear and concise piece of art that will allow others to see the patterns of our personal or cultural history.

1716 Homann Map of The World
A double hemisphere map of the world by Johann Baptist Homann. Digitally retouched .

Universal Usage

Most everyone uses maps, and the vast majority of people do so with the single purpose of finding a proper route from where they are to where they want to go. In some cases, they even look to see where others have started and ended journeys. A select few, however, see the map as artistic design, perhaps even viewing it as the high expression of engraving and printing skills. Beginning in the 18th century, and well into the 20th, the wealthy, the powerful (and those aspiring to be) either used the bound, colored atlas as the centerpiece in the private library or sitting room in an attempt to demonstrate both acumen and urbanity. The cleverly displayed atlas was left open to a page denoting a recent travel experience, a troublesome current political event, or even a gloomy catastrophe in an effort to spark conversation.

Dynamic business leaders, determined politicians and high-ranking military officers have always used the imposing globe or impressive wall map to delineate the extent of their influence or the depth of their ambitions. Medieval and Renaissance governments and their commissioned discoverers kept maps as secret weapons to rile foes or foil rivals. Democratic societies distributed maps to their populations as a symbol of freedom while totalitarian regimes made maps, and the potential such documents gave for travel, off-limits to all but a few in the ruling echelons.

As an Artform

Vintage Map of Greece
Published in 1688 in Amsterdam. , originally printed on three sheets. Includes illustration of lion with enslaved human figures shown in embellished title cartouche. Views of fortified towns in outer margins.

Fortunately, maps have other uses beyond their function as travel aids. When maps first appeared on the walls of the powerful or in the atlases of the wealthy, the eye-catching beauty of the design and the power of the ability of paper and ink to evoke emotion were immediately apparent. Color, line, structure and even the calligraphy of maps could transcend the purpose for which they were originally intended. The tool became an art form unto itself. A map’s practical use could be made obsolete by war, politics or cataclysm, but the beauty of the design and quality of production gave a well-executed map an eternal appeal.

Evolution of Cartography

The first maps to be engraved, colored and printed for non-field use were produced for the most part as artworks, not as practical tools for navigators, engineers or armies on the march. In these display maps, the functional part of the chart often took up a minority of space with the majority being devoted to depicting the grandeur of the cartographer’s patrons or the novel landscapes and wondrous creatures supposedly to be found within the map’s boundaries. Other maps offered the pictorial histories of those who had traveled the depicted lands and seas. Until the 16th century, most maps had been individually hand drawn and illustrated with much the same care and artistic verve as could be found in medieval manuscripts. Just as books became mass-produced and mass consumed, so did maps, and in both cases the practical aspects of the product soon overwhelmed the artistic. Although today’s maps are far more accurate and the information infinitely more useful, modern collectors and interior designers look to the past for the finest examples of cartography for use in display or décor.

Bird’s Eye View Map of San Francisco
Published in 1876 by Currier & Ives.

The Allure

There has never been a time when people have traveled as often and as far as we do today. Everybody came from somewhere and most of us want to go somewhere else. The frequency and exigencies of travel often destroy our sense of time and distance but maps return this sensibility. We not only can recapture these sensations from our own travel experience but those of our ancestors and culture. Vintage maps allow us to display pride in our own accomplishments while linking them to our lineage. Like a shelf of richly bound classic texts, a well-framed map speaks as much about the owner’s worldliness as it does about taste. Few people today can decorate their walls with portraits of stately ancestors, but that does not mean one’s ancestry is not worth celebrating. A vintage map can say as much as a hall of portraits in far less space and in a much more subdued voice.

The Variety

The choices of décor maps are many, but the effect is the same. A city map of medieval Naples, a county map of revolutionary Cork, a regional map of Provence, a Civil War map of the United States or a 16th-century map of the New World are as much conversation starters as they are symbols of the owner’s perspective on life. Some are elaborately framed or shadow boxed to match a classical interior design while others are simply shielded by a glass panel to emphasize the graphic quality of the print. Whatever the presentation method, people are instantly drawn to these displays and it takes little to encourage the viewer’s historical opinions or personal travel experiences.

Any Design Scheme, Any Budget

An artful map presentation can be used in any room and with any design scheme or within any decorating budget. Maps can be printed in any size deemed suitable and serve as an affordable means of affecting a timeless sensibility to home or office. Properly presented maps focus the eye and the intellect with a subtle mixture of graphic excellence and historical perception. Like many other forms of art, the vintage map can reduce the world while expanding the mind.

Reprinted with Permission from StockMapAgency.com. StockMapAgency.com (http://www.stockmapagency.com) offers an extensive selection of vintage maps from the 15th to early 20th century available as a museum quality art print or digital download.

by Jyzz

How Do I Find the GPS Coordinates of a Location – Definition and Application of the GPS Map Coordinate

There are many coordinate systems available in mathematics. These aim at locating without ambiguity a given in regard to the origins of the coordinate system. Many coordinate systems are used in mathematics and physics. For instance, the Cartesian coordinate system and the polar coordinate system are used in science. The General Positioning System (GPS) makes use of coordinate systems based on the latitude and longitude tenets. The longitude of an object in the space is its angular distance (east or west) from a reference meridian, the Greenwich one for instance while the latitude is the angular distance (north or south) from the equator. In order to track an object in the space, we usually need its latitude as well as its longitude. For instance, as soon as a GPS device sends signals to a satellite positioned in the space, the satellite will work your exact coordinates before sending another signal to the receiver of your GPS device. Using this process, the GPS system can determine your exact position, heading and speed.

At the beginning, many GPS systems used to ask to the user to manually input his map coordinate. However, for people not knowing anything about mathematics or even about the suitable coordinate system to be used, they were quickly annoyed. In order to address this setback, GPS system vendors have founded a new way to automatically compute a map coordinate. This way, your GPS device will be assigned the right and suitable map coordinate for your given destination in order to work out your accurate location, speed and heading. However, users may still manually type the map coordinates if they fancy, but they should bear in mind that the device was designed to perform that difficult task. This accounts for its usefulness especially for traveling purposes. Being aware of all this information beforehand is a huge boon for your trip.

Exceptional mathematicians are still allowed to enter their customized GPS map coordinates. However, as the device can perfectly compute its best map coordinates, there is really no need to waste your time doing so. Nowadays, many GPS systems are able to work out map coordinates with a good precision. They can also provide you with useful information for your trip especially if you are heading to a place where you have never been. They can also download breaking news from a bunch of websites.

Due to the fact that GPS systems only work with longitude and latitude, you may need to know what these tenets stand for. You should also bear in mind that the map coordinates are worked out automatically by the device for you shortly when you switch your device on; therefore there is no need to reinvent the wheel! You will find that GPS systems are good travel companions.

Briefly speaking, coordinate systems are used to locate the position of an object in the space. The GPS technology makes use of longitude and latitude mathematical tenets to locate object in the space. Nowadays, many GPS devices offer the outstanding possibility to automatically compute the right GPS map coordinates for your specific destination. Therefore, there is no need to have excellent mathematical skills before enjoying your device. This is amazing, isn’t it?

by kendrak

Map for GPS Handheld – Getting New GPS Maps for Your Handheld Units

A lightweight and handheld General Positioning Satellite (GPS) device with the highest number of GPS maps installed is always helpful. Ideally, all these maps should be as accurate as possible with the most detailed information available for your trips so that it will become your perfect travel companion. Having several GPS maps in your handheld is a very good idea because of the increased capacity of storing all your journeys as well as tracking your vehicle during your trip.

A lightweight handheld GPS device usually has several built-in maps which are not customized to meet your specific needs. In order to fully enjoy a trip, having detailed information about your trip beforehand is a huge boon as it can avoid you getting lost and have a very unpleasant experience. For instance, you may wish to travel to a new place destination that is not covered in default built-in maps.

GPS maps for portable GPS devices are available at many repositories. You first stop should be the Internet where you can download a lot of free GPS maps ready to be installed in your handheld GPS device. Just looking at search engines like Google will return a lot of maps ready to be downloaded for free with a variety of destinations.

Traditional mounted GPS and handheld GPS equipments make use of the same maps although their size is different because of the actual size of their respective monitors. These maps are very well detailed for traditional browsing systems and also provide specific information in order to guide you through your trip. Hikers can find this information very handy as they may get lost in a forest.

Finally, having many GPS maps in your handheld can be a huge boon as we saw in previous sections. The first reason of this is the detailed information and news about your routes for your trips so that there is less possibility to get lost. GPS maps mobile units are used for several purposes especially in aviation. This technology has opened up a world of accurate navigation to every pilot. Modern handheld GPS units have full databases with easy updating using a plug-in chip or PC. A few of these models not only show you the way to the closest airport, a handy feature in times of an emergency, but even compute an approximate approach path from the extended centerline of the runway.

Other handheld devices provide outstanding features such as the location awareness, electronic mapping, address lookup, automatic route generation, turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance, trip computer, tracklog, route avoidance, and Contact Locator™.

GPS maps portable units have drastically changed the aviation industry. The GPS handheld is a top avionics product. Little can beat the peace of mind that this great navigation system gives a pilot. Modern handheld GPS units have full databases with easy updating using a plug-in chip or PC. A few of these models not only show you the way to the closest airport (a handy feature in times of an emergency), but even compute an approximate approach path from the extended centerline of the runway.

by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts

Tapestries: An Exploration of World Maps

People have always been curious about the world around them and the development of maps has echoed this historical fascination. Maps were once considered to be valuable objects and were treasured by their owners and regarded as works of art in their own right. These objects attracted the attention of artists as well as skilled draughtsmen and maps became quite ornate and decorative items, capturing the imagination of those who wondered what lay beyond the horizon.

Early maps tended to reflect what people knew or remembered and were largely topographical in nature. Often, these early pieces depicted myth and lore, combining to create “living maps” that were passed form generation to generation. Formalising the topography into early maps, knowledge became standardised and sowed the foundation of early cartography.

By the Middle Ages cartography had slowed in that accuracy became replaced by religious depiction through maps. Examples of strong belief can be seen in some maps where the Holy Land is shown to be at the centre of the earth. Another example is Europa Regina by Johannes Bucius which shows an early and elongated map, depicting Europe as the Queen of the World.

The Age of Seafaring during the 16th and 17th centuries saw new interest in map making, particularly the British and the Dutch taking to the seas and exploring new lands. At this time maps became increasingly artistic. An East Indies map in tropical colouring with pineapple trees and other exotic flora and fauna, designed to capture the imagination and evoke the scent of spice in the air is a typical example. As the demand for cartographers grew in the 17th century the artistic nature of maps from a purely functional item to a work of art began to evolve.

Maps were often decorated elaborately with sea creatures or mythical characters. Many of these very accomplished draughtsmen created quite unique works of art from map making. Maps designed by Petrus Plancius (1552-1622) or Abraham Ortelius (1528-1598) were frequently found embellished with intricate pictorial content. A successor to Abraham Ortelius was the Dutch cartographer Jan Baptist Vrients (1552-1612) who designed Obis Terrae Compendosia. The world is split into two hemispheres and surrounded by ornate and detailed pictorial decoration. The map brings a perception of how the world looks and a plethora of exotic creatures and landscapes from the far flung shores of the globe.

Another famous example is Nova Totius Terrarum, designed by Henricus Hondius (1597-1622), a Dutch Cartographer. This 17th century map is an ornate depiction of the world and is surrounded by detailed nautical scenes, perhaps reflecting the age and drama of exploration by sea as mythical creatures rise from the ocean and men are seen contemplating their journey.

Antique maps are increasingly popular in the modern home and make elaborate tapestries in home décor. There are a number of ways in which an antique map can add charm and elegance to the home, whether in poster, print or tapestry format and are much appreciated by connoisseurs of good taste.

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by tmaioli

Download Free Maps GPS – Enhancing Your GPS Device With Additional GPS Maps

Several General Positioning System (GPS) maps are already provided with your GPS device when you buy it. Because these maps are offered for free, there is an overhead in getting them. Indeed, these maps do not allow any tweaking in order to meet your specific needs. Another drawback of these built-in maps is their lack of knowledge about your given destination. For instance, let assume you want to travel to Philippines; it is obvious that you will appreciate details about this location beforehand. If your device was purchased in Brazil, you will be very lucky if it has any knowledge about Philippines. Therefore this GPS map cannot act as a travel aid.

Many GPS devices are used as travelling guides for a trip. Therefore GPS devices have superseded our old map artifacts. You may be wondering how useful a GPS device is. It is obvious that having detailed information about your trip in advanced will only make it more enjoyable, faster, safer and reduce any risks during your trip.

Although there are several programs that can be purchased to install new GPS maps on your device, there are also several free programs that can be used for the same purpose. In order to use these, some software prerequisites should be installed at first. These include the cables of your device. You do not to worry about it because they are included with your device when you purchase it.

They are also many websites that can help you to design our own GPS maps. By customizing your maps, you will be able to pinpoint specific locations you are fond of. These include restaurants, bars, night clubs, schools and so forth. You may add traffic reports in your GPS maps in order to avoid traffic jam during your journey.

Another outstanding benefit of GPS systems is their ability to record several maps. For instance, if you are traveling a lot to the same place, your GPS device can save all your personal information once so that the trip you will not be asked to enter your personal details and preferences.

When you have a GPS system, you may find it easier to have many maps about your trips. This will make your trip very enjoyable. You should therefore spend some time looking at pre-installed maps as well as other amazing features of your system.

Briefly speaking, GPS maps offer you the unique opportunity you explore your final destination without heading there. This is very interesting because it is sometimes recommended to glance at a country before formally deciding to go there. Some GPS maps provide outstanding features such as an unlimited online access to view, print, save aerial pictures. Some of them also come with bunch of programs allowing you to personalize them, add texts, graphics, compute GPS coordinates, upload your GPS coordinates and plot them atop of your maps. Updating new GPS maps to your device can be a very daunting experience. There are available in many shopping centers not for free. If you are looking for free stuff, you should definitely look on the internet as several, interesting maps are available.