Archive for May, 2009

Tab Tip – Efficient Project Management in XMap

May 27, 2009

Anyone who has had the good fortune to attend a DeLorme-hosted XMap training class will be well aware of the emphasis placed by the instructor on project management in XMap, and on the need to fully understand the functionality of the Map Data tab. Typically a training class will include a sizable amount of time covering the basics of XMap’s file management system and will offer advice for making your XMap experience more productive and efficient.

Before offering some suggestions as to how best to use the Map Data tab, it might be wise to provide a brief introductory explanation as what a “project” actually is.

Project1A project is a file that stores certain settings with XMap and records a specific map view that can be reloaded at later date. Projects, which are assigned a .xmp suffix, are saved in the Projects folder in your DeLorme Docs folder which, for XMap 6 users, is in “My Documents” on your local computer, and for XMap 5 and previous users, is at the root of your local hard drive (typically C:\DeLorme Docs).

Projects are typically intended for local use only and should not be shared or sent to another user. As we will soon discuss, a project may contain references to additional files that are stored on the host computer and these will not be available after the project file is transferred and opened on another machine. For sharing the contents of a project file, the Map Data tab includes the Transfer File function, which has been covered in previous Tab Tip articles.

So what is saved in an XMap project file?

  • The Current Data Zoom Level and the Coordinates Representing the Geographic Center of the Map
    It is often mistakenly assumed that the project records the geographic extent of map; however this is not the case. If you change your computer’s screen resolution from one XMap session to the next, you may notice that objects that previously appeared are now outside of the viewable map area. Instead, a project simply remembers the latitude and longitude at the center point of the map window.
  • Map Datasets
    The availability of map datasets is indicated by the datasets list in both the Primary and Secondary map windows in the Map Data tab. This list includes the vector base map datasets that have been installed, aerial imagery, USGS quads (3DTQ), etc., as well as XMap’s Reference Data. The list may include a number of sample datasets that are installed by default and it is usually wise to remove these before saving or creating your first project file.
    XMap has been designed to automatically look for any available map datasets in several locations, including in the Downloads folder in your DeLorme Docs folder, on your local DVD drive, or from the location from where the software was originally installed. To modify this list, click the Data button, select Base Data and either Add or Remove locations as needed.
  • The Visibility of the Map Datasets
    Check boxes in both the Primary and Secondary Map windows of the Map Data tab offer the option to turn off the selected dataset. This allows the data connection to remain active while disabling the visibility of the dataset in the map window.
  • Draw Layers/Routes/XData Datasets
    It is often assumed that if a draw object is added to the map in XMap, it is automatically added to the current project file. This is not the case. Draw objects are saved in a draw layer, a separate file that is saved in the Draw folder in the DeLorme Docs folder. Objects in a draw layer appear on the map because the project file contains information about the layer name and where it is saved. If the connection to this file is broken by moving the file, renaming the folder, or physically sending the project file to another user, the draw layer will not appear on the map. The same is true of routes and XData datasets.
  • Customized Map Features
    The Map Features section of XMap’s Options window allows the contents of the vector base map datasets to be customized. Unnecessary features can be turned of to create a base map that optimizes the view of the data that you are trying to portray. These settings are saved as part of your project file.
  • GIS Layers
    As with draw layers, GIS layers are independently managed using the functions of the GIS tab. The project file retains information about which layers are currently in the Workspace of the GIS tab, and whether the layers are visible on the map.
  • Print Layout Features
    When printing a map, the Layout Tools menu in the Print tab offers several options for customizing the design of the page. These include a map heading, scale bar, image (often used to insert a company logo) and several others. If you save your project after these print features are added, they will appear on all maps printed from that project. This feature allows the project file to act as a template for printing and eliminates the need to manually add these objects for each printed map.

One important consideration when working with projects is that a single draw layer or GIS layer can be a component of multiple projects. If it is edited within one project, those edits will appear in every project that contains a reference to that layer.

While there is no prescribed way to use projects within XMap, there are, as with any file management system, certain guidelines that may help you manage your data and workflow more effectively.

  • Keep in mind that there is no limit to the number of projects that can be saved. It is a good idea to maintain a project for each task you are working on or for each region or territory that you cover.
  • Having said that, keep your projects organized, give them logical names and delete them when they are no longer needed. Remember that if you delete a project file, you are not deleting the layers to which it refers, only the project file itself.
  • If you make changes to a project but want to restore it to its original state, simply use the file menu to reopen the current project and, when prompted, choose not to save your changes.
  • Develop a master project from which all additional projects can be created. This allows the subsequent projects to inherit all of the features and settings from the original. Begin by establishing the settings that reflect how you will typically use XMap: remove unnecessary dataset connections in the Map Data tab, modify the custom features list to match your preferences, add print layout items as needed, and adjust the zoom level of your map view to encompass the full extent of your territory. Now each time you embark on a new task, simply open this master project, zoom to an area of interest and use the Save As function in the File menu of the Map Data tab. The alternative is to create a new project for each situation, however this is not usually the best approach as it will reset the project to the default settings and reestablish all of the original dataset connections.

It has been said that if you don’t understand the functionality of the Map Data tab in XMap, you run the risk of jeopardizing all of your hard work, or at the very least, of making your job much more difficult. Of all of the features of XMap, Map Data is the one component which is essential to even the most basic operation of the software.

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XMap Q&A – I noticed that some of the sample maps on the DeLorme Web site include symbols that are not available in my version of XMap. How can I get these symbols?

May 27, 2009

SymbolsOn occasion, DeLorme customer service representatives are called on to clarify that the images and sample maps on the xmap.com pages do not always reflect what new XMap users are likely to see immediately after they install the software. These images are intended to represent simulations of how the functionality of XMap can be applied within certain industries and for particular applications. The process of composing these maps typically involves utilizing data from a variety of sources, and often it entails creating custom symbology that is more applicable for representing the features on a particular map. It should also be noted that all of the sample maps have been created using the tools that are readily available to all XMap users.

XMap includes a variety of symbol sets that can be assigned to represent points on the map. These range from simple pushpins and flags to more complex symbols representing outdoor pursuits, which were inherited from Topo USA, DeLorme’s recreational software title. XMap also offers a feature for creating custom symbols, which was the source for many of the symbols use on the aforementioned sample maps. Creating custom symbols is a fairly straightforward process:

  1. In the Draw tab, select the Symbol tool by clicking and holding the button in the lower left corner of the draw tools.
  2. From the resulting Symbols dropdown list, choose New to activate XSym, XMap’s symbol creating and editing tool.
  3. Either use the available graphic tools to draw your own symbols or click the Import button to use an existing bitmap file as a symbol. XSym will automatically reduce the image size to fit the 24 pixels square dimensions of the symbol; however, it is recommended that this reduction is performed using a third party graphic program before initiating the import process. Due to the degree of reduction, a complex image file may not be accurately represented when imported.
  4. When all of the required symbols have been created, type an appropriate name for the symbol set and click OK. The new symbols are now available in the Draw tab.

To assign these new symbols to a GIS point layer, you must first add the symbol set to the list of those available in the Symbolize Layer dialog box.

  1. Click the Add button and in the resulting window, click Browse
  2. Locate the previously created symbol set (*.dim) in the Symbols folder in the DeLorme Docs folder
  3. After it has been selected, click the Add to List button before clicking OK

The symbols in your new symbol set will now be available for all of your GIS point layers.

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Texas General Land Office Uses XMap and the Earthmate PN-20 to Help with Hurricane Relief

May 27, 2009

Hurricane_Ike

In the early hours of September 13 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall as a category two storm to the east of Galveston, Texas. In the preceding days, Ike had wreaked havoc on the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba before heading northwest across the Gulf of Mexico. The impact on the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana was catastrophic with over 100 people losing their lives and an estimated $24 billion in damage.
In preparation for the storm’s imminent landfall, Texas Task Force One, the state emergency response organization comprised of more than 300 emergency personnel from 60 agencies and departments across the state, set up their Command Center in Houston. Among those who responded were GIS specialists from the Texas General Land Office (GLO), who brought with them DeLorme’s XMap software and Earthmate PN-20 GPS receivers.
One of the lessons learned during the response to Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana three years earlier, is the important role played by GIS in such emergency operations. During a disaster, a substantial amount of spatial information is collected, processed, and shared among countless responding agencies. The technology that allows this data to be efficiently managed must not only be sufficiently powerful and capable, but must also be straightforward enough for responders of all skill levels to utilize quickly and effectively. A key benefit that XMap brings to the emergency operations process is that it can be rapidly put to work to help in the recovery effort.
One of the first tasks undertaken by the Information Systems/Business Automation/GIS specialist from the GLO was training other GLO response team members on the use of the PN-20 for simple field data collection. Their job was to quickly create a database of damaged and destroyed properties based on the precise coordinates of each structure. They were also instructed to photograph what remained of each building as a first step in the recovery and rebuilding process.
The significance of GPS in any disaster situation cannot be overstated. The basic process of navigation, which normally depends on visual reference points such as buildings or street signs, is no longer a viable option as many of these features are destroyed during a storm. In order to determine the current location or to navigate to a specific address, a GPS receiver with accurate map information is essential. A GPS receiver that offers the ability to display aerial imagery, such as the PN-20 or its successor, the PN-40, provides even more value in disaster situations as the imagery allows emergency responders to see where buildings or structures originally stood.
For the GLO response teams, the primary function of the PN-20 was to collect the coordinates of each impacted property. Simpler and more accurate than marking a map, a GPS-collected waypoint allows the responder to precisely record and name damage locations with just a few button pushes. In this format, the data collected on the PN-20s was later transferred to XMap and integrated into the GIS database.
A final part of the process involved matching each photograph with the appropriate GPS point so that the actual image could be accessed from the map. This data was later offered for public viewing through an online map service.
After Hurricane Ike recovery the Earthmate PN-20s were deployed to collect location data on the status of oil and gas facilities as well as damaged or sunken vessels along the coast. In preparation for the storm, virtually all oil and gas operations in the impacted area of the gulf had been shut down and secured, however an immediate assessment on the level of damage was critical to mitigate further harm to the natural environment. This data collection effort allowed GIS specialists at the GLO to create maps depicting each location and provided the means for response agencies to efficiently allocate the necessary resources where the need was greatest.
While many would assume full recovery from a major natural disaster such as Hurricane Ike can take years, the appropriate actions taken in the immediate aftermath can greatly hasten the recovery. Much of this effort depends on having the right tools in the hands of the right people at the right time. This was proven in coastal Texas after Ike came ashore, and the rugged and adaptable Earthmate PN-20 lived up to the task.

In the early hours of September 13 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall as a category two storm to the east of Galveston, Texas. In the preceding days, Ike had wreaked havoc on the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba before heading northwest across the Gulf of Mexico. The impact on the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana was catastrophic with over 100 people losing their lives and an estimated $24 billion in damage.

In preparation for the storm’s imminent landfall, Texas Task Force One, the state emergency response organization comprised of more than 300 emergency personnel from 60 agencies and departments across the state, set up their Command Center in Houston. Among those who responded were GIS specialists from the Texas General Land Office (GLO), who brought with them DeLorme’s XMap software and Earthmate PN-20 GPS receivers.

One of the lessons learned during the response to Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana three years earlier, is the important role played by GIS in such emergency operations. During a disaster, a substantial amount of spatial information is collected, processed, and shared among countless responding agencies. The technology that allows this data to be efficiently managed must not only be sufficiently powerful and capable, but must also be straightforward enough for responders of all skill levels to utilize quickly and effectively. A key benefit that XMap brings to the emergency operations process is that it can be rapidly put to work to help in the recovery effort.

One of the first tasks undertaken by the Information Systems/Business Automation/GIS specialist from the GLO was training other GLO response team members on the use of the PN-20 for simple field data collection. Their job was to quickly create a database of damaged and destroyed properties based on the precise coordinates of each structure. They were also instructed to photograph what remained of each building as a first step in the recovery and rebuilding process.

The significance of GPS in any disaster situation cannot be overstated. The basic process of navigation, which normally depends on visual reference points such as buildings or street signs, is no longer a viable option as many of these features are destroyed during a storm. In order to determine the current location or to navigate to a specific address, a GPS receiver with accurate map information is essential. A GPS receiver that offers the ability to display aerial imagery, such as the PN-20 or its successor, the PN-40, provides even more value in disaster situations as the imagery allows emergency responders to see where buildings or structures originally stood.

For the GLO response teams, the primary function of the PN-20 was to collect the coordinates of each impacted property. Simpler and more accurate than marking a map, a GPS-collected waypoint allows the responder to precisely record and name damage locations with just a few button pushes. In this format, the data collected on the PN-20s was later transferred to XMap and integrated into the GIS database.

A final part of the process involved matching each photograph with the appropriate GPS point so that the actual image could be accessed from the map. This data was later offered for public viewing through an online map service.

PN_HurricaneAfter Hurricane Ike recovery the Earthmate PN-20s were deployed to collect location data on the status of oil and gas facilities as well as damaged or sunken vessels along the coast. In preparation for the storm, virtually all oil and gas operations in the impacted area of the gulf had been shut down and secured, however an immediate assessment on the level of damage was critical to mitigate further harm to the natural environment. This data collection effort allowed GIS specialists at the GLO to create maps depicting each location and provided the means for response agencies to efficiently allocate the necessary resources where the need was greatest.

While many would assume full recovery from a major natural disaster such as Hurricane Ike can take years, the appropriate actions taken in the immediate aftermath can greatly hasten the recovery. Much of this effort depends on having the right tools in the hands of the right people at the right time. This was proven in coastal Texas after Ike came ashore, and the rugged and adaptable Earthmate PN-20 lived up to the task.

For more information on the Texas General Land Office, visit www.glo.state.tx.us.

To read more about the Earthmate PN-Series GPS receivers, click here.

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Unlimited Imagery and USGS Quad Maps for XMap

May 27, 2009

Purchase XMap 6.2 for 20% off the normal price and take advantage of DeLorme’s new Map Library.

How much would you be willing to pay for up-to-date, high-quality aerial imagery for the entire U.S.? What if we included over 50,000 7.5-minute USGS quad maps scanned and seamlessly geo-referenced? How about Satellite imagery for every state and NOAA navigational charts for the U.S. coastal waters?

How does under $30 sound?

Map_LibraryDeLorme’s innovative Map Library subscription service, which is available through the Netlink tab in XMap 6, offers unlimited access to all of these map datasets and more for a full year. Simply select the grid tiles that cover your area of interest, choose the type of data, and submit your order. Your custom dataset is usually available for download within minutes and is automatically displayed in XMap.

What makes this deal even better is that all of the imagery, USGS maps, and other downloaded datasets are saved on your local hard drive and are yours to keep. There is no need to pay a monthly charge to download more data or to maintain an internet connection to see the datasets on the map. You could be on the road or at the jobsite and you will still be able to display the imagery, maps, or charts in XMap.

If you haven’t already upgraded to XMap 6, the availability of the Map Library subscription service provides enough reason to do so by itself. However, the latest version of XMap also offers an array of functional enhancements and improvements to many components of the software including:

  • Shapefile importing at the XMap Professional level
  • Improved data administration functionality in XMap GIS Enterprise
  • Append and replace options when importing GIS layers
  • Redesigned GPS navigation screen for optimized in-vehicle use

As with all previous versions of XMap, XMap 6 represents a unique amalgamation of powerful GIS data management, GPS-enabled navigation, and visually stunning cartography.

There has never been a better time to upgrade to the latest version of XMap. Order XMap 6.2 before June 30, 2009 and you will receive 20% off the normal price.

For more information or to order XMap 6.2, click here or call 800-293-2389 to speak with a customer representative. Make sure to mention promotional code 9629 when placing your order.

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