New Tools for Wilderness Navigation

Since my posts about GPS for Wilderness Navigation and Electronics for the Backcountry I've had the opportunity to experiment with multiple new mapping utilities, navigation apps, and GPS receivers. The rapid evolution of these technologies continues to change how I plan, navigate, and document explorations into the wild. Few excuses for getting lost remain. It's a brave new world. Embrace it.

GPS Devices

Suunto Ambit2

Suunto Ambit2 ($500) is an incredibly light and small GPS wristwatch designed for explorers and athletes. Packed in a glass fiber reinforced casing, the 3.14 ounce waterproof wristwatch includes a GPS, compass, heart rate monitor (with separate chest strap), altimeter and thermometer. When employing the GPS the rechargeable battery lasts up to 24 hours, significantly longer when used as just a watch. 

Despite an inherently limited ability to display spatial data and imagery the Ambit2 is a handy navigation tool. Capable of direct way-pointing (waypoints can be manually created in the field if needed), the Ambit2 has a multitude of additional functions that I find challenging to learn and remember.

The Ambit2 comes with a computer interface USB cable (also used for recharging the battery) that allows me to upload waypoints and download track logs using an online interface program discussed later.

I've found the Ambit2 most useful for documenting short outings (a few hours or less) and for navigating during extended wilderness explorations. During multi-day or multi-week expeditions I prolong its battery life by employing the GPS only when warranted for navigation. As needed, the small battery is easily recharged in the field with a solar panel or portable power pac.

Apple iPhone 4s

The 4.9 ounce iPhone ($450) is an amazing piece of technology and often the only electronic device I travel with. In addition to being a cell phone and GPS, the iPhone 4s takes high quality photos and video, can surf the web, send and receive email and text messages, and much, much, more--the ultimate multi-purpose tool.

When used as a GPS, however, the iPhone battery is inadequate. This can be resolved by adding a Mophie Juice Pack Pro ($129.95) that will boost the battery life by as much as 150%. The rugged 5.25 ounce Mophie Juice Pack Pro is also a weather-proof military grade protective shell. Additionally the Mophie Juice Pack Pro utilizes a micro-USB cable that can recharge other devices like my Kindle.

Currently the Mophie Juice Pack Pro is not compatible with an iPhone 5.  If you have an iPhone 5 consider coupling a Mophie Juice Pack Plus with a Sea to Summit Waterproof Case.

Apple iPad

The main advantage of an iPad Air over the smaller and lighter iPhone is viewing spatial data on a larger 9.7 inch (diagonal) display screen. This can be advantageous when trip planning or discussing possible routes with others. The iPad Air weighs 16 ounces and prices start at $499. Similarly, the iPad mini has a 7.9 inch (diagonal) display screen, weighs 12 ounces, and prices start at $399. Sea to Summit to Summit offers waterproof cases for both iPad models.

Apps

Movescount

Movescount is a free app developed by Suunto that syncs with the Ambit2. While it can be used on an iPhone or iPad it's imagery is limited and useless for navigation. The Movescount app is geared more for athletic training than wilderness exploration.

 

Gaia GPS

For an annual subscription fee of $20, the Gaia GPS app provides access to USGS 1:24k topographic maps and both terrain layers and satellite imagery for the entire planet. Maps or "layers" can be easily (though slowly) cached directly on an iPhone or iPad and viewed when there's no cell service or wireless data connection.

In addition to recording tracks that include time and speed profiles, the app can store geo-referenced photographs. Creating waypoints is easy in the field. And direct waypointing is made simple with its "Guide Me" function. Tracks with waypoints and photographs can later be synced with GiaCloud and easily shared through email and/or social media.

Trimble Outdoor Navigator

In the field Trimble Navigator App is similar to the Gaia GPS app in that it: records tracks; displays data on variety of cached map layers including a USGS 1:24k topographic maps and both terrain layers and satellite imagery for the entire planet; generates time and speed profiles; stores geo-referenced photographs; and makes creating waypoints and navigating to them easy. Trimble Navigator has additional features including a handy compass function and the ability to record geo-referenced videos.

For an annual fee of $29.99 Trimble Outdoors offers an Elite Membership program that includes unlimited access to map layers and an online trip planning program discussed later. Caching map layers on an iPhone or iPad involves a cumbersome 12-step process involving iTunes and a computer.

Planning 

Movescount

Fortunately the online Movescount program is significantly better for trip planning than the app. And unlike the Ambit2 (the device the program is designed to work with) creating routes and waypoints is simple. Both KML and GPX files created elsewhere can be imported, edited, and exported. Routes, tracks and waypoints are easily transferred to the Ambit2 through the data/power cable. While Movescount includes global coverage of both satellite imagery and a terrain map layer, the imagery on this and other web-based programs discussed below, is only available online and cannot be cached on a computer. This is problematic when trying to plan routes without an internet connection.

GaiaPro

Planning trips with Gaia on an iPhone or iPad is easy as is doing so on a computer. A $39.99 annual subscription to GaiaPro and an internet connection allows the creation of waypoints, tracks and routes on a multitude of layers including satellite imagery and USGS 1:24K topographic maps.  GPX and KML track files created with other utilities or devices can be imported by GaiaPro. Routes and waypoints that are either created or imported are automatically synched with the GaiaGPS app on an iPhone or iPad.

Trimble Outdoors

As part of their impressive suite of mapping and navigation tools, Trimble Outdoors offers a user-friendly online Trip Planner program that allows Elite Members ($29.99 a year) to easily create routes, tracks and waypoints on a multitude of layers including USGS 1:24K topographic maps and global satellite imagery and terrain maps. Waypoints and tracks saved as "Trips" are automatically synched with Trimble's Outdoor Navigator app on an iPhone or iPad. Planned Trips can be displayed and shared online with other useful information. Trip Planner can export both GPX and KML but only import GPX files.

Google Maps Engine

For those of us afflicted with CMRD (Compulsive Map Reading Disorder) Google Maps Engine offers the ultimate fix. In addition to creating routes, tracks and waypoints on global satellite imagery or a terrain layer, Google Maps Engine allows users to create and share interactive maps that can be exported as a KML files. Strangely, Google Maps Engine does not allow the user to import KML nor GPX files.

Google Classic Maps

Google Classic Maps offers many of the same features as Google Maps Engine but is less complicated and can import and export KML files.

Google Earth

The ability to view 3D satellite imagery when planning explorations of complex unknown terrain is invaluable. Nothing does this better than Google Earth. Both KML and GPX files can be imported but only KML files exported.

Documentation

 Movescount

When the Suunto Ambit2 GPS wristwatch is synched with Movescount saved tracks or "Moves" are stored in a personal web-based account. These moves can be made public or kept private. Ether way the move is displayed spatially on a terrain map layer or satellite imagery with corresponding charts and statistics. If made public the move can be easily shared through social media or by email with a link. Moves can also be exported as a KML file and displayed on other platforms including Google Earth and Google Maps.

 Gaia GPS

Similarly, when the Gaia GPS app is synched with GaiaCloud, saved tracks with waypoints and geo-referenced photographs are automatically stored in a personalized account. And if made public the Gaia GPS tracks can also be easily shared through social media, by email with a link, or exported as a KML file and displayed on other platforms including Google Earth and Google Maps.

Trimble Outdoors

Trimble Outdoors also provides a web-based platform to view, store, edit and share tracks of outdoor adventures. GPX files from other devices can be added to a personalized "Dashboard." In addition to statistics, graphs, and a map the stored tracks can include geo-referenced photos and video. There's also places to add text about the trip. The tracks can be kept private or made public and if the latter, easily shared through social media, by email with a link, or embedded in a blog or webpage.

Classic Google Maps

Google's Classic Maps is another web-based option for viewing and editing track files. Unlike Google Earth and other web based programs above, you can not directly upload GPX files. You can, however, upload and export KML files. Tracks, waypoints, and routes may be viewed on either satellite imagery or a terrain map.  Archived on a free web-based "My Places" account these "maps" can then be set as private or public. The maps can be shared with a link or embedded in a blog or web page.

Google Earth

Just as in planning explorations of complex terrain, viewing GPS track logs on three dimensional satellite imagery is equally exciting. Both GPX and KML files can be imported into Google Earth. Only KML files can be exported.

Other Useful Tools

A GPS Track log in the form of a GPX file can often be big, unwieldy and difficult to import or convert to a KML file. It's often helpful to compress it first using WTracks. This free online track editor can, among other things, eliminate redundant trackpoints. 

In addition to GPX and KML files there exist many other types geographic data files. GPS Visualizer is a free online tool that can convert most of them to GPX or KML.

The Google Earth Gadget is a free web-based utility that allows the user to embed interactive 3D geographic imagery in a blog or website. The gadget only accepts KML files that are available online. This can be accomplished by uploading KML files to Dropbox, Google Sites or Google Docs. Remember to submit a link to the actual file that needs to include the .kml extension.

Conclusion

GPS and digital mapping technology are evolving rapidly. No doubt, by the time you read this there will be even more advanced and useful devices, apps, and online utilities. In the realm of small GPS devices companies like Trimble Outdoors appear to be moving away from producing hardware and instead are focusing on the development of apps, digital map layers, and web-based utilities. Given the challenge of competing with companies like Apple, this is likely a wise move.

At the same time Google products like Google Maps Engine are now offering an alternative to expensive and complicated ESRI products. While Google's Maps Engine has a long way to go before it is capable of performing complex GIS functions at the level of ESRI's Arc GIS, it is a more affordable user-friendly utility for storing and displaying geographic data.

Several advances I hope to see in the near future include the universal acceptance of GPX and KML files to all GPS apps and digital mapping programs. I also hope to see computer based mapping programs that are not dependent on a high speed internet connection. If I can cache map layers on an iPhone or iPad why shouldn't I be able to on a MacBook?




“He wrested the world's whereabouts from the stars, and locked the secret in a pocket watch.” ― Dava Sobel, Longitude