Using google maps for trail map sharing?

Haff · 04-08-2008, 06:06 PM

As a total newb I have been trying to find ways to learn about trails near me that I can wheel on. I know a local club is ideal, but it occurred to me that the power of the internet could be used to make life easier.

I am considering assembling a master map of trails using google maps. I have a very brief example here:

Google Maps

This is zoomed in to the only trail I have added. Obviously once more trails get added and spread across the country it can start zoomed out. For that matter I could generate links zoomed into regions.

I have set up a google account expressly for the purpose and I would be willing to keep the map updated as best I can. But a couple questions have occurred to me.

1. What happens if a trail on private property is displayed, even if it is labeled as private?
2. Is there a common trail rating system that can be applied? I put a crappy example in the map description in the link. As part of the rating it might be nice to describe what truck features are needed (stock, 35" and lockers, etc)
3. Should closed trails also be marked to warn people away, or is that too tempting for the idiots?
4. Should this be password protected?
and most importantly,
5. Would you use this?

Any and all comments are welcome. If people think this is a good idea I'll get it started.

Oh, and question 6.. is this the correct sub-forum for this?

fingas74 · 04-08-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Haff previously said:

As a total newb I have been trying to find ways to learn about trails near me that I can wheel on. I know a local club is ideal, but it occurred to me that the power of the internet could be used to make life easier.

I am considering assembling a master map of trails using google maps. I have a very brief example here:

Google Maps

This is zoomed in to the only trail I have added. Obviously once more trails get added and spread across the country it can start zoomed out. For that matter I could generate links zoomed into regions.

I have set up a google account expressly for the purpose and I would be willing to keep the map updated as best I can. But a couple questions have occurred to me.

1. What happens if a trail on private property is displayed, even if it is labeled as private?
2. Is there a common trail rating system that can be applied? I put a crappy example in the map description in the link. As part of the rating it might be nice to describe what truck features are needed (stock, 35" and lockers, etc)
3. Should closed trails also be marked to warn people away, or is that too tempting for the idiots?
4. Should this be password protected?
and most importantly,
5. Would you use this?

Any and all comments are welcome. If people think this is a good idea I'll get it started.

Oh, and question 6.. is this the correct sub-forum for this?

I would love this. It would be a way to maybe find trails in places away from home.

tibaal89 · 04-08-2008, 06:51 PM

This kind of thing happens all the time, sharing GPS tracks of trails.

I think more commonly it's done by making available a file with the GPS data in it, be that a Google Earth .kml file or a .gpx or the like. That way people have the raw data, can manipulate it, change formats, upload to a device, etc.

The Stig · 04-08-2008, 07:16 PM

Around here theres the problem of people wheeling in places they don't have permission to wheel. So a map like this would be trouble, like for those who maintain the land.
I PM people google maps locations by dragging the green marker to the trail entrance and using the "link to page" tool

Haff · 04-09-2008, 05:28 AM

I hear and understand the problem with publicly showing private trails. That was part of what I was debating (with myself... its never lonely in my head)

What if only public trails were added to the map. Usefull?

PaulThePhotographer · 04-09-2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

tibaal89 previously said:

This kind of thing happens all the time, sharing GPS tracks of trails.

I think more commonly it's done by making available a file with the GPS data in it, be that a Google Earth .kml file or a .gpx or the like. That way people have the raw data, can manipulate it, change formats, upload to a device, etc.

I agree!

Google Earth files!

It's free and works great! I just upload my tracks from my GPS and share them. It works great for waypoints also.

shane4x4 · 04-09-2008, 07:38 AM

If you head over to dirtopia.com, several of us have been creating trail descriptions with maps (Gmaps & Google Earth). So far CO has a few, and CA has a bunch. There are some other states as well.

I'm building everything in Google Earth & then publishing them by county for Colorado. Of the 350+ trails in Colorado, I have about half in GE right now. About 1/4 are on dirtopia. It's a long process, but if people from other states helped out - it could be a great resource.

**DEWFPO** · 04-09-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

shane4x4 previously said:

If you head over to dirtopia.com, several of us have been creating trail descriptions with maps (Gmaps & Google Earth). So far CO has a few, and CA has a bunch. There are some other states as well.

I'm building everything in Google Earth & then publishing them by county for Colorado. Of the 350+ trails in Colorado, I have about half in GE right now. About 1/4 are on dirtopia. It's a long process, but if people from other states helped out - it could be a great resource.

When you say they are published in GE, does that mean that I can access them?

DEWFPO

shane4x4 · 04-09-2008, 04:13 PM

Yup, at dirtopia.com there are links to the GE file as well as the Google Maps file. Google Maps can read any GE file that's on the internet.

**DEWFPO** · 04-09-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

shane4x4 previously said:

Yup, at dirtopia.com there are links to the GE file as well as the Google Maps file. Google Maps can read any GE file that's on the internet.

Thanks, I checked out Dirtopia and found a trail in Garfied County, Battlement Mesa but there were no maps shown and I couldn't figure out how it links to GE. Perhaps this trail isn't linked to GE?

DEWFPO