Hello,

I'm starting to get to know GPS devices and most of my use is desert
based.  I was wondering if the idea of collecting 'trips' of paths in
electronic form on a web site for exchange puposes between people whom
are interested in visiting the same areas and would like to know the
particular landmarks and lets say 'wells' bookmarked for convenience.

Imagine if these trips were created on the GPS unit, linked to a PC
for data upload and then indexed on a web site for easy retreival
where they're described by the exploring person to clarify their
particulars.

If you can compile information on data extraction from GPS units and
their management on a computer and the possible ability to
programatically being able to build an exchange system for those
interested?

As a user of such a web site, I would search by city or coordinates of
the region I'm looking for published trips of.  Once I locate a
suitable trip, I would select an appropriate standard format for the
unit I use and download it to my PC and from there onto the GPS unit
and head on to getting their physically with a bit more confidence
than venturing out in uncharted areas.

There may already be services that provide this sort of help to the
public, if not then I would like to know more about how to get closer
to accomplishing it if I were to take the idea on.

Thank you.

/Lizardnation

Hi again! 

The following software extracts GPS data onto a PC using a cable.

Topographix has GPS products which can be published to your website.

This article on their company site discusses how it is done using
their products.
http://www.topografix.com/gpx_publish_to_web.asp 

The following products meanwhile are from Topographix:
http://www.easygps.com/default.asp (totally free product)
http://www.expertgps.com/default.asp
http://www.topografix.com/panterra.asp 
http://www.topografix.com/gis.asp 
http://www.topografix.com/purchase.asp (Price list of their products
and online store)

The Topographix website also has a tutorial on GPS and their products
plus product manuals available online:
http://www.topografix.com/tutorials.asp (tutorial)
http://www.topografix.com/manual.asp (manuals)

Windmill Software can extract data and could even create a graphical
representation of such data.
http://www.windmill.co.uk/gps.html 

The following products from Ashtech are specifically designed to
configure the GPS data you receive.

http://www.ashtech.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=88 
http://www.ashtech.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=85 
http://www.ashtech.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=87 
http://www.ashtech.com/en/products/product.asp?PRODID=45 
http://www.ashtech.com/en/howToBuy/ (for contact information if you
are ready to buy their product)

This software from Beyond Geo meanwhile can host and publish your GPS
data on their servers.

Beyond Geo
http://www.beyondgeo.com/ 

Here is a list of products from Blue Marble Geographics developers
configuring GPS data.
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products.asp?id=10 
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products.asp?id=135 
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products.asp?id=12 
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products.asp?id=8 
For a complete list of their products please click on this link
(http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products.asp)

I compiled some articles on the basics of GPS that may helpp you
further in choosing your type of product.

Basics of GPS
http://www.geography.wisc.edu/sco/geodetic/gps.html 

All About GPS (a tutorial)
http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.html 

GPS (Standards and Practices)
http://www.stoa.org/guides/gps.shtml 

How GPS Receivers Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm/printable 

I do hope that this would be of help to your research. Have fun with
GPS!

Regards,
Easterangel-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 01 Jun 2002 17:39 PDT

I'm sorry I wasn't able to note the serch terms used.

Search terms:
Extracting GPS data to PC
GPS data basics

Thank you Easterangel, focused and filtered responses as always.

Hello Lizardnation,

I didn't find enough information to justify an answer, but maybe this
can be helpful as comment.


Automotive GPS Online Product Index
http://www.teletype.com/gps/autogps/directory/index.html

GPS2GIS by Gänger & Bruckner
http://www.gaenger-bruckner.de/engl/products/prodgps2gisen.html

GPS Online, featuring Automated Tracking and Operations Management in
the Integrated Technologies section
http://www.gpsonline.com.au/

Trimble Digital Image/ Map Integration software at GPS World
http://www.gpsworld.com/gpsworld/product/productDetail.jsp?id=14486


For means of visualizing your data on a web page:

SVG, Scalable Vector Graphics
http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/


Good luck!

Mr. Lizard, you may or may not be aware of geocaching.com, which is a
web site/sport somewhat similar to what you're thinking.

Geocachers hide caches in parks and such throughout the world, and
post the final coordinates, along with clues to how to locate it, on
the geocaching web site. Other participants can search on the web for
caches that have been hidden in their locale (there are quite a lot of
them now). They then go out in the real world and search for the
cache. Finding it, they log their find, take a small "treasure" from
the cache and leave a treasure of their own.

I realize this is somewhat different from your idea, but it seems
there might be cross-interest or synergy. I suggest that you go to
that web site and post your ideas in their forums.

Hello J_Philipp,

Thank you for the resources, as you said they didn't cover the
question, but were very valuable indeed! :-)

/Lizardnation

Hello Moebiusstreet,

Thank you for the site, it sure matures an idea I've been trying to visualize. :-)

/Lizardnation

Lizardnation,

as another data point (pardon the pun) in your research, you might
think about who your audience will be.  For example, I run a rock
climbing site at http://www.climbingboulder.com.  We cross-reference
submitted gps coordinates to the locations of different routes.

FWIW, while there may be interest in going to gps points for the sake
of gps, I find it's more useful to utilize gps waypoints for a
different specific mission.  Beautiful views?  great fishing lakes? 
start points for routes on a giant piece of granite?

In all of these questions, the mission is the ends, and the gps
coordinate is the means to that end.  Just some food for thought.

Hello Climbingboulder,

That's a very good point of view.  The means in their original form
are not attractive, though an entertaining and value service goal is
and that's what you're doing and is what I'm thinking of to serve a
market segment. :-)

Thank you.

/Lizardnation