[OZAPRS] UI-VIEW Map Specification?

[Chris Hill]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the input.

As far as I can make out, UI-VIEW uses a cylindrical projection, therefore
I'm going to request maps that are cylindrical projections against the
WGS84
datum.  Large maps, such as "all of WA" or "all of Australia" will look a
bit unusual, with significant distortions at the southern extremities, but
stations should be plotted accurately on these maps.

It's a pity that UI-VIEW doesn't support common projections.


73 Chris vk6kch


-----Original Message-----
From: ozaprs-bounces at marconi.ics.mq.edu.au
[mailto:ozaprs-bounces at marconi.ics.mq.edu.au]On Behalf Of Hoskin,
Richard J
Sent: Friday, 5 March 2004 10:03 AM
To: ozaprs at marconi.ics.mq.edu.au
Cc: lhoskin at bigpond.com
Subject: RE: [OZAPRS] UI-VIEW Map Specification?



Hi Chris,

This sounds like a great project. The maps could also be used on the new
findU map server. See http://aprsmm.aprs.net

UI-View considers the world to be flat, so the larger the map scale the
better. (The more accurate the maps at the edges)

It was voted several years ago on this list to use WSG84 or GDA94 as the
Australian APRS Datum Standards. I understand that there is only a few
centimetres difference between them. This is not a problem for our use
of maps.

The size of the map is important in UI-View. The size a PC can load is
limited by the PCs physical RAM minus a number of other parameters that
depend on the PC's O/S other applications running etc. I have found that
maps in the range of 3Mb in size are ok for most entry level PCs with
64Mb for RAM. PNG is the preferred file format.

I would recommend that you include plenty of comments in the .INF file.
Comments such as; Date of manufacture, Name of manufacturer, Datum type
used, Base map reference, Estimated accuracy etc.

It would be nice to have each map overlap with the other by a few
percent so you don't get impacted by the edge of map syndrome.

It would be great if the maps were also available in Pocket APRS format
(wish list:) as there has been a number of requests for maps of
Australia in this format but I don't believe that any are available.

Cheers
Richard.
VK3JFK



>From UI-View Map Help:

Maps should have a colour depth of at least 256 colours. GIFs are much
smaller than BMPs in terms of disk space, but BMPs load faster. For
drawn images such as maps, JPG files often do not compress as well as
PNGs and GIFs, and the lossy compression of JPG can spoil the image
quality.

UI-View32 assumes that North is the top of the map, that latitude
changes linearly along the Y axis and that longitude changes linearly
along the X axis. If the maps do not meet those conditions then
inaccuracies in plotting will occur.

For each map BMP, PNG, GIF, JPG or EMF file, there must be a matching
INF file. E.g. if you have a map called GB.GIF then there must also be a
file called GB.INF. AN easy way to create the INF file is to create the
map graphics file, save it in the MAPS folder, then drag it from
Explorer and drop it onto the map window. The Create An INF File
dialogue will then open.

INF File Format
First line - the longitude and latitude of the top left corner of the
map, separated by a comma. It doesn't matter whether longitude or
latitude is first on the line.

Second line - the longitude and latitude of the bottom right corner of
the map, separated by a comma. It doesn't matter whether longitude or
latitude is first on the line.

Third line - up to 30 characters of description.

Format of longitude and latitude - [dd]d.mm.n[n]<NESW>.
d[dd] = degrees, one to three digits.
mm = minutes
n[n] = decimal minutes, one or more decimal places (NOT seconds)


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Hill [mailto:chris.hill at crhtelnet.com.au]
Sent: Friday, 5 March 2004 12:00 PM
To: ozaprs at marconi.ics.mq.edu.au
Subject: [OZAPRS] UI-VIEW Map Specification?

Hi All,

I am going to try to procure some maps which can be legally used for
Amateur
Radio purposes, covering VK6, for use in (eg) UI-VIEW.

Does anyone know what specifications I need to state when ordering the
maps?

- Am I right in thinking that UI-VIEW requires a simplistic rectangular
projection?

- What Geodetic Datum should I ask the map to be presented in?  (WGS84?)

- Anything else?

Any pointers gratefully received.



73



Chris
VK6KCH


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