Gpx viewer online software#

There is a newer standard 1.1 with different tag names, but whose idea is the same. Each segment is made of several trekpoints ('trkpt'), defined identically as Waypoints, but without a name for each. However, with a lot of data, it quickly becomes hardly readable, and the main purpose of editing manually such file is generally for some kind of 'cutting' job.īetween the heading and ending tags 'GPX' (the header containing some standards information along), we can find:Ī trek contains also a name, and one or more segments ('trkseg'). For those who have manipulated this kind of file format, or used only HTML, this is pretty easy to understand, which means it is almost possible to create one using Notepad, and without any knowledge. It is in fact a standard XML file whith a defined standard, which can be edited as a text file. What are GPX and KML files ?A GPX file is the data generated by a GPS, or possibly by any other map-based program. Perhaps, and let's hope so, this page will soon be too small to list all possible embedding possibilities across the world.Īnyone who would like to join and add a chapter, especially if they have information for a country not already covered here, are more than welcome to join us. I am surprised that the Alps with their top cartography, remain uncovered, especially by the german-speaking countries, but perhaps this skipped of my attention because of the language. I am certain that here is only the emerged part of the iceberg, as I searched mostly the areas near where I live, and I believe there are sill tons of finding to be made. Until I found by total coincidence a forum post by Jelf who presented his tool. I found almost what I looked for: enbeddable maps, with more-than-medium accuracy, but whose interest is to display the marked trails.įinally, and despite not living on this continent, I wondered how it was possible that USA did not have at least one of these, especially since the majority of the SummitPosters are from this side of the Atlantic. As I live expatriated near this country, I searched logically the same in Poland. The first finding after the two previously mentionned was, surprisingly, Slovakia, this small but mountainous republic of Central Europe, whose mapping data, by the national VKU, is available on. Since the topographic view of the Google Maps doesn't provide a very accurate hiking map, but only a general idea of the terrain, I decided to search all available map data on the web, of paper maps level, enabling this kind of solutions, allowing enbedding samples in SP pages. Although slightly convoluted, maps by the UK's Ordnance Survey are also used, and Nanuls, who kindly offered to join me for this page, already uses it on SP. Geoportail have done a really great job enabling this feature, but French maps are not the only users. This is why we decided to create this 'how-to' page, and by doing so, hope to encourage more Summitpost members to use such tools and thereby avoid potential legal troubles for the site.Ĭurrently GPX files used in this way are most commonly found on cycling portals (ex: ), but also hiking websites, like this one by Philippe, a friend of mine. Reproducing maps protected by copyright laws is often illegal, not to say very dangerous with some editors : websites like have fined for some 20,000€ for using large numbers of IGN samples without permission (see forum topic).Įmbedded maps on the other hand are usually perfectly legal (provided the terms and conditions of use are adhered to) since are normally supplied directly from those who own the data.ĭespite not owning a GPS unit myself, but having used the positioning function for pictures and pages on Summitpost, as well as using other websites that incorporate GPX features, my attention has been drawn to these possibilities. Using embedded maps is not only practical (instead of posting huge JPEG files with limited functionality), it is also legal.

Gpx viewer online software#

The displaying of route information is particularly relevant, and although still in its infancy, the incorporation of GPX files with this kind of software has made this an ever more practical solution. For sites such as Summitpost, which aim to share beta on all manner of outdoor activities, this has created a number of interesting possibilities for sharing information. Their functionality has also improved and as a result the use of GPX files has become an increasingly common occurrence.Īt the same time, the use of online mapping facilities such as Google Maps and its equivalents has grown considerably, allowing users from around the world to share their topographic data over the internet. IntroductionOver recent years, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have become more and more sophisticated and in turn, their popularity has grown considerably.