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Mapping and Amateur Radio

Mapping and Amateur Radio Tim Kirby, G4VXE 9 th June 2009 What tools are available Google Maps Microsoft Virtual Earth Google Earth NASA Worldwind Ordnance Survey OpenSpace Ozi Explorer ‘Heavy Duty’ GIS applications Let’s create a map

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Mapping and Amateur Radio

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  1. Mapping and Amateur Radio Tim Kirby, G4VXE 9th June 2009

  2. What tools are available • Google Maps • Microsoft Virtual Earth • Google Earth • NASA Worldwind • Ordnance Survey OpenSpace • Ozi Explorer • ‘Heavy Duty’ GIS applications

  3. Let’s create a map • Google Maps are a good place to start (http://maps.google.com) • We can add points and add descriptions and HTML • We can draw lines • We can save the map so that we can embed it in a website or send it by e-mail • Finally, we can create KML and export it to Google Earth.

  4. Bringing data into your maps • Google Maps API allows you to bring data feeds into your map, using either GEORSS or KML data with a simple command. • An example shows Californian earthquakes

  5. What’s KML? • KML stands for Keyhole Markup Language. Started off being Google Earth specific but has emerged to become an OGC standard • XML variant

  6. What does KML look like <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <kmlxmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.1"> <Document> <Placemark> <name>University of Southampton - Highfields Campus</name> <open>1</open> <Point> <coordinates>-1.395425,50.934563,0</coordinates> </Point> </Placemark> </Document> </kml>

  7. Writing KML programatically Public Function create28MhzBeaconsKML() Dim dbs As Database Dim rst As Recordset Dim Location As String Dim latitude As Double Dim longitude As Double Set dbs = CurrentDb Set rst = dbs.OpenRecordSet("select callsign, frequency, locator, longitude, latitude from 28MHz", dbOpenSnapshot) Open "c:\devt\10mbeacons.kml" For Output As #1 Print #1, "<kmlxmlns=" + Chr$(34) + "http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0" + Chr$(34) + ">" Print #1, "<Document><visibility>0</visibility><open>1</open>" rst.MoveFirst Do Until rst.EOF Print #1, "<Placemark>" Print #1, "<description><![CDATA[" & "Locator: " & rst![Locator] & "]]> </description>" 'Print #1, "<description><![CDATA[" & "Location Value: 0" & "]]> </description>" Print #1, "<name><![CDATA[" & rst![Callsign] & " " & rst![Frequency] & "]]></name>" 'Print #1, "<name><![CDATA[blah" & "]]></name>" Print #1, "<Point><coordinates>" & rst![longitude] & "," & rst![latitude] & ",0</coordinates></Point></Placemark>" rst.MoveNext Loop Print #1, "</Document>" Print #1, "</kml>" Close #1 rst.Close Set dbs = Nothing End Function

  8. KML files wot I wrote... • 28MHz Beacons • DXCC Listing • UK 2m/70cms repeaters Once the code’s written, you can map anything! I’ve done SOTA summits, D-STAR nodes, Internet gateways..

  9. Other places you can use KML • Google Maps • Microsoft Virtual Earth (except that it seems to be broken at the moment...)

  10. Once you have Lat/Lon data • You can export the data to other devices such as SATNAVs. Can create a Point of Interest (POI) file which allows you to see the closest repeaters to your current position, for example. • POI files (OV2 extension) are simple text files and you could easily write a script to create the data.

  11. Bing (Microsoft Virtual Earth) • If you’re looking at a specific location, it’s often well worth trying all the different packages as the imagery will vary. • Bing shows some particularly nice ‘Birds Eye’ views

  12. Ordnance Survey OpenSpace • OS Mappings are available and can be programmed using the OpenSpace API • Beware copyright restrictions! • Get started here • Here’s an example

  13. What ready built mapping apps are there? • In the beginning, there was APRS (http://aprs.fi)

  14. Find your Locator Square • No more working out your Lat/Lon and doing complicated calculations. Just click...

  15. See DX Spots on a map • DXAnywhere (http://www.dxanywhere.com) shows DX spots on a map

  16. DX Sherlock – VHF Propagation • Real-time paths from DX Cluster data

  17. Recent D-STAR activity • See who’s on the air

  18. AIS Data • Not directly amateur radio related, but can give useful tropo indications, as AIS operates in the marine band

  19. Satellite Tracking • Track ISS or any other satellite

  20. Emergency Communications

  21. What can be done with professional GIS tools? Analysis – rather than pure display

  22. Analysing Atlantic Hurricane Tracks

  23. Analysing Atlantic Hurricane Tracks

  24. Analysing Atlantic Hurricane Tracks

  25. Analysing Atlantic Hurricane Tracks

  26. Have a go! • Try creating a Google Map to show the contacts that you make over a period of time

  27. Questions • E-mail: tim@g4vxe.com • Twitter: tim_kirby • Slides will be available at http://www.g4vxe.com

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