Maps

[Tins]

I have a few different map apps, some good, some not. Most cost $$$. But if you want good offline maps then have a look here: Getlost Maps – Free Topographic Maps of Australia (https://www.getlost.com.au/)

On iOS and Android there is an app called Avenza. The app is free but their maps are not, but the GetLost maps are free and can be downloaded into the Avenza app. I haven't tried them out yet but I'm off for a couple of days in the high country next week and am keen to test them against my others.

[ramblingboy42]

I love maps, I have possibly hundreds and two very large atlases

Plus I have a number of marine maps and navigation books from when I did my marine studies.

I hate getting them out because at some stage I have to put them away.

[Tins]

I love maps, I have possibly hundreds and two very large atlases

Plus I have a number of marine maps and navigation books from when I did my marine studies.

I hate getting them out because at some stage I have to put them away.

I love 'em too. I much prefer hard copy maps, especially for trip planning, however GPS maps are great for the most important part of map reading, which of is course knowing where you are.

[loanrangie]

Nice one John, will load Avenza onto my android head unit and test the maps out next trip.

[Tins]

Nice one John, will load Avenza onto my android head unit and test the maps out next trip.

Can't have too many maps.

[V8Ian]

Had a quick look John, it seems less detailed than Hema.
Do you have the Hema app?

[Tins]

Had a quick look John, it seems less detailed than Hema.
Do you have the Hema app?

No. Hema lost me when they went to a subscription, I didn't have the old app. I did download some of the Hema maps into Memory Map. No, my app of choice is ExplorOz. Seems to have even more detail than Hema. I also have VMS as an app. Like I said, can't have too many.

I wanted to share the GetLost maps as thy are totally free and easily good enough for casual use. My little trip next week will test them out.

[AK83]

Yeah, I've been using Getlost for a while now.

Note that they did have a 'rendering' issue on one of the larger Vic maps, where the image itself was incorrectly stitched up.
I emailed the chap, and he reckoned he'd sort it quickly.

I had to search my emails, and it was the Vic East v14d map sheet, if anyone has downloaded it.
I noticed via JTs link this sheet is now v15a, so hopefully sorted. I'm downloading the updates as I type.

I use them in OziAndroid .. worth the $s ($25 I think) if you run droid.

I've checked Hema, and while their mapping is very high quality, some points aren't marked, where they may be on the Vic Topo series.
I regularly use the hema 150K digital map on my tablet in Ozi, but when I want detail, Getlost is now the option to go for as they're updated regularly.

I've had the vic firemap series for a good 20 odd years now, and tracks change but marked spots usually don't change too much.

Another very decent mapping app is OSMAnd. It uses the free OpenMaps data sets. Quite good. You can download maps for your area so no need to rely on live data/connectivity. Pretty much all free stuff, but has paid for addons if you need them.

I personally don't like using vector maps, and prefer bitmap mapping. Just a personal preference on my part .. maybe my years of heavy reliance on Melways.

So getlost can be used in OSMAnd if you wish .. ie. totally free.

I'm not so sure about Tins' comment that "you can't have too many maps" tho ... 236Gb of 'em .. I think maybe I may have reached this level.
And I'm yet to get much at all in terms of WA, NT and QLD too(I don't go out that way too much).

Nah! you're spot on .. can't ever have too many maps [thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig]

[350RRC]

As a kid my all time favourite map was Broadbent's Port Philip Bay.

Had all the nav light sectors, colours, timing, etc for every light in the bay including all the channel markers, piers and lighthouses.

A lot has changed (like the west channel being unused and no longer dredged).

DL

[Tins]

.. maybe my years of heavy reliance on Melways.



One of the finest example of maps on the planet IMO. Superb.

[Saitch]

My wife cannot fathom my fascination with my map collection. Both digital and hard copy.[bigsad]

[austastar]

Hi,
For main road driving, I've switched to a large screen Garmin.
Link (https://www.ja-gps.com.au/Garmin/rv-775-mt-s/)
I've loaded the Hema map (on an SD card) for back road work and it seems to do everything I need it to do.
(The 'multi-tool' approach with a tablet was wearing a bit thin.)
It pairs nicely with the Windows Basecamp application which can use the OzToppo or Hema map from the usb connected Garmin.
Having the Hema road atlas gives a handy paper map for easy comparisons using the same visuals.
Cheers

[NavyDiver]

I have a few different map apps, some good, some not. Most cost $$$. But if you want good offline maps then have a look here: Getlost Maps – Free Topographic Maps of Australia (https://www.getlost.com.au/)

On iOS and Android there is an app called Avenza. The app is free but their maps are not, but the GetLost maps are free and can be downloaded into the Avenza app. I haven't tried them out yet but I'm off for a couple of days in the high country next week and am keen to test them against my others.

A mate who is a sparky has some cool OLD maps from VIC SEC and water Authority. What is really good with some of those is tracks and trails which are now lost and not on many newer maps. Not really good for driving but hiking/ back packing can be helpful for a reference point. You can never have too many charts or maps[biggrin]

Thanks for the tip John. Installing it now. Have a great trip. Is it in your new beast?

[Tins]

My wife cannot fathom my fascination with my map collection. Both digital and hard copy.[bigsad]

One of my late wife's favourite sayings was "women can't read maps and men won't ask for directions".

[Tins]

A mate who is a sparky has some cool OLD maps from VIC SEC and water Authority. What is really good with some of those is tracks and trails which are now lost and not on many newer maps. Not really good for driving but hiking/ back packing can be helpful for a reference point. You can never have too many charts or maps[biggrin]

Thanks for the tip John. Installing it now. Have a great trip. Is it in your new beast?

I have som old survey maps. They are all monochrome, but that's no bother to me. Yes, some tracks on them don't show now.

Yes. I need to see if I like the OKA's layout and what I need to change. Not a serious trip, just a few nights to get away after four long years.

[NOFUSS]

As every one has said you can not have enough maps, a lot of the digital stuff do not have all dater on them.EG track old road and water points, I have some maps hand drawn for the old wood cutter train lines from Kalgoorlie. these maps show all the roads and mining camp/towns that where around back then, I use oz explore as you can scan old maps and then hash them in to use while out looking around and keep paper maps in the house to last a bit longer,
Other good maps that keep old dater on them is geology maps.
I use Australia geology travel maps app on phone as i use pastoral lease boundary maps for work, it is a payed app but is very good for swapping out map dater for what info i need at the time.

Hope you all have a good festive season

[Saitch]

Another source for Qld info is the old Forestry Dept. maps, if you can find them!

[Tote]

I have a fair collection of the old NSW NRMA touring maps that I collected over the years, not much use in the high country but pretty good out round Bourke and further west. They have all the farm names on them and railway sidings that ceased to exist 40 years ago.

Regards,
Tote

[Ferret]

I reckon the best free downloadable maps for Aus are located here.

OpenAndroidMaps (https://www.openandromaps.org/en/downloads/australia-newzealand-oceania)

While some say they don't like vector maps I think they can't be beaten when zooming in. As a comparison, a section of the Getlost map for Fitzroy crossing zoomed in as much as you probably can get away with and the corresponding section from OpenAndroid to the right. And note, the Getlost map doesn't even show the presence of the town airport.

175552175551

[JDNSW]

One of my best garage sale purchases was a vertical planfile to keep my maps in. I think it cost $25 and was in perfect condition, with a large stock of new stick on hangers for the maps.

[350RRC]

Here's a link to one of a large section of central Vic, that was 15 years in the making and finished in 1852. The little black lines around the squatter's homesteads are indeed fences.............. the only ones that were there at the time.

Exquisite detail, vegetation descriptions, etc. Hours of fun. 3mB download.

https://www.yandoit.net/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/large.selwyn_map2-3.pdf

cheers, DL

[loanrangie]

So which map series is the most detailed for the size, the getlostmaps 1/25000 is a 17 gig download.

[AK83]

So which map series is the most detailed for the size, the getlostmaps 1/25000 is a 17 gig download.

If the issue about the 17Gigs is that because it's a single file, I reckon download the Vic East and Vic West sheets.
They're 7Gigs each, and the easiset way to use the maps .. rather than using individual sheets.

Or does your Ozi device have limited memory available and need to store only specific sheets on it due to not enough room?

The 7Gig large half vic sheets run fine on quite old hardware if this is a concern for you.

I have a Lenovo M10 which isn't the fastest device in Android land ... but moving either of the maps around by hand isn't an issue. Never runs out of memory whilst using moving map.
I regularly use the more detailed/less detailed feature of Ozi when driving around looking for either wider view maps(eg. a state map for driving situations), then switch to 1:25K if I want more details ... again no performance issues.

Same with Galaxy Tab 7 from about 10 years ago now.
This was my first mobile device running Ozi Android, and back then tablets seemed to be much more expensive for the features. So I got a barebones 7" due to value for money philosophy I had at that time. Stupid!
Anyhow, running these huge single files even on old hardware isn't so bad in terms of performance. The Tab 7 does take a sec or two sometimes to move the map image to where my finger wanted it to be .. but it's literally a split sec glitch that doesn't really impede on usability.

I'd recommend to get the two east/west maps. If the issue about the file size is a concern, you download one half one month and the other half another month .. etc.
The vic east/west sheets are just mosaic-ed versions of the entire 1:25000 series.

When Getlost first started with these, they didn't have the mosaic sheets .. and you'd have to do it yourself ... very slow tedious process!

[austastar]

Hi,
Some of the Open Street Maps are giving the Govt cartography a run for its money. Even the Toppo maps in Garmin Turn-by-Turn Navigators are now very good on minor roads and tracks.
I'm using some of the walking and mountain bike map sites to supplement map info and find tracks that are not on older paper based editions.
Being able to plot tracks that follow the road, and then change to satellite image and back to other themed maps on the fly before exporting to a .gpx file takes a lot of the effort out of actually navigating whilst driving. Well that is my experience.
I started with an old laptop and OziExplorer in 2004 using the 1:250k State series. No such thing as Google Satellite back then, but I did download a heap of Satellite images with some colour-shifting at 1 pixel = 35m. They were only usable to get some idea of upcoming terrain, but Ozi could read them. Even the rail line across the Nularbor blended into the background, so it was no use for minor roads.
Next few trips I used an 8" tablet and Ozi Android along with Hema. Both worked well despite being totally different, but the tablet's USB port and cable were a weak point and caused problems. A magnetic cable connection helped avoid more damage.
With only 16Gb the tablet is now over full of other stuff and I've had to delete Hema for space. Pity, cause the downloadable extra detail maps were most useful on a few occasions.
With Garmin advertising Hema maps on one of its 7" navigators, I bought one to try.
Everything is very 'Garmin' and getting it to do what I want it to do has proved taxing.
My latest victory over its 'Garminess' has been to import a long and convoluted .Gpx file of a gravel road trip across Victoria.
I have another .Gpx file following the Wimmera River from source to outfall which Garmin converted to a turn - by - turn route. Albeit broken into trips 1-4, but I can live with that. Garmin is not designed for finding every bridge over a river, but it did do it.
Yes, it is a long way from a Shell roadmap and a compass for sure.
Cheers

[loanrangie]

If the issue about the 17Gigs is that because it's a single file, I reckon download the Vic East and Vic West sheets.
They're 7Gigs each, and the easiset way to use the maps .. rather than using individual sheets.

Or does your Ozi device have limited memory available and need to store only specific sheets on it due to not enough room?

The 7Gig large half vic sheets run fine on quite old hardware if this is a concern for you.

I have a Lenovo M10 which isn't the fastest device in Android land ... but moving either of the maps around by hand isn't an issue. Never runs out of memory whilst using moving map.
I regularly use the more detailed/less detailed feature of Ozi when driving around looking for either wider view maps(eg. a state map for driving situations), then switch to 1:25K if I want more details ... again no performance issues.

Same with Galaxy Tab 7 from about 10 years ago now.
This was my first mobile device running Ozi Android, and back then tablets seemed to be much more expensive for the features. So I got a barebones 7" due to value for money philosophy I had at that time. Stupid!
Anyhow, running these huge single files even on old hardware isn't so bad in terms of performance. The Tab 7 does take a sec or two sometimes to move the map image to where my finger wanted it to be .. but it's literally a split sec glitch that doesn't really impede on usability.

I'd recommend to get the two east/west maps. If the issue about the file size is a concern, you download one half one month and the other half another month .. etc.
The vic east/west sheets are just mosaic-ed versions of the entire 1:25000 series.

When Getlost first started with these, they didn't have the mosaic sheets .. and you'd have to do it yourself ... very slow tedious process!Space isn't an issue as I have 96gig of storage space on my head unit including a 64gig micro SD card, I would prefer to just download one set of maps of which ever will work best.

[DiscoDB]

For Victoria, the GetLost 25K maps are great. I just updated to the V15 maps on my iPad using the Avenza Maps app.

The other great thing about Avenza is you can also load the Parks Victoria visitor guide maps as well, plus the Geoscience Australia special maps which are all free. Good for planning where to go.

I have around 1000 maps loaded in total which are all free - and I still go looking for more maps.

If you do buy a bundle of the GetLost maps, the creator (Tommo Harrison) only gets about a third of what you pay to Avenza - but if you download all for free (can be done one by one) you can make a donation directly via his website to support the great work.

If you have internet access, the VicEmergency app has the maps used by the CFA which are brilliant. They look to have tied in the VicPlanning property details as they show every property boundary and lot number as well. Great for doing some pre-trip planning if going well and truly off road.

Plus GetLostMaps now also have an excellent on-line map tool which you zoom in on as well.

You can never have enough maps.

[AK83]

..... I would prefer to just download one set of maps of which ever will work best.

yep!
Then download the two sheets from Getlost, Vic East and Vic West .. and whole of Victoria covered with just two maps. Ozi does the rest.

You could get the situation where it will change from one sheet to another if you travel east-west in the overlap area.
The west boundary of the East sheet is at approximately Deer Park, and the east boundary of the West sheet is Melb city .. so makes it about 25-ish klms or so of overlap.

[biggin]

Do the Vic East and VIcWest files download the calibration map file as well (for Ozi)?
Cheers.

[350RRC]

A bit earlier than the last link I posted. Same sort of detail, but there is a huge expanse of Vic where 'no one' had been. The Murray upstream of the Gee is unknown country.

Great vegetation descriptions by H & Hovell.

cheers, DL

Australia. - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection (https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/workspace/handleMediaPlayer?qvq=&trs=&mi=&lunaMediaId=RUMSEY~8~1~33883~1170035)

[DiscoDB]

Do the Vic East and VIcWest files download the calibration map file as well (for Ozi)?
Cheers.

With the OziExplorer map downloads you get both the OZF4 and MAP files.

The Map Table – Getlost Maps (http://www.getlost.com.au/downloads/the-map-table/)

[AK83]

Do the Vic East and VIcWest files download the calibration map file as well (for Ozi)?
Cheers.


Yes. it's a zip file. the cal file is there when you unzip it.

[spudfan]

Back in the day I was a Land Surveyor. This was when theodolites, levels staffs etc were tools of the trade. It was a least a two man job, one holding the staff and the other doing the readings. Calculations were done with a calculator and written on paper. The first plot was in pencil. The second plot was in ink on an overlaid sheet that you could see the pencil plot underneath. Names etc were put on using a pen and a stencil.
GPS was in its infancy and as it was primarily a military tool the civilian edition had a built in error, quite a large one.
Now someone walks around the area to be surveyed with a pack on his back and the GPS does the rest.

[JDNSW]

Back in the day I was a Surveyor on geophysical surveys. This was when theodolites, levels staffs etc were tools of the trade. It was a least a two man job, one holding the staff and the other doing the readings. Calculations were done with mental arithmetic and tables, and written on paper.

Calculators were the size of a typewriter, weighed about15kg, and cost more than a month's pay, and we did not even dream of using one.

The first plot was in pencil. The second plot was in ink on an overlaid sheet that you could see the pencil plot underneath. Names etc were put on using a pen and a stencil.
GPS was not even dreamed of, although its predecessor, TRANSIT, was being tested, but would not actually be available to us for another twenty years.

[4bee]

I have a few different map apps, some good, some not. Most cost $$$. But if you want good offline maps then have a look here: Getlost Maps – Free Topographic Maps of Australia (https://www.getlost.com.au/)

On iOS and Android there is an app called Avenza. The app is free but their maps are not, but the GetLost maps are free and can be downloaded into the Avenza app. I haven't tried them out yet but I'm off for a couple of days in the high country next week and am keen to test them against my others.


So, you'll be missng for 6 or so months then? Keep a good lookout for Airline Pilots.[bighmmm][bigsad]

[4bee]

Back in the day I was a Land Surveyor. This was when theodolites, levels staffs etc were tools of the trade. It was a least a two man job, one holding the staff and the other doing the readings. Calculations were done with a calculator and written on paper. The first plot was in pencil. The second plot was in ink on an overlaid sheet that you could see the pencil plot underneath. Names etc were put on using a pen and a stencil.
GPS was in its infancy and as it was primarily a military tool the civilian edition had a built in error, quite a large one.
Now someone walks around the area to be surveyed with a pack on his back and the GPS does the rest.



Really? That should reduce the cost of having one's property surveyed in future.
Just a quick walkaround to show the bloke/woman where the existing & possibly incorrect, points are plus a few sums, what could possibly go wrong?

Had a case here a few months ago. My Frog neighbour thought he'd put one over me by pulling out the timber survey pegs (don't ask) even though the ignorant bastard could be fined about $2000 per peg for so doing. (the cost of replacing them)


A person who deliberately moves or removes a survey peg (other than to build on the boundary or as permitted under the Survey Act 1992 (SA)) commits an offence. That person can be [B]fined up to $2000 and will be liable to pay for the boundary to be re-surveyed [s 52].14 Nov 2014




Spoke to an old Survey Draughtsman acquaintance down the road. who sorted out the correct points.
He explained that the practice is, they hammer in a 12" length of of twisted Reo rod about 30 cm away from the peg when it was placed. Referring to the ground plan I knew which direction it was in. He took off some online Drawings of our corner so with a bit of measuring & faffing about I was able to locate the exact spot of the removed pegs which had been surreptitiously covered up by Napoleon with tamped soil & Leaves, grass etc.


Grabbed a spade & brushed (no need to dig, just brush it around) it around the surface & BINGO, I hit the top of the Reo peg. Carefully measured around & was able to find the original Peg position. Hammered in a couple of Star Piquets & left a couple of 30cm red tape markers on them. (Thought afterwards I should have tried to get some Tri-colour or even White Tape):Rolling: I hope he was suitably mystified.


I was told Surveyors today use a Metal Detector to locate the steel peg.

I took images of the latest position in relation to other objects, Tank valve, post etc for future reference.


I guess this practice is Oz Wide to locate 50 x 50mm rotted Wooden Pegs.

[V8Ian]

'Allo 'allo, you should have waited until he planted some garlic on your ground, before moving the peg back.

[4bee]

'Allo 'allo, you should have waited until he planted some garlic on your ground, before moving the peg back.


Oui, some of that squeaky clean plastic looking stuff from China via WW probably.. [bigsad]


I now have to spray off a mess of that bastard Marshmallow weed that has proliferated on the Boundary from his gaff..



Living in Suburbia was never like this.:bat: