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Map Tracks

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Contents

Aim & workflow

The aim of this tutorial is to visualize a track from a geo data file on a map. To do this you will learn how to convert a geo data file into a kml file of your track and then how you can visualize this on a (Google) map. For this tutorial you need a file of a GPS recording and a Google account (for creating custom Google maps). Visualize track on map - workflow

Tutorial requirements

GPS recordings

For this tutorial the following GPS recording files are used:

These files are recorded with the RoyalTek RGM-3800 tracker in NMEA0183 format. This is a part of the first file: 

  1. $GPGGA,130022.000,4122.6199,N,00208.7894,E,1,3,3.9,-51.3,M,0.0,M,,0000*47
  2. $GPGSV,3,1,10,15,45,000,34,17,45,030,41,08,45,060,28,26,45,090,30*73
  3. $GPGSV,3,2,10,29,45,120,0,28,45,150,40,10,45,180,31,09,45,210,34*4C
  4. $GPGSV,3,3,10,18,45,240,0,22,45,270,0*72
  5. $GPRMC,130022.000,A,4122.6199,N,00208.7894,E,001.42,145.73,010709,,,E*6E
  6. $RTDIST,A,2,4.0,3.9,1.0,0*6E
  7. $GPGGA,130039.000,4122.3746,N,00208.7728,E,1,3,3.9,-51.3,M,0.0,M,,0000*44
  8. $GPGSV,3,1,10,15,45,000,34,17,45,030,41,08,45,060,22,26,45,090,30*79
  9. $GPGSV,3,2,10,29,45,120,0,28,45,150,39,10,45,180,29,09,45,210,32*4D

Converting geo data

To convert geo data (files) a lot of local and online tools are available. For this tutorial the aim is to create a file that can be visualized on a map. A KML file is very suitable for this purpose. The geo data covertion tools below allow you to convert your GPS recording into a KML file.

GPS Visualizer

gpsvisualizer.com - create Google Earth file

"GPS Visualizer is a free, easy-to-use online utility that creates maps and profiles from GPS data (tracks and waypoints, including GPX files), street addresses, or simple coordinates. Use it to see where you've been, plan where you're going, or visualize geographic data (business locations, scientific observations, events, customers, real estate, geotagged photos, etc.)."

source: gpsvisualizer.com

Part of the GPS Visualizer tools is the GPS Visualizer KML creator, a fantastic online tool (meaning you don't need to install any software) that enables you to create KML files through an intuitive interface that also allows you to set advanced options.

To create a KML file all you need to do is upload or paste in your GPS recording files, select the desired output options and hit 'Create KML file'.
Alternatively you can also use your GPS recording to create a static map image with GPS Visualizer Draw a map or create profiles with Draw a profile.

Conversion settings

GPS Visualizer KML creator conversion form: gpsvisualizer.com - create Google Earth file

To create a KML file of your track using GPS Visualizer KML creator:

  • Upload: upload your GPS recordings by using the 'Browse...' option on the right. Note: If you have more than 3 files you can select 'Show additional file input boxes' in the bottom of the form. If you still need more upload slots, first create a KML file of the first files and then combine the created KML files by using the tool again and this uploading the created KML files.
  • General map settings:
    • File type: select '.kml' (.kmz is a zipped version)
    • Elevation: is often already defined in your GPS recording so you can select 'no'. Also Google Maps is a 2D representation and doesn't require the altitude to be defined. Otherwise you can select a SRTM data source if you want.
    • Timestamps (advanced option): Some applications including Google Earth provide animation tools which require timestamps. If you would like to use this option select 'yes'.
    • Time offset: If you use timestamps you might also want to adjust the time to your timezone. In that case enter the value in hours of the time difference compared to UTC.
  • Track options: define the appearance of your track.
  • Waypoints options: you are creating a file for your track so waypoints are of little interest.
  • Create: hit the 'Create KML file' button to create your KML file.
  • Save: right click on the created file and select 'Save link as...'.

The KML file of your track is now ready to be visualized on a map.

GPS Babel

GPS Babel - Commandline
GPS Babel - User Interface

"GPSBabel converts waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers and mapping programs. It also has powerful manipulation tools for such data."

Source: gpsbabel.org

To get started download GPS Babel (available for Windows, Mac and Linux) or use it online through the GPS Visualizer GPS convert gateway in an intuitive interface providing almost all the functionality of your local version of GPS Babel. The benefit of using a local copy of GPS Babel is that you can also use it when you don't have internet access.

Note: If you specifically want to create a KML file from your GPS recording GPS Visualizer KML creator provides more options.

GPS Babel provides both the option to convert geo data through a User Interface or using the Commandline.

Conversion settings

GPS Track in KML format

The three GPS recording files in NMEA0183 format provided at the beginning of this tutorial are converted into one file of the GPS track in KML format:

"KML is a file format used to display geographic data in an Earth browser, such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Maps for mobile. You can create KML files to pinpoint locations, add image overlays, and expose rich data in new ways. KML is an international standard maintained by the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC)."

source: Google Code

You can view and edit the KML code by opening your KML file in any text editor (eg. Notepad ++). Below is a part of the converted KML format file: 

  1. <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
  2. <kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">
  3.   <Document>
  4.     <name><![CDATA[20090701-1 + 20090701-2 + 20090701-3]]></name>
  5.     <Folder>
  6.       <name>Tracks</name>
  7.       <Placemark>
  8.         <name><![CDATA[20090701-1]]></name>
  9.         <MultiGeometry>
  10.           <LineString>
  11.             <altitudeMode>clampToGround</altitudeMode>
  12.             <coordinates>2.146490,41.376998,-51.300 2.146213,41.372910,-51.300 2.147223,41.376820,-51.300 2.147305,41.377948,-51.300 2.148113,41.378007,57.000 2.148275,41.377972,55.800 2.148427,41.377968,57.000 2.148197,41.377968,34.400 2.148192,41.378002,27.000 2.148065,41.377995,24.200 2.148023,41.377975,27.600 2.148030,41.377972,30.700 2.148022,41.377948,30.400 2.148070,41.378022,36.000 2.148123,41.378078,45.500 2.148108,41.378063,44.800 2.148098,41.378063,42.100 2.148073,41.378025,39.100 2.148073,41.378025,42.100 2.148068,41.378025,43.100 2.148067,41.378025,47.300 2.148030,41.377998,38.900 2.148032,41.377995,37.600 2.148043,41.377995,37.800 2.148052,41.377998,38.500 2.148058,41.377998,39.500 2.148033,41.377980,34.700 2.148037,41.377975,34.600 2.148047,41.377980,35.800 2.148023,41.377953,31.000 2.148018,41.377960,32.200 2.148003,41.377948,27.800 2.148015,41.377957,29.200 2.148032,41.377953,26.700 2.148042,41.377948,25.500 2.148052,41.377948,26.000 2.148040,41.377933,23.000 2.147978,41.377903,14.800 2.148010,41.377903,24.500 2.148015,41.377900,21.400 2.148047,41.377945,29.600 2.148080,41.377972,35.900 2.148055,41.377960,32.000 2.148097,41.377963,33.700 2.148115,41.377953,32.800 2.148082,41.377990,36.800 2.148040,41.377998,36.300 2.148040,41.377990,35.000 2.148042,41.377987,36.800 2.148033,41.377968,34.700 2.148038,41.377937,29.100 2.148007,41.377895,20.200 2.148040,41.377903,27.500 2.148085,41.377987,44.100 2.148042,41.377942,35.100 2.148077,41.377960,39.800 2.148058,41.377975,37.100 2.148145,41.377998,47.400 2.148187,41.377995,52.000 2.148137,41.377968,43.400 2.148133,41.377972,44.000 2.148115,41.377972,41.900 2.148143,41.377972,44.000 2.148068,41.377963,34.300 2.148043,41.377948,28.400 2.148138,41.378010,46.000 2.148128,41.378028,47.800 2.148022,41.377945,24.800 2.148033,41.377975,30.300 2.148112,41.378033,44.000 2.148175,41.378120,60.600 2.148163,41.378120,56.600 2.148053,41.378043,38.100 2.148000,41.378028,34.300 2.148055,41.377980,32.400 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2.150173,41.373742,47.900 2.150325,41.373585,41.900 2.150473,41.373437,35.300 2.150595,41.373292,32.800 2.150712,41.373130,31.600 2.150843,41.372963,33.200 2.150982,41.372810,31.900 2.151080,41.372643,31.500 2.151185,41.372508,41.300 2.151308,41.372345,41.500 2.151437,41.372203,42.400 2.151520,41.372040,40.200 2.151573,41.371972,39.500 2.151657,41.371883,41.300 2.151762,41.371762,37.900 2.151872,41.371632,34.800 2.151982,41.371478,34.200 2.152108,41.371330,37.300 2.152138,41.371125,35.900 2.152173,41.370930,34.600 2.152217,41.370812,35.600 2.152265,41.370758,36.000 2.152303,41.370628,39.700 2.152223,41.370487,39.600 2.152235,41.370338,37.500 2.152232,41.370217,42.300 2.152267,41.370105,44.100 2.152257,41.369992,44.400 2.152165,41.369927,41.300 2.152235,41.369805,39.100 2.152297,41.369717,46.400 2.152307,41.369678,47.100 2.152317,41.369682,50.400 2.152342,41.369713,55.800 2.152387,41.369788,69.900 2.152318,41.369655,41.300 2.152305,41.369652,43.000 2.152312,41.369675,43.600 2.152328,41.369708,48.800 2.152327,41.369720,45.100 2.152338,41.369735,49.100 2.152385,41.369762,64.100 2.152375,41.369752,57.300 2.152390,41.369782,63.800 2.152400,41.369785,69.000 2.152395,41.369782,64.700 2.152392,41.369782,63.800 2.152377,41.369755,58.800 2.152350,41.369728,52.000 2.152340,41.369708,50.300 2.152328,41.369693,47.000 2.152317,41.369687,43.700 2.152317,41.369678,43.300 2.152307,41.369667,40.900 2.152305,41.369663,40.000 2.152305,41.369663,40.100 2.152307,41.369663,40.300 2.152295,41.369678,39.800 2.152268,41.369678,36.100 2.152242,41.369672,32.100 2.152230,41.369660,28.700 2.152257,41.369672,32.000 2.152278,41.369675,35.300 2.152288,41.369678,37.200 2.152290,41.369682,37.400 2.152297,41.369678,38.300 2.152308,41.369678,39.900 2.152307,41.369675,39.500 2.152297,41.369655,36.900 2.152293,41.369655,35.400 2.152288,41.369643,33.500 2.152293,41.369648,34.400 2.152298,41.369655,36.400 2.152302,41.369663,38.200 2.152307,41.369655,39.100 2.152322,41.369678,43.000 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2.152325,41.369705,45.900 2.152312,41.369728,43.300 2.152318,41.369698,46.100 2.152312,41.369708,46.000 2.152317,41.369705,47.100 2.152333,41.369702,51.200 2.152337,41.369698,52.100 2.152338,41.369698,51.800 2.152352,41.369705,53.500 2.152368,41.369785,57.200 2.152402,41.369823,64.200 2.152407,41.369877,65.800 2.152397,41.369778,62.900 2.152393,41.369732,61.100 2.152388,41.369702,59.100 2.152390,41.369682,58.400 2.152365,41.369687,55.000 2.152400,41.369743,64.700 2.152382,41.369752,62.100 2.152352,41.369740,54.300 2.152387,41.369743,60.500 2.152398,41.369705,62.200 2.152392,41.369637,60.900 2.152383,41.369580,59.400 2.152353,41.369480,50.100 2.152375,41.369675,57.700 2.152407,41.369705,62.100 2.152357,41.369705,52.900 2.152358,41.369725,56.800 2.152362,41.369725,56.000 2.152408,41.369752,65.300 2.152415,41.369740,63.100 2.152427,41.369743,66.500 2.152432,41.369747,70.600 2.152450,41.369708,67.000 2.152537,41.369687,49.500 2.152560,41.369622,48.300 2.152603,41.369583,54.300 2.152702,41.369518,53.600 2.152820,41.369607,61.300 2.152843,41.369602,58.800 2.152823,41.369708,58.200 2.152810,41.369720,57.000 2.152788,41.369667,52.000 2.152752,41.369500,47.800 2.152655,41.369358,48.200 2.152518,41.369273,56.400 2.152513,41.369255,59.300 2.152505,41.369243,59.600 2.152528,41.369163,62.100 2.152647,41.369075,61.300 2.152830,41.369102,63.600 2.152890,41.369122,70.900 2.152863,41.369095,68.100 2.152852,41.369145,67.900 2.152895,41.369133,72.200 2.152915,41.369145,76.000 2.152910,41.369157,74.500 2.152945,41.369092,69.600 2.152978,41.369003,71.000 2.153040,41.368947,73.100 2.153248,41.369007,75.800 2.153440,41.369053,81.200 2.153638,41.369125,79.000 2.153832,41.369220,74.100 2.154007,41.369328,74.300 2.154207,41.369408,76.700 2.154375,41.369492,74.800 2.154520,41.369530,71.100 2.154508,41.369542,73.900 2.154500,41.369560,65.700 2.154482,41.369580,66.200 2.154525,41.369557,51.100 2.154502,41.369515,26.800 2.154478,41.369548,60.800 2.154448,41.369507,66.800 2.154517,41.369362,67.400 2.154640,41.369258,64.400 2.154815,41.369382,65.800 2.154972,41.369468,68.700 2.154977,41.369495,70.900 2.155062,41.369362,69.400 2.155222,41.369267,66.800 2.155413,41.369178,67.000 2.155547,41.369048,65.100 2.155673,41.368903,67.500 2.155820,41.368797,68.700 2.156052,41.368598,71.600 2.156243,41.368507,76.200 2.156388,41.368347,74.400 2.156488,41.368198,80.300 2.156680,41.368130,72.500 2.156872,41.368077,68.000 2.157130,41.367992,73.300 2.157278,41.367955,69.400 2.157388,41.367852,64.800 2.157415,41.367733,71.300 2.157420,41.367600,77.300 2.157447,41.367515,81.300 2.157638,41.367462,80.600 2.157905,41.367477,84.300 2.158167,41.367493,77.400 2.158290,41.367627,78.300 2.158452,41.367730,82.900 2.158638,41.367817,80.300 2.158795,41.367935,83.400 2.158735,41.368057,85.400 2.158640,41.368092,80.200 2.158585,41.368122,79.400 2.158587,41.368137,79.700 2.158585,41.368142,81.000 2.158585,41.368127,81.400 2.158582,41.368115,78.200 2.158583,41.368115,76.700 2.158593,41.368110,76.200 2.158598,41.368157,79.400 2.158583,41.368168,80.600 2.158573,41.368163,80.100 2.158567,41.368172,80.600 2.158567,41.368187,82.400 2.158563,41.368202,83.500 2.158565,41.368213,82.700 2.158558,41.368187,78.600 2.158560,41.368168,79.100 2.158565,41.368153,78.200 2.158563,41.368137,77.700 2.158567,41.368122,79.200 2.158602,41.368122,81.400 2.158730,41.368023,78.100 2.158870,41.367928,78.000 2.159017,41.367863,83.100 2.159215,41.367928,83.500 2.159422,41.367897,82.500 2.159610,41.367958,78.700 2.159770,41.368068,75.000 2.159945,41.368190,75.600 2.160032,41.368302,82.500 2.159952,41.368332,97.200 2.160000,41.368290,92.800 2.160035,41.368267,101.000 2.160133,41.368180,88.700 2.160260,41.368065,84.100 2.160233,41.367932,84.800 2.160200,41.367878,85.000 2.160170,41.367908,84.000 2.160203,41.367905,87.300 2.160202,41.367920,90.500 2.160197,41.367908,88.900 2.160292,41.367873,88.700 2.160455,41.367970,89.200 2.160617,41.368088,87.600 2.160732,41.368187,92.700 2.160893,41.368095,92.900 2.160970,41.367932,95.600 2.160945,41.367820,98.900 2.160997,41.367687,97.300 2.161050,41.367585,103.000 2.161118,41.367485,102.600 2.161103,41.367405,107.600 2.161035,41.367337,111.300 2.161097,41.367225,113.500 2.161257,41.367118,112.600 2.161418,41.367023,115.800 2.161583,41.366925,118.500 2.161675,41.366848,119.700 2.161517,41.366787,119.600 2.161322,41.366715,121.100 2.161157,41.366592,121.400 2.161025,41.366463,122.200 2.160948,41.366292,124.200 2.160843,41.366138,126.100 2.160728,41.365975,125.800 2.160703,41.365810,122.800 2.160555,41.365680,122.300 2.160408,41.365543,121.700 2.160147,41.365482,124.900 2.159977,41.365402,126.800 2.159933,41.365390,126.100 2.159932,41.365390,125.100 2.159915,41.365372,128.200 2.159937,41.365383,125.200 2.159912,41.365383,122.900 2.159858,41.365337,126.800 2.159982,41.365413,124.500 2.159888,41.365348,124.000 2.159730,41.365238,125.100 2.159597,41.365155,125.700 2.159473,41.365082,126.200 2.159328,41.364967,124.600 2.159172,41.364845,123.100 </coordinates>
  13.             <tessellate>1</tessellate>
  14.           </LineString>
  15.         </MultiGeometry>
  16.         <Snippet></Snippet>
  17.         <Style>
  18.           <LineStyle>
  19.             <color>FF0000E6</color>
  20.             <width>4</width>
  21.           </LineStyle>
  22.         </Style>
  23.         <description>&amp;nbsp;</description>
  24.       </Placemark>
  25.       <Placemark>
  26.         <name><![CDATA[20090701-2]]></name>
  27.         <MultiGeometry>

In the KML code you can see how the information of the original NMEA0183 format files are translated. The three tracks are all placed in a document as separate placemarks. Within each placemark the geometry of each track is defined as a polyline (LineString) containing a list of all the coordinates (longitude,latitude,altitude) separated by spaces. Within the LineStyle the appearance of each track is defined by a line color and line width which you can also adjust easily using a text editor. Colorpicker.com is an easy tool to select a web color. Finally a description can be added to each track which is shown when the track is clicked on in a map viewer.

For more information on KML elements see the Google Code KML Reference.

Viewing the GPS track

You can view the KML file of your GPS track in almost any map viewer like Google Earth or Google Maps.

Google Earth

Viewing your GPS track in Google Earth requires you to install the Google Earth software first. An advantage of using Google Earth is that it can cache maps. So if you have viewed a location before these are cached on your computer so that if you want look it up again later you do not need an internet connection to view the maps. Google Earth also allows you to view in perspective and play track animations.

To view the KML file of your GPS track you can load it into Google Earth by opening the file (file > open...) if it's stored locally. If the KML file is stored online you can view it using a network link (add > network link) by entering the URL in the link field. You can for instance copy the URL of the KML file generated with GPS Visualizer.

Viewing the GPS track in Google Earth

Google Maps

Google Maps has the advantage over Google Earth that it's an online application that does not require you to install additional software. If the KML file of your GPS track is available online you can view it by simply entering the URL in the search field in Google Maps. You can for instance copy the URL of the KML file generated with GPS Visualizer. If you only have the KML file stored locally and/or you want to save it in Google Maps you need to sign in with a Google account and then select 'My maps' on the left side. Create a new map and select import to load your KML file using 'Browse...' for local files or enter the URL of your KML file if it's available online. When you are finished editing click done. The KML file is now saved under your account.


See the video below for a quick preview on how to create a 'My map' in Google Maps:

You do not have the Flash plugin installed, which means you are missing out on great interactive content. Download Flash.

source: Google Earth Outreach

This video comes with a detailed and will illustrated My Maps tutorial.

Alternatively there's a more step by step video on the Google Maps playlist on YouTube.

What's next?

With your map you can now do the following:

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