View Full Version : Appalachian Trail on Updated Google Maps
Andrew Ferk
03-20-2013, 01:41
I used the AT GIS data (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail/mapping-gis-data/mapping-gis-data-download-agreement) provided the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and displayed it on Google Maps.
https://www.google.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=MAP&q=select+col35+from+1D_iQx1XbJeLqSwHHwCpDZbZpfQTMF ZNvnjUKzuk&h=false&lat=40.88551110483664&lng=-76.82217053075408&z=6&t=1&l=col35&y=2&tmplt=2
I understand there are a few good options already available on the web (including ATC's interactive map (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/find-a-hike/interactive-map)). But, every available option uses Google Maps version 2, which is being shutdown in May. Also, I believe this is the first example that uses EVERY data point provided from that very large KMZ file (over 4 mb). You cannot load the KMZ file using Google Maps because it is too large. So, I uncompressed the KMZ to the KML format (about 17 MB), and imported the KML file as a Google Fusion Table. From there, it was rather simple, as Google Drive's Fusion Table editor gave me the ability to load it as a map and create the link which I gave all of you. This should be very efficient, as Google Maps and Google Fusion Table play very nice together.
Have fun playing with it. I find it more efficient to browse the trail in Google Maps than I did in Google Earth.
Regards,
Andrew
Nice job. Is that a permanent link?
Andrew Ferk
03-20-2013, 08:53
Nice job. Is that a permanent link?
It's all hosted through Google Drive, Google Fusion Table, and Google Maps. I'm sure at some point in time one of these services will change that will break this link. But that still may be a few years from now.
It's all hosted through Google Drive, Google Fusion Table, and Google Maps. I'm sure at some point in time one of these services will change that will break this link. But that still may be a few years from now.
I saved it as a google fusion table on my hard drive. Thanks by the way. I don't know anything about google fusion tables so I will try disconnecting from the internet and deleting all my temp files etc and then opening your stuff in windows explorer from my hard drive to see what is left.
Nothing left, so I'm guessing it depends on google maps always being there like you say. Cool stuff. Hate Windows 8 by the way. So hard to get around my own hard drive. I'm sure the CIA and my viruses know more about my hard drive than I do lol.
FarmerChef
03-20-2013, 10:40
Thanks for posting this. Very cool!
On a related question: why does the gray line in gmaps marked "Appalachian Trail" diverge so much from both the ATC's interactive map red line and yours? It's clear the gray line is less details and wrong in certain spots as I've hiked them and can verify it. But I don't understand why they haven't updated their own data points yet or which ones they're using. Does anyone know?
Andrew Ferk
03-20-2013, 21:39
Nothing left, so I'm guessing it depends on google maps always being there like you say. Cool stuff. Hate Windows 8 by the way. So hard to get around my own hard drive. I'm sure the CIA and my viruses know more about my hard drive than I do lol.
This map is entirely dependent on Google and being connected to the Internet :)
On a related question: why does the gray line in gmaps marked "Appalachian Trail" diverge so much from both the ATC's interactive map red line and yours? It's clear the gray line is less details and wrong in certain spots as I've hiked them and can verify it. But I don't understand why they haven't updated their own data points yet or which ones they're using. Does anyone know?
That's a good question, but I don't have the answer. It is possible that the data they used to create the original trail markings on Google Map have been updated. Or maybe they drew it in by hand :)
Also, I was incorrect when I said all other maps use Google Maps 2. The map provided at http://postholer.com/gmap/ uses Google Maps 3. I'm going to email the ATC about their interactive map, because I would hate to see them have a non-functioning map come May.
Odd Man Out
03-20-2013, 22:43
Is there a way of getting the trail trace shown on a version of Google maps with all the other features so I could search for businesses, calculate driving directions, etc? I would like all the other Google Map menus.
Andrew Ferk
03-21-2013, 00:16
Is there a way of getting the trail trace shown on a version of Google maps with all the other features so I could search for businesses, calculate driving directions, etc? I would like all the other Google Map menus.
I'm not sure if you can make it identical, but you could get pretty close by using a bunch of the web services and APIs provided by Google. For example, by using Places (https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/places) and Controls (https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/controls#) you could add the autocomplete search feature and have results displayed with a marker. I imagine I'll be doing more with this map over the next few months before I head out on my SOBO journey.