Winter Mapping Project

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BillMiddlebrook
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Winter Mapping Project

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

For you mapping nerds out there:

I'm tired of paying large Google Map API fees for both the site and the mobile apps, so I decided to set up a map tile server on the .com. I'm currently working on a custom, 14ers.com base map that can be used as the default on the site and in the mobile apps. This means a lot of GIS work - processing Colorado 1/3 ARC DEM files, water body and land cover data, etc., and creating a large set of map tile layers for the Colorado mountains, up to a zoom level (probably 18) that works for detailed map viewing.

It will take me a few months to get everything on the site and apps but that's my main project for the off-season. :) That and moving to a new web hosting server that will provide additional space and processing. I've already procured that, I just need to migrate the site one of these weeks.
Fascism, xenophobia, racism, and ignorance are not inevitable—they are choices. And so are compassion, understanding, and justice. Educate yourself and choose better.
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User avatar
BillMiddlebrook
Site Administrator
Posts: 6728
Joined: 7/25/2004
14ers: 58  47  19 
13ers: 174 45 37
Trip Reports (5)
 

Re: Winter Mapping Project

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

mapbaselayers.jpg
12/31 Update:

The map server stuff is done! The site now hosts it's own map server of Colorado, providing tiles up to a zoom level of 18. The old, lower-resolution USFSTopo layer that we accessed from CalTopo cloud servers has been removed and "14ersTopo" is now the default on all interactive maps. I did, however, leave the USGS-provided topo map base layer in there because it's still useful.

And this one has been on my whiteboard for a looong time...
With the map server completed, I integrated it into the 14er/13er route description edit/update process. All static topo maps are now automatically rendered using route GPX data. I used to spend many hours in Photoshop updating static route maps when routes changed, including those large overview maps at the bottom of the 14er pages. No more. And the new maps will automatically be picked up by the iOS and Android mobile apps.

Example of a new, auto-generated map:
Image
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Fascism, xenophobia, racism, and ignorance are not inevitable—they are choices. And so are compassion, understanding, and justice. Educate yourself and choose better.
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