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Navigation Software for the Alpine Motorbike Rider
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In this section we would like to reduce the
analysis of available software to only program packages that allow a direct view of the position data on a digital map on a PC. There are enough software packages on the market and the development is moving fast,
which would be difficult for us to follow up frequently.
Basically
we differentiate between programs, where you have to purchase maps in addition, and those that already include these. A member of the first category is a program called "WINGPS". The program can be
downloaded from the Internet and enables the integration of self- scanned maps.
Who wants to work with very detailed maps of
Germany and neighbouring countries, either needs to add self scanned maps, or must rely on available map software with GPS interface. I would like to restrict to programs at this point as they are supplied by the
official Land Surveying Offices, named in German language “Landesvermessungsamt” and ignore special programs. You can find more information in the apropriate user forums.
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Official Land Surveying Office maps Germany (Landesvermessungsamt)
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The best maps of my knowledge include those issued by the land survey offices CD-ROM of the series "top50". It
should be noted that some of the land surveying offices also could still have older map CD-ROMs on stock, which are not part of that series, and therefore do not have any GPS interface.
TOP50 - CD-ROMs, offer excellent material within a province on scale 1:50,000. Moreover, also
1:200,000 maps are included, covering a continuous range far beyond the respective county.
The program is completed by a map covering all counties in Germany on one map in scale
1:1,000,000. The possibilities of the GPS position display in this series are a bit spartan, but nevertheless, the connection works without problems.
Meanwhile, CD-ROMs in this series are available for all provinces. The prices of the CD-ROMs of
the top 50 series are about 30,-Euro - 60,-Euro and are available through the respective state survey offices.
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Official Land Surveying Office maps Austria (Bundesamt fuer Eich- und Vermessungswesen)
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From the Austrian land surveying office, the BEV ( Bundesamt fuer Eich- und Vermessungswesen) you can order two
different CD-ROMs with map material from Austria including a GPS interface. You will find maps on the CD-ROMs with the
following scales: 1:50,000; 1:200,000 and 1:500,000. The mapping software is identical with the software supplied on the
German Topo50 series maps. You can either order those CDs directly at the BEV (Tel.: +43 1 40146-464 or 462) or purchase it in all land surveying offices in Austria or in book stores.
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Official Land Surveying Office maps Switzerland (Bundesamt fuer Landestopographie)
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The Swiss Surveying Office offers under the name "SWISS MAP100" a CD-ROM of Switzerland with topograhic maps
at a scale of 1:100,000. The software is identical with the TOPO series in Germany and provides a GPS interface at your disposal as well.
Very interesting also is also an additional map on the CD-ROM, at scale 1:1,000,000. As seen in the map extract below, the entire Alpine region and more will be covered.
This picture shows a map section in scale 1:1,000,000 from the CD-ROM Switzerland available from the Federal Office of Topography. (SFR
198,-). In Germany this CD-Rom can be ordered for about Euro 130 ,- from Touratech ISBN 3-302-06092-0.
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