Post by pol on Jun 23, 2011 0:48:45 GMT 10
I was asked to give an example of OziExplorer as this is the mapping tool that I use.
When I started detecting I bought a cheap GPS which was good to mark spots I had been to, but wanted more.
I upgraded my GPS to a Garmin mapping handheld wich was used in conjunction with Mapsource, which was a great choice, but eventually I wanted more information and ease of use.
Along came the use of Google Earth, coupled with the Garmin HCX Vista allowed waypoints to be created and transferred from one to the other with ease and the ablility to see the ground....Almost a perfect solution and mapsource went to the unused folder.
Then I discovered a program that is very powerful and does just about everything I want it to do....Click for link => www.oziexplorer.com/
I am still learning the features of this program and without guidence it can take some working out, but with the struggle sometimes, the rewards are there. Especially when you mark a spot from your research and find a nugget within meters of your waypoint
Here are some screen shots for those who are not familliar with the program.....
A simple mosaic map (for the whole of Australia)
Waypoints can then be added and saved within Ozi or transferred to Ozi from Google Earth or visa versa. The waypoints you see are of mine locations, diggings, reeflines etc.
Any map that you have on your system can be observed with the waypoints still loaded.
Other information can be added with the already loaded data, the blue shape files are of expired leases from 1865 to 1968
Any paper map that you have can be scanned, calibrated and used in Ozi
Another scanned map for example, different area but one you may well be familiar with.
Ozi has just added the option to view (while connected to the internet) the use of google maps, google satellite, near map and others. The following is using google satellite.
Then there is the use of 3D imagery which can be a vital tool to study land contours, it can quite often give you a different view compared to a topo map to really bring it to life. This is a shot of the Grampians in Vic to exaggerate the effect.
All of the information (not 3D) above can be transferred to your in-car GPS with the use of Ozi-CE, I have a 7" GPS that runs IGO 8 for the black stuff and Ozi for the dirt with the use of Vic-Map (vic-map used for 3d image above.) I have also loaded google satellite images into my GPS and then navigate with a aeriel photo, which in some area's can be handy.
I have just ordered a smaller 4.8" GPS to use in my pocket so when on foot in the bush I can see the information that got me there in the first place, I don't think that this will make the Garmin redundant though.
I hope that you have found this helpful in some way, if you have any questions, please fire away and I will do my best to help. (my skills are fairly limited)
Another good source of information you will find here => www.gpsaustralia.net/
Cheers Pol
When I started detecting I bought a cheap GPS which was good to mark spots I had been to, but wanted more.
I upgraded my GPS to a Garmin mapping handheld wich was used in conjunction with Mapsource, which was a great choice, but eventually I wanted more information and ease of use.
Along came the use of Google Earth, coupled with the Garmin HCX Vista allowed waypoints to be created and transferred from one to the other with ease and the ablility to see the ground....Almost a perfect solution and mapsource went to the unused folder.
Then I discovered a program that is very powerful and does just about everything I want it to do....Click for link => www.oziexplorer.com/
I am still learning the features of this program and without guidence it can take some working out, but with the struggle sometimes, the rewards are there. Especially when you mark a spot from your research and find a nugget within meters of your waypoint
Here are some screen shots for those who are not familliar with the program.....
A simple mosaic map (for the whole of Australia)
Waypoints can then be added and saved within Ozi or transferred to Ozi from Google Earth or visa versa. The waypoints you see are of mine locations, diggings, reeflines etc.
Any map that you have on your system can be observed with the waypoints still loaded.
Other information can be added with the already loaded data, the blue shape files are of expired leases from 1865 to 1968
Any paper map that you have can be scanned, calibrated and used in Ozi
Another scanned map for example, different area but one you may well be familiar with.
Ozi has just added the option to view (while connected to the internet) the use of google maps, google satellite, near map and others. The following is using google satellite.
Then there is the use of 3D imagery which can be a vital tool to study land contours, it can quite often give you a different view compared to a topo map to really bring it to life. This is a shot of the Grampians in Vic to exaggerate the effect.
All of the information (not 3D) above can be transferred to your in-car GPS with the use of Ozi-CE, I have a 7" GPS that runs IGO 8 for the black stuff and Ozi for the dirt with the use of Vic-Map (vic-map used for 3d image above.) I have also loaded google satellite images into my GPS and then navigate with a aeriel photo, which in some area's can be handy.
I have just ordered a smaller 4.8" GPS to use in my pocket so when on foot in the bush I can see the information that got me there in the first place, I don't think that this will make the Garmin redundant though.
I hope that you have found this helpful in some way, if you have any questions, please fire away and I will do my best to help. (my skills are fairly limited)
Another good source of information you will find here => www.gpsaustralia.net/
Cheers Pol