I

n the mapsource tooltip you can identify which factors were taken into account as I put abbreviations into the name. These are much shorter this time, and on my Vista HCx in the routing page, very rarely does a roadname get stripped, on the map page while navigating even less often.

Routing over longer distances should work a bit better now, if the area is well mapped. I tried out a many routes that I know from the past [...]]]> Okay, the last map updates were a step in the right direction IMHO, but many of you were right that they were not "clean". I followed the route and decreased the map to three tiles now (main1, main2, mtb). Also routing offroad is now much more differentiated and in the tooltip of Mapsource (not on GPS for the moment, however I'm working on it...) and for every street type that could be unpaved, I take now mtb:scale/mtb:scale:uphill/ routes, tracktype, bicycle=no, bicycle=yes, bicycle=designated and sac_scale into consideration (about 150 different combinations for EACH road type, like path or unclassified) so that road classification is even better. Oh and riverbanks are back (was not nice to look at empy rivers, was it?)

I

n the mapsource tooltip you can identify which factors were taken into account as I put abbreviations into the name. These are much shorter this time, and on my Vista HCx in the routing page, very rarely does a roadname get stripped, on the map page while navigating even less often.

Routing over longer distances should work a bit better now, if the area is well mapped. I tried out a many routes that I know from the past and I was really astonished how closely or often better the route calculated is. Of course good mapping in an area is the key! - I calculated some routes around Garmin Partenkirchen in Germany, and hell, they must be a lot of fun on a mountainbike!

Oh and I nearly forgot to tell, Performance on GPS units when panning the map has increased tremendously, I found some hacks that even Garmin does not seem to know on how to change what gets drawn first, and panning/moving the map ist now a lot quicker (I'ld guestimate on averge 30-50% less waiting, smother moving without decreasing detail level)!

For downhill please enable shorter distance instead of faster route, and then more difficult runs (if more or less in the fallline to your destination) will be chosen. Also using mode bicycle sometimes produces very good results, In general car/motorcycle is better though. The main change with this map update is, that cycleways are not really required anymore to get somewhere, but tracks and pathes are well and often chosen. To get you understand the names, have a look at the abbreviation list:

Abbreviations used:

pri=primary / primary_link
sec=secondary
ter=tertiary
res=residential
min=minor
unsf=unsurfaced
uncl=unclassified
living=living_street
pdstrian=pedestrian
trk=track
pth=path
ft=footway
fp=footpath
brdlwy=bridleway
wy=way
rd=road
bywy=byway
serv=service

cy=cyclway
cwy=cyleway
bklane=cycleway=lane
bktrk=cycleway=track
opp=opposite
opptrk=cycleway=opposite_track
onwy=oneway
CW1=higwhway=* & highway=cycleway. (you should not tag like this).

rt=route
bk=bicycle=yes or simply bicycle therefor bkrt means bikeroute/cycleroute depending on way, mtbroute means mountainbikeroute.
mtb?? - i.e. mtb1:4 means mtb:scale:1 & mtb:scale:uphill4
xbk=bicycle=no
+bk=bicycle=designated

Current Issues: Tooltip on GPS does not show correct mtb:scale/mtb:scale:uphill information, the displayed symbols are correct.
Autorouting on GPS does not work over longer distances.

]]> https://openmtbmap.org/updates/en-map-updates-09-june-de-kartenupdates-zum-09-juni/feed/ 4 https://openmtbmap.org/updates/enbig-update-OpenMTBMaps-junedegroes-update-der-OpenMTBMap-zum-juni/ https://openmtbmap.org/updates/enbig-update-OpenMTBMaps-junedegroes-update-der-OpenMTBMap-zum-juni/#respond Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:25:28 +0000 https://openmtbmap.org/?p=604 O.k. the first contries are uploading already, so I will post about the news:

Even though technical routing based on grades and scales would provide the nicest routing, I have backed back and give preference to bicycle and mtb routes. The maps of 10.05 were the most extreme leaning towards technical assesination only, and well routing over 5km often didn't work. It's sad, but Garmin algorithms will not work if there are no more or less straight ways or at least ways leading towards the destination with high priority.

Setting up the routing parameters will be even more vital for the maps of the next updates. I figured out the following useful settings (go on and experiment further...)

Using the "avoid toll roads" option in your GPS/Mapsource you switch to bicycle mode. I don't recommend setting any other avoidances! Bicyclemode omits footways where bicycles are not allowed and skips tracks with tracktype=grade3 or bigger. (of course also any way with mtb:scale=1 or higher is skipped or mtb:scale:uphill=3 or higher, also sac_scale prohibits bicycle usage in bicycle "avoid toll roads"). In German this is option is called "Mautstraßen vermeiden"

You can play around which mode setting (default and proved working quite well is car/motorcycle) gives you best results. Oneway streets are not yet included because setting the rules in mkgmap is a bit buggy. In Mapsource there is no big difference between the modes. Once oneway streets are implemented you will be able to avoid them using the pedestrian setting. I will only implement oneway rules for primary/secondary/tertiary streets because usually in town I am quicker disrespecting oneway and often bicycles are allowed to go against the direction anyhow (this is not easily implementable [...]]]> Okay after the last mountainbike maps suffered from severe breakage of autorouting over longer distances, I push through new maps tonight. Switzerland, Austrian and Italy are already updated, other maps follow suit.

Just a reminder:

Using the "avoid toll roads" option in your GPS/Mapsource you switch to bicycle mode. I don't recommend setting any other avoidances! Bicyclemode omits footways where bicycles are not allowed and skips tracks with tracktype=grade3 or bigger. (of course also any way with mtb:scale=1 or higher is skipped or mtb:scale:uphill=3 or higher, also sac_scale prohibits bicycle usage in bicycle "avoid toll roads"). In German this is option is called "Mautstraßen vermeiden"

You can play around which mode setting (default and proved working quite well is car/motorcycle) gives you best results. Oneway streets are not yet included because setting the rules in mkgmap is a bit buggy. In Mapsource there is no big difference between the modes. Once oneway streets are implemented you will be able to avoid them using the pedestrian setting. I will only implement oneway rules for primary/secondary/tertiary streets because usually in town I am quicker disrespecting oneway and often bicycles are allowed to go against the direction anyhow (this is not easily implementable right now due to buggy rules).

Please comment or use one of the common forum threads how your autorouting works and which mode is giving you best results. You can also comment on the maps here: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/User_talk:Extremecarver

-- Deutsch Kurzfassung:

Da das Autorouting zu krass abgebrochen hat, und ich dies durch ein paar Updates halbwegs in den Griff bekommen hab (ich musste allerdings die Prioritaet von nicht Fahrrad/MTB Straßen dafuer leicht anheben) gibts heute Nacht neue Updates.

Noch einmal als Erinnerugn:
Fuer den Fahrradfahr Modus "Mautstraßen vermeiden" aktivieren. Alle anderen Vermeidungen sollten deaktviert bleiben (mit Vermeide Autobahn zerstoert ihr das Routing, auf keinen Fall aktivieren). Ich hab generell im Modus Auto/Motorrad die beste Erfahrung gemacht. Ihr koennt aber auch Fahrrad oder Fußgaenger ausprobieren.
Schreibt eure Erfahrungen mit dem Fahrrad oder Fußgaenger Modus (bzw anderen Modi falls diese besser/schlechter funktionieren) als Kommentar hier oder in den bekannten Forenthreads rein. Oder auf meiner OSM Wiki Seite hier: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/User_talk:Extremecarver

1. Many new POI (about 70 new totalling now around 300 - all POI available as preset in JOSM and many more....) and much nicericons for them (mainly copied from JOSM) plus the ability to search for them in the proper category. Especially handy in Mapsource. Some POI still missing icons. I will add them sometimes.

2. Update to Routing Parameters - but not working like I want it to. Still failing on routes over long distances. As this has been better already I will have to keep on improving here.

3. Tracktype and Sac_scale are shown --> well not in Mapsource but on the GPS and in Qlandkarte GT.

4. Oneways are still disrespected. This is due to how mkgmap reads in the style-file. I hope it get's changed, or I will look for another solution to implement it.

-- I hope that on the next updates I will have worked out how I can implement routing over longer distances better. Maybe We/I have to accept however that the routing engine is too underpowered to give good [...]]]> Voila, I'm satisfied enough to push trough the updates. Here is what's new compared to the last updates (besides fresh OSM data):

1. Many new POI (about 70 new totalling now around 300 - all POI available as preset in JOSM and many more....) and much nicericons for them (mainly copied from JOSM) plus the ability to search for them in the proper category. Especially handy in Mapsource. Some POI still missing icons. I will add them sometimes.

2. Update to Routing  Parameters - but not working like I want it to. Still failing on routes over long distances. As this has been better already I will have to keep on improving here.

3. Tracktype and Sac_scale are shown --> well not in Mapsource but on the GPS and in Qlandkarte GT.

4. Oneways are still disrespected. This is due to how mkgmap reads in the style-file. I hope it get's changed, or I will look for another solution to implement it.

-- I hope that on the next updates I will have worked out how I can implement routing over longer distances better. Maybe We/I have to accept however that the routing engine is too underpowered to give good routing over longer distances however. A main problem are not connected ways, that further make the situation worse however. I personally prefer good routing over a short distances (up to 10km) over bad routing that also works on longer distances. You can allways route over a distance of say 30km by putting one waypoint every 3km to achieve routing over longer distances however.

Qlandkarte GT however will display the Overlays. Note that because I don't want to increase the tile number too much tracktype will only be shown outside of tunnels and bridges (here you should not need tracktype anyhow). And sac:scale will be shown in preference to oneway streets (an unlikely combination too).

Installation of Qlandkarte GT in Ubuntu x64 did run very smooth BTW - took me bout 15 minutes. For instructions read on here: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/QLandkarte

While I got Qlandkarte GT running on Windows XP 32bit after the hassle of adding gdal to system path (I used the free tool Redmond Path for this as for all of the progs I have to add to Win system path) which is not done in standard installation (Qlandkarte complained on startup that gdal.fw cannot be found), I have not yet suceeded in Windows [...]]]> Well thanks to Qlandkarte GT it is now possible to view even more information from OSM on your computer screen. I will add tracktype and sac:scale information to the OpenMTBMaps. There is one catch. While the additional information will be displayed on most GPS units (at least on Vista HCx and 60CSx) - it will not be shown in Mapsource.

Qlandkarte GT however will display the Overlays. Note that because I don't want to increase the tile number too much tracktype will only be shown outside of tunnels and bridges (here you should not need tracktype anyhow). And sac:scale will be shown in preference to oneway streets (an unlikely combination too).

Installation of Qlandkarte GT in Ubuntu x64 did run very smooth BTW - took me bout 15 minutes. For instructions read on here:  http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/QLandkarte

While I got Qlandkarte GT running on Windows XP 32bit after the hassle of adding gdal to system path (I used the free tool Redmond Path for this as for all of the progs I have to add to Win system path) which is not done in standard installation (Qlandkarte complained on startup that gdal.fw cannot be found), I have not yet suceeded in Windows 7 RC x64. I think the problem is that fwtools is only compatible with 32 bit systems. Will try compiling the necessary programs by hand. (yikes).

Now for the autorouting. I have heard and experienced myself many complaints that routing over larger distances with the maps of 10.05 did not work over distances as small as 5-10km inside cities (contrary it worked pretty well on the countryside). Even though the routes that did calculate where really nice IMHO, i will try to get the routing working for longer distances again with the next map updates. This is a bit of conservative step back which I regret cause routes on the countryside were so nice with 10.05 maps but I will have to increase the priority of normal roads a bit.

I will likely too implement one way streets but recommend using the GPS or Mapsource in Emergency mode if route calculation fails because of oneway streets (Emergency setting is quite nice insofar it behaves more or less like car/motorcycle but disrespects any turn and access restrictions)

And less than 36 hours after some more talk I can present you a screenshot taken with the latest Qlandkarte GT (compile from SVN for now if you want) of the OpenMTBMap. So all Linux and Mac Users can from now on enjoy the OpenMTBMap and send it to their GPS (needs compiling driver too for now) without any need to resort to Windows. And for everyone that aked for precompiled gmapsupp.img, sorry won't come. Just use Qlandkarte GT (installing a map needs nothing more than opening the .tdb from within Qlandkarte) from now on.

Here are two Screenshots (click to open fullsize image in 1520x954).

OpenMTBMap.org with DEM Data

And here one example of why I consider QlandkarteGT the best progam for planning! You can [...]]]> O.k. I don't think many of you have look into Qlandkarte GT Sourcecode every day so noone could have spilt the news already. A few days ago I got in contact with Oliver, the Author from Qlandkarte GT (I had been in contact with him before - but that was because I had probs compiling Qlandkarte and there were no Binaries yet) and I asked him whether he could adapt the rendering engine.

And less than 36 hours after some more talk I can present you a screenshot taken with the latest Qlandkarte GT (compile from SVN for now if you want) of the OpenMTBMap. So all Linux and Mac Users can from now on enjoy the OpenMTBMap and send it to their GPS (needs compiling driver too for now) without any need to resort to Windows. And for everyone that aked for precompiled gmapsupp.img, sorry won't come. Just use Qlandkarte GT (installing a map needs nothing more than opening the .tdb from within Qlandkarte) from now on.

Here are two Screenshots (click to open fullsize image in 1520x954).

OpenMTBMap.org with DEM Data

And here one example of why I consider QlandkarteGT the best progam for planning! You can put the OpenMTBMap as an overlay over your existing Geotiff Rastermaps. Great to see eventual shortcomings in the OSM data and to find out where you should go next for mapping. The raster maps displayed on the following screenshot is copyrighted by the LVA Bayern.

Visit QlandkarteGt here: www.qlandkarte.org/

Note that it will be compatible with the upcoming v .13 or you can get it now already if checkout SVN. Also if you've read down till here - maybe you fancy helping Oliver by writing code so that Qlandkarte GT will support autorouting in future too.

Qlandkarte GT is much more than a simple viewer for OpenMTBMap.org however. In effect it's the best program (except expensive heavyweights like TTQV or Oziexplorer) for displaying Raster maps. Meaning you can view and rotate any of your scanned old paper maps, ......  But you will get most out of it when you start putting a transparent OpenMTBMap.org over your rastermaps.... and put SRTM file behind to view all maps in 3D view (which is actually in my eyes by far the best 3D view available compared to other progs).

To activate the correct rendering of OpenMTBMap.org in Qlandkarte go to Settings --> Garmin maps --> and activate the "Bitmap" checkbox. Note that the current maps still display with some errors. This will be corrected by the next map update.

So to get to the point. If you activate "avoid toll roads" on your GPS or in Mapsource you get pristine bicycle routing respecting all laws (if the access rights are set correctly), not using footways, bridleways except if they are part of a bicycle route or have bicycle=yes or bicycle=designated added. Oneway streets (except primary, secondary, tertiary) will also be routed against their direction ( I hope that mkgmap coders find out about how we can set the unpaved and the carpool option - then oneway streets will get their own switch to be respected).

If you deactivate the toll roads option your GPS is ready for Mountainbike and Hiking action. No access rights are respected anymore, gnarly trails will be chosen and if the [...]]]> O.k. my fellow Mountainbikers, Hikers and Cyclists.

The OpenMTBMap.org as of today got a new routing that simply kicks ass. I implemented about 100 additional lines into my main lines stylefile (now 500 lines longs - I will write a spreadsheet for future changes as the rules get really complex by now. Only for highway=track there are about 50 lines to check for most common things like routes, access restrictions, mtb:scale, mtb:scale:uphill and tracktype.

So to get to the point. If you activate "avoid toll roads" on your GPS or in Mapsource you get pristine bicycle routing respecting all laws (if the access rights are set correctly), not using footways, bridleways except if they are part of a bicycle route or have bicycle=yes or bicycle=designated added. Oneway streets (except primary, secondary, tertiary) will also be routed against their direction ( I hope that mkgmap coders find out about how we can set the unpaved and the carpool option - then oneway streets will get their own switch to be respected).

If you deactivate the toll roads option your GPS is ready for Mountainbike and Hiking action. No access rights are respected anymore, gnarly trails will be chosen and if the area you're in has good OSM coverage and mountainbike routes then just follow the autorouting and you should be guided to the nicest places on your way.

Also the maps got a new stylefile for better readability (forest is very light green now) and I added many more POI into their correct category. Some search example that can come very handy: search for a citybike? Simply search for  the Auto Services --> Auto Rental and all bike rentals will be listed to you and you can use your GPS to let you guide to the next citybike. I've been really saved many hours by using that search (kudos to Norbert, or was it Andreas? to import the Viennese Citybikes into OSM). Search for your next bike dealer? Just search for Auto Services --> Auto Repair and not only all car repairs (they can often help us out too) but also all bike dealers are listed. Remember --- behave with OpenMTBMap.org as a ciclyst just like a cardriver. I coded it so that the maps works perfect in car/motorcycle setting. You may try setting bicycle as transport mean and report back here or in the forums if the routing is still sensible or not. I think not.

Oh and for those of you that were sometimes routed on highway=motorway or highway=trunk - that's sorted now. I really kicked out the routing information now. There was a small bug that made them routable in some rare cases. That's solved!

This applies to all maps uploaded from 10.05 onwards. I will regenerate all maps tonight so you can enjoy the big changes! Switzerland is already online!

Hallo Mountainbiker, Fahrradfahrer und Wanderer - Die Mountainbike Karten sind nun auch fuer Fahrradfahrer und Wanderer tiptop benutzbar

In meiner Mission euch das beste Autorouting zu bringen bin ich einen großen Schritt vorwaerts gekommen. Die Karte hat nun 2 dezidierte Routingmodi welche ueber die Toll Roads / Mautstraßen vermeiden Option eingestellt werden. Die technischen Details dazu stehen oben.

Wie auch immer, wenn ihr den Haken bei Mautstraßen vermeiden setzt  (in Mapsource unter Werkzeuge, Einstellungen, Routing) dann verhaelt sich die OpenMTBMap ganz loeblich (die folgenden Eigenschaften sind logisch von vorne nach hinten aufgelistet).Kein Routing auf Fußwegen außer bicycle=yes/designated bzw ist gesetzt, bzw eine Fahrradroute fuehrt ueber den Fußweg. Highway=track wird bei Tracktype Grade3-5 vom Routing ausgeschlossen. mtb:scale=>1 oder mtb:scale:uphill>2 schließt Wege vom Routing aus........

Einbahnstraßen werden weiterhin nicht respektiert (außer auf primary, secondary, tertiary), ich hoffe hierfuer in Zukunft noch einen dezidierten Switch einbauen zu koennen.

Bei deaktivieren der Mautstraßen Option kommt die OpenMTBMap.org so richtig zum leben. Trails, Fußwege, schwierige Tracks, ... sind nun freigeschaltet zum Autorouting. Acces Beschraenkungen wie bicycle=no werden missachted und die Karte eignet sich optimal zum wandern und Mountainbiken.

Zusaetzlich (neben der Erweiterung auf ganz Europa falls es jemand noch nicht mitbekommen hat) haben die Karten nun ein neues Design, mit hellerem Wald und duenneren Straßen. Ausserdem wurden viele neue POI aufgenommen. Ich werde die Straßentypen nun nicht mehr groß aendern, also wenn ihr selber weiter optimieren moechtet am Design, dann bearbeitet euer "Typfile" (mtb*.TYP) mit maptk oder anderen Tools und ihr koennt eure ganz persoenliche Kartendarstellung vom Design einstellen. Bei den POI wird aber noch einiges kommen in Zukunft und evtl auch Typaenderungen damit noch mehr POI ueber die Suche auffindbar sind.

Und mein persoenlicher Tipp fuer Anfaenger von Heute. Wusstet ihr schon dass ihr euch mit der OpenMTBMap.org zum naechsten Citybike/Fahhradverleih lotsen lassen koennt? Einfach in der Suche nach Autoverleih suchen, aber ihr findet keinen Autoverleih sondern stattdessen die naechsten Citybikes von eurem Aufenthaltsort. Fahrradhaendler findet ihr unter Autowerkstaetten (hier habe ich Autowerkstaetten drinnengelassen, sind ja evtl im Notfall auch wichtig wenn kein Fahrradhaendler fuers groebere Werkzeug in der Naehe ist).

Achted aufs Datum. Nur Karten die ab dem 10.05 hochgeladen sind unterstuetzen die neuen Modi. Ich werde aber heute Nacht alle Laender neu durchrendern! Die Schweiz ist schon online. Die weiteren Karten folgen nun.