To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
My opinion of these maps, based on seeing the paper version for the Adirondacks, is that they are attractive, fairly detailed, and legible. However, from my experience with the Adirondack map, it is less than accurate. Perhaps the electronic version is different (and better) because it can be updated more frequently.
To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
My opinion of these maps, based on seeing the paper version for the Adirondacks, is that they are attractive, fairly detailed, and legible. However, from my experience with the Adirondack map, it is less than accurate. Perhaps the electronic version is different (and better) because it can be updated more frequently.
To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York, and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
The one reason I use Gaia is for the Nat Geo maps.
Gaia also has a web interface that is ah ok..
I use most of the apps and web topos - Locus is the best. I bought pro 4 years ago but had difficulty getting started and just recently broke thru my "block" on understanding how to get going with Locus. Locus has provided aspects that were just wishes on the other topo softwares.
Adding:
Nat Geo
and Gaia's ability to fade several maps in and out of transparency with slider controls would be fantastic.
write if you have any questions of need a video made of what I speak of.
Thanks
Hi Petr,
Taras is correct!
To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York, and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
The one reason I use Gaia is for the Nat Geo maps.
Gaia also has a web interface that is ah ok..
I use most of the apps and web topos - Locus is the best. I bought pro 4 years ago but had difficulty getting started and just recently broke thru my "block" on understanding how to get going with Locus. Locus has provided aspects that were just wishes on the other topo softwares.
Adding:
Nat Geo
and Gaia's ability to fade several maps in and out of transparency with slider controls would be fantastic.
write if you have any questions of need a video made of what I speak of.
I should also add that the price of $40 is for the Pro level membership of Gaia, not just Nat Geo maps. There are MANY great maps offered by Gaia for the Pro lever membership. The pro level price is too high and if I can get Nat Geo on Locus - that would be better.
thanks
Hi Petr,
I should also add that the price of $40 is for the Pro level membership of Gaia, not just Nat Geo maps. There are MANY great maps offered by Gaia for the Pro lever membership. The pro level price is too high and if I can get Nat Geo on Locus - that would be better.
About those "Premium" maps, most come from public sources and are available to other mapping apps, without the need for Gaia's Premium Membership.
They are all listed in: "/android/data/com.trailbehind.android.gaiagps.pro/files/mapsources.json".
It's like Locus Map's "providers.xml" file except it's not in XML format but in JSON. It contains all the information needed to access 350+ maps (about 250 are related to US hunting and wildlife management). Even Gaia's free version has this file (except it restricts you to using just one map).
The NatGeo map happens to be one of the few that cannot be accessed without Gaia's Premium membership. However, many other maps are available such as the overlays for Contours, US Public and Private Lands, even Gaia's own Topo maps (with contours in either meters or feet).
I don't know why Gaia charges for maps it openly reveals in mapsources.json, but there you have it. I've tried about 20 maps from the list (using other mapping apps, including Locus Map) and only encountered two that I could not access (one was the NatGeo map).
Anyway, it would be advantageous for Locus Map to provide official (paid) access to NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps.
About those "Premium" maps, most come from public sources and are available to other mapping apps, without the need for Gaia's Premium Membership.
They are all listed in: "/android/data/com.trailbehind.android.gaiagps.pro/files/mapsources.json".
It's like Locus Map's "providers.xml" file except it's not in XML format but in JSON. It contains all the information needed to access 350+ maps (about 250 are related to US hunting and wildlife management). Even Gaia's free version has this file (except it restricts you to using just one map).
The NatGeo map happens to be one of the few that cannot be accessed without Gaia's Premium membership. However, many other maps are available such as the overlays for Contours, US Public and Private Lands, even Gaia's own Topo maps (with contours in either meters or feet).
I don't know why Gaia charges for maps it openly reveals in mapsources.json, but there you have it. I've tried about 20 maps from the list (using other mapping apps, including Locus Map) and only encountered two that I could not access (one was the NatGeo map).
Anyway, it would be advantageous for Locus Map to provide official (paid) access to NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps.
Unfortunately I am not an android dev and have spent a few hours trying to understand the contents of the providers.xml page and it's above my current understanding. Perhaps you might have some references I could go to to bring my understanding higher? If not, I understand as I am not looking for a tutor or asking anyone to spend their time teaching me.
In the providers.xml page referes to providers.xml file which doesn't exist in my directory of the same location.
I am not familiar with sqlitedb or lbj files either.
I have looked at the directories files with Notepad++, but that is my level at this time.
I really like Locus - thanks for any suggestions you might have
Hi Taras,
Thanks for the userguide reference.
Unfortunately I am not an android dev and have spent a few hours trying to understand the contents of the providers.xml page and it's above my current understanding. Perhaps you might have some references I could go to to bring my understanding higher? If not, I understand as I am not looking for a tutor or asking anyone to spend their time teaching me.
In the providers.xml page referes to providers.xml file which doesn't exist in my directory of the same location.
I am not familiar with sqlitedb or lbj files either.
I have looked at the directories files with Notepad++, but that is my level at this time.
I really like Locus - thanks for any suggestions you might have
Connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable and copy the file to your phone into:
/CARD_ROOT/Locus/mapsOnline/custom/providers.xml
You won't find a folder named CARD_ROOT on your phone. It represents one of two possible places: the name of your phone's internal storage or your phone's SD Card. If you have all of Locus Map's data (maps, tracks, points, etc) on the SD Card then use its name. If maps are in internal storage (this is the default when Locus Map is installed) then use the name of your phone's internal storage.
After you have copied providers.xml to the correct folder, start Locus Map. It detects the providers.xml file (any file ending with XML, not just "providers.xml") and, if the file is in the correct format, Locus will use it.
Providers.xml contains information for three maps and they will appear in Maps > Online maps.
Once you see how they appear within Locus Map, it will make more sense. You can try adding a fourth map to providers.xml or replacing one of the existing ones. If you make a mistake, don't worry, you won't cause any damage. Locus Map will simply reject the file if the format is incorrect.
The documentation does a very good job explaining the purpose of each "tag" within the XML file. The most important one is, of course the <url> tag because it points to the source of the map. The next important one is the <provider> tag, especially its "id" attribute. When adding new maps, make sure this number is not a duplicate of an existing one. Locus Map does not like to see two maps with the same "id" number.
As an exercise for you, copy this file to the same folder containing providers.xml. It contains a World map by ESRI.
Hi Atar,
Click this link and it will download the providers.xml file to your PC.
Connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable and copy the file to your phone into:
/CARD_ROOT/Locus/mapsOnline/custom/providers.xml
You won't find a folder named CARD_ROOT on your phone. It represents one of two possible places: the name of your phone's internal storage or your phone's SD Card. If you have all of Locus Map's data (maps, tracks, points, etc) on the SD Card then use its name. If maps are in internal storage (this is the default when Locus Map is installed) then use the name of your phone's internal storage.
After you have copied providers.xml to the correct folder, start Locus Map. It detects the providers.xml file (any file ending with XML, not just "providers.xml") and, if the file is in the correct format, Locus will use it.
Providers.xml contains information for three maps and they will appear in Maps > Online maps.
Once you see how they appear within Locus Map, it will make more sense. You can try adding a fourth map to providers.xml or replacing one of the existing ones. If you make a mistake, don't worry, you won't cause any damage. Locus Map will simply reject the file if the format is incorrect.
The documentation does a very good job explaining the purpose of each "tag" within the XML file. The most important one is, of course the <url> tag because it points to the source of the map. The next important one is the <provider> tag, especially its "id" attribute. When adding new maps, make sure this number is not a duplicate of an existing one. Locus Map does not like to see two maps with the same "id" number.
As an exercise for you, copy this file to the same folder containing providers.xml. It contains a World map by ESRI.
I did as you suggest and see the maps of providers and ESRI :)
Yesterday I copied the XML from the manual and put the file in the same place with no changes, but I think I didn't shut Locus down completely. This time I rebooted and that made sure Locus would start up fresh.
Now to spend some time with the XML and the large list of providers! :)
BTY, do you suggest and particular editor to best work with XML files?
Thanks for taking the time and for the help!
Hi Taras,
Thank you!
I did as you suggest and see the maps of providers and ESRI :)
Yesterday I copied the XML from the manual and put the file in the same place with no changes, but I think I didn't shut Locus down completely. This time I rebooted and that made sure Locus would start up fresh.
Now to spend some time with the XML and the large list of providers! :)
BTY, do you suggest and particular editor to best work with XML files?
I have been trying to alter some of the info from your example with a bit more understanding.
I am using https://jsoneditoronline.org/ to view the mapsources.json. Is this showing me enough info to create the needed XML file for a map from that list?
Could you point me to where / how you built your example? Of course, it works quite well.
The <attribution> and <extraHeader> don't appear to be needed just to get the map working as I commented them out to determine the needed fields.
Re: the userguide part
How to obtain required infoWe recommend to use Firefox browser with extension HttpFox:
That extension is void at the current revision of Firefox - I am using Firefox Dev ed and going to the Network section. Do you suggest another way to get the required info?
Lastly, would it be asking too much for 2 more XML examples with the info of where the data came from?
Thanks again for your help!!
Hi Taras,
Notepad++ it is!
I have been trying to alter some of the info from your example with a bit more understanding.
I am using https://jsoneditoronline.org/ to view the mapsources.json. Is this showing me enough info to create the needed XML file for a map from that list?
Could you point me to where / how you built your example? Of course, it works quite well.
The <attribution> and <extraHeader> don't appear to be needed just to get the map working as I commented them out to determine the needed fields.
Re: the userguide part
How to obtain required infoWe recommend to use Firefox browser with extension HttpFox:
That extension is void at the current revision of Firefox - I am using Firefox Dev ed and going to the Network section. Do you suggest another way to get the required info?
Lastly, would it be asking too much for 2 more XML examples with the info of where the data came from?
You'll notice the second one doesn't even need ".png" at the end (sometimes it is ".jpg").
It is useful to include <attribution> because:
1) Locus Map will display it.
2) You are acknowledging the producer of the map.
I don't acquire the map's URL the way the documentation explains (using the Firefox plugin or via some other browser method). I usually get it from one of two ways:
1) From other mapping software.
2) From mapping documentation.
For example, I wanted to display this orthoimagery in Locus Map. It is produced by New York state's GIS office. https://orthos.dhses.ny.gov/
I found the URLs to use from their mapping documentation here:
So how do you know the correct order of {x} and {y} and if the URL should end with .png or .jpg or nothing at all? Well, unless it is documented somewhere, you don't know! You have to experiment until you find the correct combination.
You'll notice the second one doesn't even need ".png" at the end (sometimes it is ".jpg").
It is useful to include <attribution> because:
1) Locus Map will display it.
2) You are acknowledging the producer of the map.
I don't acquire the map's URL the way the documentation explains (using the Firefox plugin or via some other browser method). I usually get it from one of two ways:
1) From other mapping software.
2) From mapping documentation.
For example, I wanted to display this orthoimagery in Locus Map. It is produced by New York state's GIS office. https://orthos.dhses.ny.gov/
I found the URLs to use from their mapping documentation here:
So how do you know the correct order of {x} and {y} and if the URL should end with .png or .jpg or nothing at all? Well, unless it is documented somewhere, you don't know! You have to experiment until you find the correct combination.
I like this idea 
Hi,
could I ask you for more info about service, please? For example the name of publisher, web page, etc.
Thank you
Petr
Hi,
could I ask you for more info about service, please? For example the name of publisher, web page, etc.
Thank you
Petr
To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Full details are here:
https://help.gaiagps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115007930868-National-Geographic-Trails-Illustrated-Maps-in-Gaia-GPS
My opinion of these maps, based on seeing the paper version for the Adirondacks, is that they are attractive, fairly detailed, and legible. However, from my experience with the Adirondack map, it is less than accurate. Perhaps the electronic version is different (and better) because it can be updated more frequently.
To be clear, Gaia GPS offers National Geographic's "Trails Illustrated" maps exclusively for Premium Membership. That's their second and highest level of membership and it costs CDN$40 per year.
Gaia's Trails Illustrated maps are for the continental USA and excludes two popular hiking areas: Adirondacks in New York and White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Full details are here:
https://help.gaiagps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115007930868-National-Geographic-Trails-Illustrated-Maps-in-Gaia-GPS
My opinion of these maps, based on seeing the paper version for the Adirondacks, is that they are attractive, fairly detailed, and legible. However, from my experience with the Adirondack map, it is less than accurate. Perhaps the electronic version is different (and better) because it can be updated more frequently.
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