This object is in archive! 

Track color based on altitude?

Alex shared this question 6 years ago
Answered

Hello, i've just discovered Locus Maps and i'm testing the free version.


i would like to use it for MTB rides and i'm not sure if it's possible to have the track (not the map!) colored by slope levels... it's very useful function (seen it on other map aps)


is this option available? (tried a search on forum but found only old discussions)


Thx and sorry for my english :P

Best Answer
photo

Somewhere on this forum, there's an Idea for improving how a track's altitude is displayed (but I can't find it).

If I'm not mistaken, it currently works in "relative" mode. It shows the steeper portions, relative to the less steep areas in the track. In other words, the part you see colored "red" isn't necessarily very steep but just steeper than other parts such as the ones shown in "green". If everything is shown in green, then it means most of the route has about the same steepness. It sounds like you want to emphasize the changes in gradient. I'm not certain but I don't believe Locus Map offers this ability.

The problem with "relative" mode is it is not useful if you wish to compare one track to another. The Idea was to provide an option to have it work in "absolute" mode. In this mode, red would represent a specific range of gradients (like 30-35%). In absolute mode, the color is not relative to other parts of the track but to a fixed scale. This allows you to compare one track to another.

Replies (13)

photo
1

Yes, the option is available and it is called "Mode" in the track's "Line Style".

http://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:user_guide:tracks:management#track_route_style

359e8b2d548b13dc3635882a48bbbbf9

photo
1

Awesome thanks!

Quite "hidden" option but once you know it... :P


Seems really nice program so far, i'll test it in next rides, would buy Pro version if expectations will be satisfied!

photo
1

Update: tried the "change of elevation" that, if i'm understanding it right, should color the track more towards red if direction is bringing me uphill or towards blue if downhill, but seems not working too well most parts are just green despite the zoom....

The same track loaded in oruxmaps shows altitude variation way better so it's not a GPX file problem.

Is there some other setting i'm missing?


thanks a lot

photo
1

Somewhere on this forum, there's an Idea for improving how a track's altitude is displayed (but I can't find it).

If I'm not mistaken, it currently works in "relative" mode. It shows the steeper portions, relative to the less steep areas in the track. In other words, the part you see colored "red" isn't necessarily very steep but just steeper than other parts such as the ones shown in "green". If everything is shown in green, then it means most of the route has about the same steepness. It sounds like you want to emphasize the changes in gradient. I'm not certain but I don't believe Locus Map offers this ability.

The problem with "relative" mode is it is not useful if you wish to compare one track to another. The Idea was to provide an option to have it work in "absolute" mode. In this mode, red would represent a specific range of gradients (like 30-35%). In absolute mode, the color is not relative to other parts of the track but to a fixed scale. This allows you to compare one track to another.

photo
1

Oh so not available atm.... :(

Thx for the explanation!

photo
1

Hello any news about this? :)

photo
1

I support this idea of absolute rendering

photo
1

See coloring mode. In menu select display by slope than tap the pencil -> opens the relative/absolute menu.

http://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:user_guide:tracks:management#individual_style

photo
1

Great! Just another little question: do colors by slope follow track direction? i mean the same track should change colors not only by slope but even by direction

Thanks

photo
1

Seems to me it is still relative ... I am using Slope 5%-max on these 2 tracks, and the colours are quite different ...

photo
1

test it on some real tracks or routes - two point routes may sometimes return different values

photo
1

No, I really think it is a wrong calculation of the slope. In the attached image, the 5 parallel sections must have the same slope, how comes the four 2-point tracks have the same color, and the 3-point track has another ?

photo
1

again, two point routes may sometimes return different values - plan some real routes, not just one point under the hill and one up the hill. Color changes between routepoints based on their elevation difference, not in gradients

photo
1

Michal, not sure I understand your explanation, but even for more complex tracks, I don't get the same colours for parallel sections of different tracks. My expectation would be that all sections starting at elevation x and ending at elevation y should be of a the same colour, right?

photo
1

Hi Gergy,

yes, the color of routes should be ther same if the routepoints are placed on the same spots. I tested the same situation and all is OK. Perhaps your doubled routepoints are too far from each other and Locus calculates different elevation? Anyway, I'm not able to simulate your issue:

b9795a9232b009d8e528e7a40db6b084 3e13d2d3ebdcd35ec9c5827a8db4c1dc 126b7d6313a4f9cfa120f151cb7eb2d3

photo
1

Strange ... Do you have tracks of different lengths ? Attached 2 tracks, one made of 5 points (Bethmale_Seix 1.9 km), the other having 3 points (Bethmale 976m). They have a common section with points at the same elevations (according to the dynamic elevation values displayed on cursor), but the track colors differs.

photo
2

Hello Gergy,

as Michal already wrote: "test it on some real tracks or routes - two point routes may sometimes return different values".

My test, first image with relative slope values and second with defined limit 0 - 20%. All is correct. App do some optimization of altitude values and in case of less then, let's say 10 points, values may not be reliable. An algorithm needs more points to get some usable results and have to 2 points on the whole hill is possible maybe on the couch, but definitely not in real terrain.

/8804e8ae98785ad427bbffd6b2193b65

/f50915f0bc5e4779b401eb9b2eefc66b

photo
1

>>> in case of less then, let's say 10 points, values may not be reliable

OK, thanks for the explanation

Replies have been locked on this page!