Sharing kap Files made from GE into OpenCpn

[lucseawalker]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

Penrhyn - Cook Islands


The Western pass at Penrhyn


The kaps are too big to attach here as docs. I saved a bmp of each kap as I created them and that is what is pictured above. I took great pains to make sure I was getting good detail and used the best historic images in GE. Most islands have a full overview and then a better resolution series either N and S,E and W or more plus the pass and harbor close ups. Harbors were generally all taken using the latest imagery.

There are many islands that do not appear in GE. I still grabbed a kap of the area, created a poi and downloaded pages, pics etc if this was the case. St Peter and Paul Rocks for instance.

I tried to attach a complete directory/file listing in cvs format but it is also too big to upload here.

Edit:
Areas that I have not done are all of the Caribbean, Philippines, Maylasia/Indonesia, the Andamans or any port on any continental mainland. These are just islands floating around out in the open ocean.

Great job indeed ...

I am surprised that you mention that some islands do not show up in GE ... so far I have not encountered such absences! I would have thought they have pretty much the whole globe covered after finding the most remote isolated reefs in Micronesia.

I would be interested to download what you have on Micronesia so I don't have to do it all myself

Once we get a library started then any cruiser going soon in an area where no chartlets have been done yet ... he could be the first one to make them

[lucseawalker]

Originally Posted by sailorF54

Google buys those satellite views from ventures (such as DigitalGlobe DigitalGlobe Products in the case of Penrhyn) that, using sophisticated algorithms, compute the geolocalization of selected image pixels from data from the time, location, altitude, and 3-axis attitude of the satellite camera and a model of the earth geoid.
Other pixels are corrected from parallax effects. The precision is the same in any corner of the world and is independent of previous land surveys.
Professionnal land surveyors estimate the typical residual errors at around 10 meters, which is way too huge for them to use GE in their trade (but I suppose good enough for us) !

One can enhance the value of GE pics by adding a transparent layer of nautical data from charts. One can thus verify the geolocalization of the charts, and have the best of both worlds.
See the GE2KAP thread from Paul Phiggins in CF (Google Earth to BSB / KAP)

Pic1: NZ chart courtesy of GPS-Marco (on CF as well New Zealand Charts)
Pic 2: CMap 93

I like the best of both worlds! If we can all add the transparent layer it would be great. I guess it would be good to have a tutorial on how to make the chartlets so everyone gets good accuracy when he makes the chartlets ... I will check Paul's thread and see if he has such tutorial already!

[lucseawalker]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

They are really only good for getting an idea of what to expect in a very general way. I would never ever use only a GE derived kap of a pass/inlet for navigation through said inlet. I would however use it to help make decisions like which side to favor or when to bear off.

They are great for geeking out over looking at them when you are in route and without internet. Also for when you are there and trying to decide where to explore.

I think we all agree that Eyeball navigation is the ultimate navigation tool!
But these GE chartlets help a lot in exact positioning versus the old CM93 and other charts

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by lucseawalker

... I will check Paul's thread and see if he has such tutorial already!

Comprehensive help file and link included in GE2KAP....
Good tutorial at
http://yachtvalhalla.net/navigation/overlay/overlay.htm

[cagney]

Originally Posted by sailorF54

You're quite right... But I was only refering to geolocalization accuracy...

OK! Sorry I misunderstood you.
----
It will be interesting to see where SethDart's KML plugin can contribute. maybe an alternative.

@lucseawalker

Anyone from OpenCpn out there??? OpenCpn seems a logical place to store these chartlets too ..

A couple of things. Does anyone have a handle on the legal aspects of these pictures. Are they copyrighted etc ? What has Google to say about such a repository?
I'm not sure that OpenCPN has all that much space available, in the end this doesn't matter as it's easy to link to other places. The Pilot Charts, for example are really on an external server.

Thomas

[idpnd]

Originally Posted by cagney

A couple of things. Does anyone have a handle on the legal aspects of these pictures. Are they copyrighted etc ? What has Google to say about such a repository?

You can be certain if you ask the answer is NO, although you can access google earth pics via API etc., is free to use. So I suggest just doing it, most likely noone cares.

[Surveyor]

I am more than willing to share. I need to do a little work on the kmz file. At the moment it is just one file and needs to be broken down into the same groups as the kaps. OpenCPN doesnt like >1000 pois in one layer

Before I do send/share this stuff I would like to see what depository options become available.

GE2KAP is a fantastic program that only keeps getting better. If you use it please consider supporting its development with a donation. Help feed Whitey

[lucseawalker]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

I am more than willing to share. I need to do a little work on the kmz file. At the moment it is just one file and needs to be broken down into the same groups as the kaps. OpenCPN doesnt like >1000 pois in one layer

Before I do send/share this stuff I would like to see what depository options become available.

GE2KAP is a fantastic program that only keeps getting better. If you use it please consider supporting its development with a donation. Help feed Whitey

Box.net offers free personal acct that store up to 5 Gb .... a bunch of cruisers could each open an account and store charlets for a particular zone and then link his repository to a common place ... what do you think of this idea??

[janders]

I have some webspace that I can open up to this project, although it might not be a permanent basis. I'm very (VERY) interested in this thread and would be happy to help.

[lucseawalker]

Originally Posted by janders

I have some webspace that I can open up to this project, although it might not be a permanent basis. I'm very (VERY) interested in this thread and would be happy to help.

Ok, that's great ... let's see what other ideas anyone has

Luc

[boraxtr]

I can work and share on Turkish or Greek ports in Aegean Sea with CM93 or NOAA Charts.

[Robert_1]

Originally Posted by boraxtr

I can work and share on Turkish or Greek ports in Aegean Sea with CM93 or NOAA Charts.

Some more GE charts (80 charts) are shared for Turkish places here :

Pratiques et Techniques de la Plaisance

If you do not read french, please use the following download links :

http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IM...ardanelles.zip
http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IM...marmara_SW.zip
http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IM...marmara_SE.zip
http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IMG/zip/bosphore.zip
http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IMG/zip/marmara_n.zip

Enjoy !

[r.fairman]

Acting as devils advocate Google will care if their images are distributed and distributing images overlaid with cmap 93 charts clearly violates the cmap 93 copyright. Do you believe in deja vu . Centrally store all the hard work and someone Google and/or Jeppeson will demand a shutdown. I know i am a hypocrite but would hate to see the NGA situation repeat. By all means share but beware centrally sharing or keep it descreet and securely backed somewhere else.

I will now get down off my high horse

richard

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

There are many islands that do not appear in GE. I still grabbed a kap of the area, created a poi and downloaded pages, pics etc if this was the case. St Peter and Paul Rocks for instance.

Hi Jim

cool work! But I do caution, as r.fairman, this sounds like NGA all over....

On the missing islands: You can help! Just report it to Google, and the islands might mysteriously appear.

For example Nov 2011, Iles Du Salut (French Guiana), they weren't visible in GE. I reported the error, they don't respond, but now the islands are visible.

Link to the report page: Contact Us - Google Earth Help

And the Peter and Paul Rocks are visible too now:

0.916944,-29.335278 - Google Maps

Dirk

Edit: Attached file is our anchorage waypoint in the Iles Du Salut

[idpnd]

Yes Isla de Alboran (med) is practically invisible, since its low res sat footage only..