Making your own Garmin GPS maps

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The objectives

  1. Prepare data in ArcMap.
  2. Convert it into the format used by Garmin in mapping GPS receivers.
  3. Upload it to the Garmin.
  4. Make a plugin that will allow loading from a web page.
  5. Add support for Magellan

Available tools

cGPSmapper This software makes it possible to create vectors maps which can be uploaded to Garmin GPS receivers. There is a LINUX version, YAY! Also available is sendmap, for uploading maps to GPS receiver. This is a command line program. Create personal maps with free version or maps you can sell with expensive version (700 Euros!)

GPSMapEdit Shareware ($54) This software is designed for visual authoring of GPS-maps in various proprietary cartographic formats, including Shapefiles, cGPSMapper, GPX, OziExplorer maps, Garmin, Magellan, ALAN Map 500, Holux. Handling of projected shapefiles is limited. Does not save to Garmin IMG files; you have to export data to cGPSmapper and use it to generate IMG files. This appears to be a simple GIS program. Use it if you don't have ArcGIS.

GPSTrackMaker Free. Transfers data between a computer and many different GPS receivers. Does not support maps, it supports waypoints, tracks and routes. You can view rasters as backgroups to help create vector data. Website is a data source for maps of Brazil.

mapdekode There is not much information at the website unless I am missing something.

OZIexplorer There are Windows and WindowsCE versions. There is a cool 3D version. There are free and affordable (around $100) versions. The CE version costs a few dollars more. This is moving map software. It supports waypoint/track/route transfers. There is also a Map Merge utility program here.

MapSource Let's not forget that I do have a licensed copy of Garmin MapSource available. I also have a collection of Garmin data including Metro, Roads and Rec, and Topo for US, Canada, and Europe.

Utilities

MapExtract Freeware. "Simply, it is a tool which help you to extract selected piece(s) from large map(s) and load it(them) into your Garmin GPS for minutes. This will change the speed of map refreshing on the screen and certainly you'll not miss next turn waiting to see where you are :-) This software can be used also as map data preprocessing and postprocessing tool for cGPSmapper - Garmin MapSource maps creator." Yahoo! mapextract group

POI Loader is free software from Garmin that lets you transfer POI files to the GPS receiver.

Map preparation

In ArcMap I create a map containing the data that I want to transfer to the Garmin.

Vector data

  • Points will be transferred to a POI file
  • Lines
  • Polygons

Raster data

I used a tinted hillshade when working in ArcMap just because it looks good.

Conversion procedure

So far based on the above notes it looks like I need to be looking at cGPSMapper and possibly MapDekode to do the conversion of shapefiles to Garmin IMG files.

What projection do my shapefiles need to be in?

Resources

Map authoring guide

gps-maps group on Yahoo groups

MapCenter has maps that folks have created.

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