Systeme D

28 June 2006

Converting GPS tracks to Illustrator files

Many of the maps I draw include GPS-derived data. So if I'm drawing a canal map (like the Rochdale Canal in the forthcoming WW), I follow the route of the canal, GPS in hand, and then download the tracklog onto my Mac using MacGPSBabel. I then convert this into an Illustrator file using a custom Perl script.

In the past week, two people have independently asked me how I do the latter bit. Now, I was going to publish the Perl script here complete with n00b-friendly instructions on how to install the relevant modules, use the script, etc. etc.... but then figured it would be much easier just to provide a web interface.

So: here it is. Give it a GPX file, and it'll convert it into an Illustrator file.

At present it only works with the OS National Grid, and is therefore restricted to tracklogs of Great Britain, but I'll add a Mercator projection for the rest of the world soon.

Comments

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Posted by birkoff_[!2] on 11.5.08 04:45

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