Garmin eMap

[Haymaker]

Hi all,

I'm very new to using GPS units. I just got one off of eBay pretty cheap to play with. My intent is to use it to store GPS position in digital images, so this is just a starting point for me.

The unit I got is a Garmin eMap. Are these any good? The unit came with a RS-232 cable, so I plan to write software to read stored GPS positions from the unit to update digital photos with the positions. Has anyone every read GPS positions from the serail port before?

Thanks, and sorry for all the questions. I'm very new to this.

[Gun Docc]

Howdy Haymaker,

the eMap should work fine for your first GPS unit

here is a review of the Garmin eMap (http://joe.mehaffey.com/emaprevue.htm) that should help to answer a lot of your questions



Good Luck !

[Haymaker]

Hi Gun Docc,

Thanks for your response and the link. Would you be interested in testing out the Windows Application once I get this put into it?

[Gun Docc]

Hello Haymaker,

i have heard of a few such programs for placing coordinates within digital photo's but i'm not sure from where or whom was speaking of it

if you come up with such a program , would it utilize UTM coords or would it be long/lat ?

if for the UTM , then i would give it a try as this is about all i use since working a lot with USGS Topo Quads of my stomping grounds http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif

sounds interesting

[Haymaker]

Hey Gun Docc,

The first thing I plan to do is give the user the ability to add either GPS positons in UTM or Long/Lat format. They can add them to the EXIF data, stamped on the image, or both. You&#39;ll be able to add them to an entire folder of images, selected images, or just one image.

I&#39;ll let you know when its ready and maybe you can give me some feedback before I release it?

Thanks.

[Gun Docc]

Howdy Haymaker,

sounds very interesting with all the things you mentioned so far and i&#39;d
be glad to be of any assistance with feedback for the software when you get it going, so keep me posted

Thanks,

[Haymaker]

Gun Docc,

Thanks! I&#39;ll let you know when I have a version ready for you to test out. Thanks again for the help!

[ToddP]

Haymaker,
Let me see if I have this correct. The GPS is connected to the Digital Camera? This, and your software, allows for the coordinate to be recorded on the image?

I have an Etrex Legend. Will it work with that too?

Thanks,
Todd

[Haymaker]

Hey Todd,

No, the GPS is not connected to the Digital Camera. I only know of a few digitals that you can do this with. What I&#39;m doing is letting you either connect your GPS to your PC and read the GPS positions from you GPS and put them in your digital photos, or let you type the GPS positions in on a setup screen, and then this will put the positions into your digital photos.

Does this make sense? It will let you use any GPS system.

With your digital photos having the GPS positions embedded into the image its much easier to keep track of where and when your photos were taken.

I&#39;ll add support later to pull up TOPO maps and aerial photos to match your digital photo&#39;s GPS positions.

[ToddP]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
I&#39;ll add support later to pull up TOPO maps and aerial photos to match your digital photo&#39;s GPS positions.[/b]

You could just download the placese where the pic was taken as waypoints and use them with something like ExpertGPS which downloads aerials and topo off the internet to fill in the area you are working.

Todd

[Haymaker]

Todd,

Exactly! I use my GPS when I put my trail cameras out. I save each site as a waypoint. Later when I pick up the units I then add the waypoint for that location into the image. This GPS position gets stored in the image EXIF tags.

Later I plan to add software where you can basically click on an image and it would pull up a TOPO and aerial photo from the internet.

[ToddP]

The software I use for my job, GIS Consultant, can do that but it costs too much for the everyday person.

Todd

[Haymaker]

Todd,

Can it add waypoints into your images? I, too, have seen software for this, but like you say it&#39;s very expensive. I&#39;d include this in my "cheap" software.. :)

[ToddP]

Not "images as waypoints" . There would have to be "link" between the two that when one is click something happens. Ex. click the image and it takes you to a topo map or aerial or you click on a waypoint displayed with topo or aerial and the image displays.