View Topo Maps On Your iOS and Android Device (FREE)
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:56 pm
Updated to reflect availability on Android.
Alright all you map addicts, you can now download and view all those FREE topo maps that Natural Resources Canada (NRC) and the USGS make available online on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Android devices. This comes courtesy of a little app call 'PDF Maps' by a Canadian company called Avenza Systems Inc. (See the bottom of this post for additional device compatibility information.)
So let's get started!
First thing you'll need is the app. You can download it by clicking here (click on the 'View in iTunes' link you find on that page then download the app from within iTunes). Or, you can also install the app directly from the App Store app on your device. Just do a search for 'PDF Maps'. When you launch the app the first map that loads will be the 'Getting Started' map. Go ahead and play around with that map, it's a tutorial on how to use the app.
Now let's download a topo map file. There are two ways to do that. You can download maps directly from within the app or you can download them from a web site.
Downloading maps from within the app
If you are presently viewing a map tap the 'Map' button on the top-left of the screen. If its not there tap the screen to reveal it. On the 'PDF Maps' screen tap the '+' in the top-right. Tap 'From Avenza PDF Map Library. This will load the Safari web browser and take you to a web site set up by Avenza where you can download maps in geospatial PDF compatible formats. Scroll down to find the links to both the Canadian NRC Topographic Maps or the USGS Topographic Maps. Once you've downloaded a map it will load directly in the app. The map file will be imported and rasterized so it can be used by the app. Be patient it will take a couple of minutes.
Once the file has been converted, tap the map name to view the map on your device's screen. You can pan around to see different areas of the map and pinch to zoom in on specific areas. You can drop waypoints and even turn on the compass to orient the map in the direction you are facing. I'll let you play around and discover the rest of the features.
Downloading maps from a web site
Now, at the time of this posting, Avenza's list of NRC maps isn't complete. If you want a complete list of available maps you'll need to go directly to the NRC website. Note that NRC is in the process of updating all their topo maps and converting them to the new GeoPDF format so you may not find all the maps for the areas you're interested in yet. Visit the NRC site regularly as many new maps are added almost monthly. To figure out which map tile you want visit the Toporama Topographical Maps web site.
This link takes you directly to the Canadian Natural Resources GeoPDF maps download directory
This link takes you directly to the USGS Map Store (downloads are free)
Now, with the map file downloaded to you computer launch iTunes and with your device plugged in and selected in the left-hand sidebar click on the 'Apps' tab. You should see a list of all the apps installed on your device. Now scroll down the page into the 'File Sharing' area. You should see 'PDF Maps' listed in the Apps section. Select it and then click on the 'Add…' button at the bottom of the pane on the right. Now navigate to where you downloaded the topo map and select it. Now click on the 'Sync' button in the bottom right corner of the iTunes window to send the map to your device. Once the sync is completed you can disconnect your device and quit iTunes.
On your device launch the 'PDF Maps' app. Navigate to the 'PDF Maps' screen and tap the '+' on the top-right of the screen. On the 'Add a Map' screen tap the 'From iTunes File Sharing' button. On the 'Import From iTunes' screen select the map file under 'Select a File to Import'. Again, the map file will be imported and rasterized so it can be used by the app.
Be aware that this doesn't work with just any old topo map file, the files have to be in the new geospatial PDF format (GeoPDF is a compatible geospatial PDF format,) and not just topo maps. So if you find any national/provincial/state park maps or city maps in geospatial PDF format feel free to load them up as well. Some are available directly from within the PDF Maps app. Just follow the instructions I posted above.
Have fun!
Expected functionality from each device.
iPhone:
UPDATE!
Android Devices:
Android Play Store.
PDF Maps is now available for Android devices. As with iOS devices it works best with devices that have an imbedded GPS chip which usually means all smartphones and some tablets. Check the specs of your device.
Alright all you map addicts, you can now download and view all those FREE topo maps that Natural Resources Canada (NRC) and the USGS make available online on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Android devices. This comes courtesy of a little app call 'PDF Maps' by a Canadian company called Avenza Systems Inc. (See the bottom of this post for additional device compatibility information.)
So let's get started!
First thing you'll need is the app. You can download it by clicking here (click on the 'View in iTunes' link you find on that page then download the app from within iTunes). Or, you can also install the app directly from the App Store app on your device. Just do a search for 'PDF Maps'. When you launch the app the first map that loads will be the 'Getting Started' map. Go ahead and play around with that map, it's a tutorial on how to use the app.
Now let's download a topo map file. There are two ways to do that. You can download maps directly from within the app or you can download them from a web site.
Downloading maps from within the app
If you are presently viewing a map tap the 'Map' button on the top-left of the screen. If its not there tap the screen to reveal it. On the 'PDF Maps' screen tap the '+' in the top-right. Tap 'From Avenza PDF Map Library. This will load the Safari web browser and take you to a web site set up by Avenza where you can download maps in geospatial PDF compatible formats. Scroll down to find the links to both the Canadian NRC Topographic Maps or the USGS Topographic Maps. Once you've downloaded a map it will load directly in the app. The map file will be imported and rasterized so it can be used by the app. Be patient it will take a couple of minutes.
Once the file has been converted, tap the map name to view the map on your device's screen. You can pan around to see different areas of the map and pinch to zoom in on specific areas. You can drop waypoints and even turn on the compass to orient the map in the direction you are facing. I'll let you play around and discover the rest of the features.
Downloading maps from a web site
Now, at the time of this posting, Avenza's list of NRC maps isn't complete. If you want a complete list of available maps you'll need to go directly to the NRC website. Note that NRC is in the process of updating all their topo maps and converting them to the new GeoPDF format so you may not find all the maps for the areas you're interested in yet. Visit the NRC site regularly as many new maps are added almost monthly. To figure out which map tile you want visit the Toporama Topographical Maps web site.
This link takes you directly to the Canadian Natural Resources GeoPDF maps download directory
This link takes you directly to the USGS Map Store (downloads are free)
Now, with the map file downloaded to you computer launch iTunes and with your device plugged in and selected in the left-hand sidebar click on the 'Apps' tab. You should see a list of all the apps installed on your device. Now scroll down the page into the 'File Sharing' area. You should see 'PDF Maps' listed in the Apps section. Select it and then click on the 'Add…' button at the bottom of the pane on the right. Now navigate to where you downloaded the topo map and select it. Now click on the 'Sync' button in the bottom right corner of the iTunes window to send the map to your device. Once the sync is completed you can disconnect your device and quit iTunes.
On your device launch the 'PDF Maps' app. Navigate to the 'PDF Maps' screen and tap the '+' on the top-right of the screen. On the 'Add a Map' screen tap the 'From iTunes File Sharing' button. On the 'Import From iTunes' screen select the map file under 'Select a File to Import'. Again, the map file will be imported and rasterized so it can be used by the app.
Be aware that this doesn't work with just any old topo map file, the files have to be in the new geospatial PDF format (GeoPDF is a compatible geospatial PDF format,) and not just topo maps. So if you find any national/provincial/state park maps or city maps in geospatial PDF format feel free to load them up as well. Some are available directly from within the PDF Maps app. Just follow the instructions I posted above.
Have fun!
Expected functionality from each device.
iPhone:
- The iPhone contains both a full function GPS chip and antenna as well as a compass. If you activate those functions the app will show your location on the map if you are physically located within the co-ordinates of the map you are viewing and will orient the map in the direction you are facing.
- The iPad Wi-Fi only model contains a compass only and can use location services*. If you activate the compass it will orient the map in the direction you are facing. If you are within an area of known Wi-Fi hotspots the app will try to show your location on the map if you are physically located within the co-ordinates of the map you are viewing.
- The iPad Wi-Fi + 3G modal contains both a full function GPS chip and antenna as well as a compass. If you activate those functions the app will show your location on the map if you are physically located within the co-ordinates of the map you are viewing and will orient the map in the direction you are facing.
- The iPod Touch does not contain a GPS chip or compass but does use location services*. If you are within an area of known Wi-Fi hotspots the app will try to show your location on the map if you are physically located within the co-ordinates of the map you are viewing.
UPDATE!
Android Devices:
Android Play Store.
PDF Maps is now available for Android devices. As with iOS devices it works best with devices that have an imbedded GPS chip which usually means all smartphones and some tablets. Check the specs of your device.
