Generating GPXs from the Measure distance feature

[Bart Eisenberg]

Per @Harry van der Wolf, I've been experimenting with the Measure distance feature, and I agree, it's a fast, flexible way to create GPXs.  

The function has two ways to create a GPX, which begs a question: why would you save a route as "a line" rather than as "route points"? Looking at the resulting GPXs, it appears that both use trkpt coordinates.  In addition, saving as "route points" also include rtept coordinates ("turn points" in the GPX schema), which are the places you have marked out with the Measure tool.  

Route points have some advantages.  Is there any reason not to have them? 

[Harry van der Wolf]

I guess that if you share some route/track with a friend who only has an app or device to display track points, he/she can use your trail as well.

And all the others can use the route.

Harry

Op zo 15 mrt. 2020 om 18:22 schreef Bart Eisenberg <bartei...@gmail.com>:

Per @Harry van der Wolf, I've been experimenting with the Measure distance feature, and I agree, it's a fast, flexible way to create GPXs.  

The function has two ways to create a GPX, which begs a question: why would you save a route as "a line" rather than as "route points"? Looking at the resulting GPXs, it appears that both use trkpt coordinates.  In addition, saving as "route points" also include rtept coordinates ("turn points" in the GPX schema), which are the places you have marked out with the Measure tool.  

Route points have some advantages.  Is there any reason not to have them? 

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[Akkana Peck]

I use Measure Distance sometimes while hiking. So far I haven't
used it to create a GPX, but I could see wanting that, especially
if I didn't have an app on my computer that could generate GPX.

There isn't necessarily any marked trail on these hikes, and even if
there is one, we might not be using it (or I might be running OsmAnd
specifically so I can add it to the map later). I don't use routing,
I just look at the map; but I do use GPX files to figure out where
we need to go, and Measure Distance to get an estimate of how far it
is to the next trail intersection, or peak, or other feature.

Do rtept coordinates work when there's no marked path and you're
just viewing the track on a map while traveling off trail?

...Akkana

[Bart Eisenberg]

Harry:  Thanks!

Akanna: The way you're using the tools, not navigating with a GPX, no, I don't think the route points make any difference.  

With GPX navigation, there is an option "Calculate route between points"; it uses the routing points to create a route.  I've had some success with that, but, so far, not perfection.    

[Grzegorz Adamiak]

On Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 10:22:12 AM UTC-7, Bart Eisenberg wrote:

The function has two ways to create a GPX, which begs a question: why would you save a route as "a line" rather than as "route points"? Looking at the resulting GPXs, it appears that both use trkpt coordinates.  In addition, saving as "route points" also include rtept coordinates ("turn points" in the GPX schema), which are the places you have marked out with the Measure tool.  

Route points have some advantages.  Is there any reason not to have them?

A common use case is creating a track (not route) for offroad riding (or hiking). The routing will rarely produce the same path, while measure tool gives you a freedom of designing the track as you want it to be. If you pass the track to others they can use another tool to either navigate by track or at least display an overlay in their navigation/device, which will not work with a route. And actually manually following a track overlaid on a map is another use case, be it hiking or biking or whatever.

[Bart Eisenberg]

If you generate a GPX with both trkpt and rtept coordinates (as the Measurement tool can), is that a track? a route? or a hybrid?

[Harry van der Wolf]

Op di 17 mrt. 2020 om 18:49 schreef Bart Eisenberg <bartei...@gmail.com>:

If you generate a GPX with both trkpt and rtept coordinates (as the Measurement tool can), is that a track? a route? or a hybrid?

It can be both. It is the program that determines its use.

And you  forgot waypoints (wpt) :)

[Bart Eisenberg]

I've made a tutorial video on using the Measure Distance tool: https://youtu.be/gkfe9D8W-lE

It's unpublished, and while so, I can make changes.  Any thoughts?  

[Harry van der Wolf]

Hi Bart,

Excellent video again. Very clear.

And I learned something new: I only used the "snap to road" when ready.

Thanks for pointing it out that you can use it at any time. That makes it even more a great tool. (It is quite obvious actually but I completely overlooked it)

Please don't consider this a criticism, but maybe something to add for less experienced users: They know now how to create a GPX-route using the tool and to show it on the map. But how do they use it to navigate? That's for experienced users quite obvious, but maybe not for beginners.

Maybe point the users to one of your other earlier videos just before the end credits.

Kind regards,

Harry

Op za 18 apr. 2020 om 18:27 schreef Bart Eisenberg <bartei...@gmail.com>:

I've made a tutorial video on using the Measure Distance tool: https://youtu.be/gkfe9D8W-lE

It's unpublished, and while so, I can make changes.  Any thoughts?  

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[Bart Eisenberg]

Thanks Harry!  I like your idea of mentioning how to navigate GPX routes created by the tool. But there's a caveat. Navigating GPX routes created this way is via the GPX, not the underlying map.  Which means you get turn-by-turn directions ("turn left", "turn slightly right") at every curve of the road, rather than street-specific instructions at the appropriate intersections.  

My attempt at a video addressing this is here: https://youtu.be/mMcw4kYmfPk  It explains the problem and offers a suggested workaround.  This isn't a beginner video, but I think it's worth mentioning.

(If, using the tool, you "Save as route points", you can navigate with "Calculate route between points" enabled.  In some cases, that produces better results because you are now navigating with the map. But in my experience, the results aren't consistently accurate enough to endorse the method.)

Thinking about beginners, I'll also expand on that final screen showing the elevation profile and other data that preview the GPX route before you take it.  

On Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 1:35:37 AM UTC-7, Harry van der Wolf wrote:

Hi Bart,

Excellent video again. Very clear.

And I learned something new: I only used the "snap to road" when ready.

Thanks for pointing it out that you can use it at any time. That makes it even more a great tool. (It is quite obvious actually but I completely overlooked it)

Please don't consider this a criticism, but maybe something to add for less experienced users: They know now how to create a GPX-route using the tool and to show it on the map. But how do they use it to navigate? That's for experienced users quite obvious, but maybe not for beginners.

Maybe point the users to one of your other earlier videos just before the end credits.

Kind regards,

Harry

Op za 18 apr. 2020 om 18:27 schreef Bart Eisenberg <bartei...@gmail.com>:

I've made a tutorial video on using the Measure Distance tool: https://youtu.be/gkfe9D8W-lE

It's unpublished, and while so, I can make changes.  Any thoughts?  

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[CP]

Hi Bart,

Very useful video as usual! Two comments:
1. I'd explain how the method of transportation influences the distance tool. After all, point-to-point is point-to-point. And that should always yield the same results. Not?
2. You're using  a red indicator in the menu, while your other indicators are purple. I'd stick to same color. (But this is just pushing it for the sake of pushing it ;-)

All the best,
Ceaus.

Op 18-04-2020 om 18:27 schreef Bart Eisenberg:

I've made a tutorial video on using the Measure Distance tool: https://youtu.be/gkfe9D8W-lE

It's unpublished, and while so, I can make changes.  Any thoughts?  

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[Bart Eisenberg]

Hi and thanks @Ceaus

1.  Point to point is indeed point to point and yields the same results no matter how you plan to traverse it.  It's only when you "snap to road" that the means of transportation matters.  I say "Just as with OsmAnd navigation in general, the routing depends on your method of transport."  Is that not clear?

2. A red circle in the menu would of course be of great concern--but I can't locate it.  I only knowingly deviated from my default purple highlight in one instance: at 2:30 where I used a blue circle to stand out from the purple route, just above.  If you can point out the offending frames, I'll take a look.

On Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 2:29:24 PM UTC-7, CP wrote:

Hi Bart,

Very useful video as usual! Two comments:
1. I'd explain how the method of transportation influences the distance tool. After all, point-to-point is point-to-point. And that should always yield the same results. Not?
2. You're using  a red indicator in the menu, while your other indicators are purple. I'd stick to same color. (But this is just pushing it for the sake of pushing it ;-)

All the best,
Ceaus.

Op 18-04-2020 om 18:27 schreef Bart Eisenberg:

I've made a tutorial video on using the Measure Distance tool: https://youtu.be/gkfe9D8W-lE

It's unpublished, and while so, I can make changes.  Any thoughts?  

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[Eugene zmeu]

Hi Bart!
Your tutorial is very cool. 
I want to add some news about this tool:
https://github.com/osmandapp/Osmand/issues/7751
We want to modify this tool for Android and we will add it to iOS version soon.

[Bart Eisenberg]

I've taken the comments here and produced a second version: https://youtu.be/PxgxF9B1cfg.  I think it's close enough to solid that I'll make it public on YouTube soon.  Thank you!

And thanks Eugene. I really like the route previewing added to the iOS version, and am glad to hear you're adding the Measure Distance tool, as well. I've been planning to update my video (https://youtu.be/-Rf4aXfnYIg). But the shelter-in-place order here in California together with the closing of the parks near me makes that difficult for the while.  

Best, 

Bart

[Bart Eisenberg]

I gave a quick test of v3.7's ability to give give complete directions turn directions with the measurement tool (as well as saving a route to a GPX).  It worked great, making the tool arguably the best way to create complex routes from within OsmAnd itself (though I'm not sure how it compares with Brouter.).  Kodos to the developers.