DEM height data in custom maps

[gbbickerton]

How do you get height data into maps made from OSM.
I have some hgt and adf files for Great Britain but do not know how to incorporate this into a map made by MKgmap from OSM files. I have found tutorials for US maps but do not know what format the elevation data they use is.

Barry

[popej]

You need this compiler:
http://developer.garmin.com/web-device/mapsource-product-creator/

[Boyd]

Really, the answer is: "you can't". MPC is only available to Garmin's licensed partners and there is an annual fee of at least $5,000. But even if you are willing to pay that fee, Garmin is not likely to sell it to you. They will not accept any partners that make maps of areas for which they sell products.

I inquired about this myself once and was rejected because I make maps of the US and they said they would "compete" with City Navigator and their 24k topo products. If you are in the UK, the situation would be the same.

Nobody but Garmin completely understands how to use DEM in a map file. However there are some good insights here: http://pinns.co.uk/osm/dem.html

It's not the same thing, but I have developed a technique for creating maps with shaded terrain. See this: http://gpstracklog.com/2012/02/lidar-based-maps-for-your-garmin.html

Lengthy technical discussion here: http://forums.gpsfiledepot.com/index.php?topic=2579.0

[Seldom]

As Boyd said, DEM data isn't possible right now, but if you don't know how  to make contours in OSM here's a place to start:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/SRTM

[Boyd]

Better check the link in your post. Either you made a mistake or GPSFileDepot has been hacked again. 

[Seldom]

     Not hacked, just unfortunate cut and paste.

[gbbickerton]

I was interested in height gain in planned cycle rides so I didn't actually need it on my gps I have looked at OKmap which will use DEM data but it does not support OSM or garmin maps and QlandkartGT which opens garmin maps but does not seem to support DEM data is there any other software other than online or expensive which could give an elevation profile for planned routes or tracks.

Thanks for the help

BB

[Seldom]

No free way to do it, but Global Mapper (400 USD) will open and write OSM and DEM.  It will also write MP (cgpsmapper) files.  Don't know if DEM data for the UK is freely available, but if it is you could load DEM and your road, and generate a path profile for the road.  Path profile graphically shows the elevation difference of the path.  You could then use GM to write a file you could compile with either mkgmap or cgpsmapper.  Unfortunately, DEM data would be lost, and you'd have to rely on reading contours to generate elevations.

[popej]

is there any other software other than online or expensive which could give an elevation profile for planned routes or tracks.

Both Mapsource and BaseCamp can show elevation profile of a route on maps with contours.

[Boyd]

I have never tried this, but I know that others use GPSVisualizer to add elevation data to tracks and routes. It is free. You could use the track drawing tool in basecamp to create a track, save it as a .gpx file, then add elevation here: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/elevation

[Seldom]

Both Mapsource and BaseCamp can show elevation profile of a route on maps with contours.

I'm not seeing profiles on any of the maps I made with contours.  BaseCamp shows "No Elevation Data Available", and the profile button on MapSource is grayed out.

[popej]

It depends on settings in TDB, you need to add option HeightProfile=Y in pv file for cpreview.

[Seldom]

Thanks, popej.

[gbbickerton]

Do  I use the same HeightProfile=Y in my options file for MKgamap, I had read that basecamp would use the contours but did not know why it always said no  elevation data available.
Thanks for the help
BB

[popej]

This is option for cpreview which is a part of cgpsmapper compiler. I don't know if mkgmap support this feature.

You can create TDB for a map with GMapTool, it set HighProfile by default.