Introduction

Once you have obtained your maps in digital form (eg, by scanning paper maps, or downloading them from a 3rd party), there are two steps involved in loading them into Bit Map on your iPhone:  Preparation and Installation.

Preparation invloves defining the area of the Earth represented by the map in such a way that can be interpretted by Bit Map.  Installation is the process of loading prepared map image files into Bit Map on the iPhone.  Bit Map provides a variety of methods of preparation and two methods of installation.  You will need to decide which methods best suit you and your maps.

Preparation of Map Image Files

There are two methods of preparing map files:

The fully manual preparation method requires you to determine and define the region of the Earth covered by each map yourself, and to rename each map image file using a strict format to represent each map.

The .map method uses OziExplorer-compatible ".map" files to automatically determine the region covered by each map, but is only available to OziExplorer users, or people who've obtained maps with associated ".map" files in OziExplorer format.

Which ever method you use, the images must be in a standard image file format (see below for a list of compatible formats).  It is also important to reduce file size as much as possible - the iPhone OS devices have good storage capacity, but RAM is constrained such that using large image files can cause problems.  JPEG is the recommended format, as it can be highly compressed (with a little loss of quality).  As a general rule of thumb, each map image file should be no more than 6MB before zipping/importing.

Manual Preparation Method

This method can be a little tedious, but is available to all users.  OziExplorer users (or anyone with maps in OziExplorer format) may prefer the quicker and easier '.map Preparation Method' (below).

Before you begin, you must determine the following information for each map:

• Map Datum (eg, WGS84, AGD66, GDA94)
• Grid references in UTM eastings/northings for the bottom-left and top-right corners of the map

In addition for UTM maps, you may need to determine:

• UTM Zone (eg, 55G, 56J)

All this information should be available on the map itself, or from the source the map was obtained from.

First you must obtain your maps in a compatible image file format, such as JPEG or PNG (see below for a complete list of compatible file formats). To do this you can scan your paper maps, or purchase map image files from a retailer (eg, Tasmanian maps by Tasmap are theoretically available on CD from theLIST). IMPORTANT: Make sure that your images do not include any borders around the map itself if you want to maps to be automatically joined to each other, or if you plan to use Bit Map's navigation and location features.

Multiple contiguous map images (eg, tiles to be merged into a larger single map) can be installed simultaneously if all the images are contained in a single zip file with a '.zip' filename extension.  Zipping is still recommended even for single individual images, as it can dramatically reduce the installation time.

If you wish to use Bit Map's location and navigation features, or if you wish to combine several map files into a single large map on your iPhone, then a little more preparation of the files is required. In particular, each file needs to be named in a strict format that describes the precise region of the Earth represented by the map (the required information should be printed on the map before you scanned it, embedded in the file, or otherwise available from the map supplier).  Note that the location and navigation features are currently only supported for UTM or latitude/longitude maps (which are the most commonly used maps for most purposes).

Each file name should be of the format:

<projection> <datum> <zone> <left> <bottom> <right> <top>.<extension>

Where:

• <projection> = One of the compatible projection abbreviations (see below).  Optional - if not provided, UTM will be assumed.
• <datum> = One of the standard UTM map datum names. See below for a complete list of datums that Bit Map can use.  Optional - if not provided, WGS84 will be assumed.
• <zone> = The UTM zone for the map (NB: maps that cover multiple zones, or which use coordinates from other zones, are not currently supported for navigation features).  UTM maps only - do not include a zone for non-UTM maps.
• <left> = The 'easting' coordinate (in metres) for the left edge of the map.
• <bottom> = The 'northing' coordinate (in metres) for the bottom edge of the map.
• <right> = The 'easting' coordinate (in metres) for the right edge of the map.
• <top> = The 'northing' coordinate (in metres) for the top edge of the map.
• <extension> = A supported image file extension such as 'jpg' or 'png'. See below for a complete list of compatible file types.

Notes for Specifying the Left, Bottom, Right, Top Values

The values for the left, bottom, right and top must be specified as numbers (with or without a decimal point) with no other characters (eg, do not include 'N', 'S', '°').

For UTM maps, this MUST be the UTM grid references (in metres).

For latitude/longitude maps, this must be the latitude and longitude coordinates in simple decimal degress (NOT with minutes or seconds).  NB:  longitude before latitude (ie, left before bottom, and right before top).  Use negative numbers for west or south.

Once your files are named correctly, they can be installed into Bit Map. If you wish to have several maps joined together, you should zip them into the one single zip file before installing into Bit Map.

A Latitude/Longitude Example

For example, a map of the world could be named:

latlon WGS84 -180 -90 180 90.jpg

assuming it is drawn in a straight latitude/longitude grid, uses the 'WGS84' map datum, and covers the area between latitude/longitude coordinates -90°, -180° (bottom, left) and 90°, 180° (top, right).  Note that in the filename, the longitude comes before the latitude for both points.  Because the map is using the default datum, WGS84, that element is optional, and this file could be simply named:

latlon -180 -90 180 90.jpg

A UTM Example

For example, the new version of the Tasmap 1:25,000 UTM map '5041' (Launceston) saved as a JPEG would be named:

UTM GDA94 55G 500000 5410000 520000 5420000.jpg

because it is drawn in the UTM projection, uses the 'GDA94' map datum, is entirely within the UTM zone '55G', and covers the area between easting/northing coordinates 500000, 5410000 (left, bottom) and 520000, 5420000 (right, top).  Note that UTM is Bit Map's default projection and GDA94 is virtually identical to the default datum, WGS84, therefore these two elements are optional, and this file could be simply named:

55G 500000 5410000 520000 5420000.jpg

Conversion Between Coordinates and Grid Reference Notations

There are several online tools available for converting between the various notations for specifying coordinates or grid references.  Either from latitude/longitude to UTM or visa-versa, or between degrees-minutes-seconds, and simple decimal degrees.  Use your preferred internet search engine to find some of these tools.  One example of such a tool is:

http://www.rcn.montana.edu/resources/tools/coordinates.aspx

Note that if using latitude and longitude, Bit Map requires decimal notation, not minutes-seconds notation.

.map Preparation Method

This method is much simpler than manual preparation, but is only available for map images which already have valid OziExplorer ".map" files associated with them.

Before you begin, each map image must be converted to a standard image file format that Bit Map can read, such as JPG or PNG (see below for a full list of compatible formats).  Bit Map cannot read OziExplorer's own non-standard image formats.  Each image file must also have an associated ".map" file which describes the map in the image.  Note that OziExplorer image files can easily be converted to standard image files by either opening and exporting each one using the OziExplorer application (File -> Save Map to Image File...), or by doing a batch conversion of one or more image files using freeware tools such as SmartCom's "ogf2tool".  JPG and PNG are the preferred image formats as they are better compressed and take less time install on the iPhone.  BMP should be avoided (or re-converted to another format) because its file sizes are very large.

Place the map image file(s) and the associated .map metadata file(s) in a directory (folder) and then compress that folder to a .zip file.  This .zip file can then be loaded into Bit Map.  If you wish to have several maps joined together, you should place them all in the same directory and then zip them into the one single zip file before installing into Bit Map.

Some important notes for the .map method:

• Supports UTM and latitude/longitude maps only (the most commonly used maps).
• Rounds the definition of UTM map edges to the the nearest 100 metres.  This usually improves accuracy of the latitude/longitude values supplied for the edges in most .map files, but could potentially skew the calibration of map files that do not have edges on 100 metre UTM intervals by up to 50 metres.
• Automatically trims margins from map images according to the specifications in the .map files, if they have not already been trimmed by exporting from OziExplorer.  OziExplorer will trim during export, but other file conversion applications do not - Bit Map should handle both trimmed and untrimmed images correctly.

Naming Maps

If you moved the map file(s) into a folder (directory) before zipping them, then Bit Map will use the name of this folder as the display name for the map.  If you did not place the maps file(s) into a folder before zipping them, then Bit Map will use the name of the zip file itself as the display name for the map.

This allows you to have a good human readable name for the map (from the name of the folder), but a different short, easy to type name for downloading from Bit Map (from the name of the zip file).  Eg, for a map of Tasmania at a scale of 1:250,000 you could name the folder "Tasmania 250,000" for easy reading in Bit Map, and after zipping it, rename the zip file "tas250.zip" for easy typing when uploading/downloading into Bit Map.

Installation of Prepared Map Files and Importing KML Files

Maps and KML files can be loaded into Bit Map using much the same process.  There are two different ways for Bit Map to load prepared maps and KML files:

1. Uploading files directly from your desktop/laptop to Bit Map, directing the web browser on your Desktop/Laptop to the URL that Bit Map displays in its aquisition view.  While in the acquisition view, Bit Map will run its own built-in web server ready to receive files from web browsers on the local network (NB:  The desktop/laptop uploading the files must be on the same local network as the iPhone running Bit Map, and Bit Map must be displaying it's acquisition view for this to work).
2. Downloading files from a web server somewhere on the internet (or on your local network) using URLs that you enter into Bit Map itself. This means that you first need to upload your prepared map image files to a web server. Any computer can act as a web server, so long as it is configured correctly. If you don't already have upload access to a web server, you may be able to set up your desktop/laptop as a temporary web server.

These two methods are explained in more detail below.  Before you can install your maps in Bit Map, you must prepare the files so that Bit Map can recognise the geographical area represented by each map image (see above).

Common Steps

Both methods of loading map and KML files use the same first few steps:

• On the iPhone's home screen, tap the Bit Map icon to open Bit Map (if you don't have any maps installed yet, an alert will indicate how to acquire maps - tap OK to dismiss this alert).
• To load a prepared map, tap on the 'Manage Maps' item at the bottom of the screen. This will display the maps manager view - a list of all your currently installed maps (may be none, if no maps have been installed yet).

• To load a KML file, tap on the 'Routes' item at the bottom of the screen.  This will display the routes manager view - a list of all your currently installed or saved routes (may be none, if no routes have been imported or created yet).

• Tap the '+' icon at the top right of the maps manager or the routes manager to add a map or route, respectively. The acquisition view will be displayed.

• Choose one of the two installation methods below for the remaining instructions.

Upload File Directly to Bit Map from Desktop/Laptop

This method requires that your desktop or laptop computer be on the same local network (subnet) as your iPhone (which is usually the case for most people where their desktop/laptop and iPhone are in the same room or building).

• On your desktop/laptop, open a web browser and enter the URL displayed on Bit Map's acquisition view (don't forget to include the port number in the URL, usually ":8888").  Bit Maps acquisision web page should appear with a form requesting the security code.
• In the desktop web browser, enter the 4 digit security code displayed on Bit Map's acqusition view, and click the submit button.  The web page should change to a form requesting the file to be uploaded.
• In the desktop web browser, select the file to be sent to Bit Map, and click the "Upload" button (usually an image or zip file for maps, and a KML or zip file for routes).  The web browser will indicate when file upload is complete.

Download File to Bit Map from a Web Server

This method requires that your files have already been uploaded to a web server that is publicly accessible on the internet or on you local network.

• Enter the URL of the file to acquire in the field at the top of Bit Map's acquisition view.
• Tap the 'Go' button on the keyboard (or the 'download' button next to the URL field) to begin downloading.

Acquisition Progress and Optimisation

Whichever of the two methods above are used, Bit Map displays progress indicators to keep you informed of acquisition progress, and once the file has been fully received, Bit Map will display the progress of optimisation (where the map image files are split into smaller tiles and compressed). Note that both of these processes can take a very long time. iPhone sleep is disabled during this period, and re-enabled when the process is complete.

NB:  Acquiring and optimising map files can take a long time, and uses a lot of processing power.  While in progress, Bit Map will prevent the iPhone from sleeping to reduce the likelyhood of interuption to this processing.  This processing can use a lot of battery power, so it is advisable to make sure that the iPhone is plugged into a power source or at least has a fully charged battery, before beginning acquisition of a large map file.

An alert will inform you when acquisition is complete.

NB:  If you install a map which has the same name as an existing map, it will be merged with the existing map (eg, to extend the coverage of the map, or to join two maps which were not both included in the same zip file). Otherwise, the new map will be added to the list of maps available in Bit Map.

• You can now either load additional files, or tap the 'Done' button to return to the maps manager view or routes manager view.

Compatible Map Projections

Bit Map will display maps of any projection, however the location and navigation features will only work for the map projections listed below.  When specifying the projection in an image filename for Bit Map, you must use the abbreviation specified here.  Support for other projections my be included in future updates.

Recognised Map Datums

Map datums are mathematical definitions of the shape of the earth (the 'ellipsoid') combined with a relative offset of the ellipsoid's origin from a known point. The following abbreviations represent the internationally recognised map datums that are compatible with Bit Map's navigation and location features, and should be used as the datum component of file names before installing the files in Bit Map:

• wgs84
• wgs72
• nad27
• nad83
• a-can
• eur
• tokyo
• aus
• osgb36
• sam69
• sad-69
• pulkovo
• eur50
• eur79
• agd66
• agd84
• gda94
• grs80
• rome40
• sasia
• s-42
• potsdam
• carthage
• oid

Compatible Image File Formats

JPEG is the preferred file format to minimise download times, as it has the best compression, however it's compression does cause a reduction in image quality. Note that Bit Map converts all files it receives to JPEG, no matter what format they were originally in, and uses high compression (by default) in order to minimise the amount of storage space used up on the iPhone.

Bit Map can use original images zipped in any of the following file types:

• Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) .tiff, .tif
• Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) .jpg, .jpeg
• Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) .gif
• Portable Network Graphic (PNG) .png
• Windows Bitmap Format (DIB) .bmp, .BMPf (not recommended - uses too much memory!)
• Windows Icon Format .ico
• Windows Cursor .cur
• XWindow Bitmap .xbm
• Portable Document Format (PDF) .pdf

The maps used for the Bit Map icon and screenshots are derived from Geoscience Australia’s free maps http://www.ga.gov.au/mapconnect/ © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 used by permission.