Geocaching Australia

Check it out:

<a href="http://earth.google.com/">Google Earth</a> its google's answer to worldwind and it support gpx and loc files.

wow this is good

I downloaded and installed it. It looks pretty good.

grab <a href="http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php ... 25750">the highlight.kml</a> file from the google bbs after you have installed it. Swing to Sydney and zoom in on the pin.

it supports network links so we'll build a network link which to show caches and be automatically updated at the frequency you choose, eg daily, weekly, etc.

It doesn't have the data yet for australia but you can place a cache and it will then give you driving directions on how to get there.

So how do you load a gpx or loc file in?

Dunno, but I noticed as it installed, an interesting .exe file called gpsbabel. One can only assume that they are using the open source software of the same name, and it supports gpx files (I think).

caughtatwork wrote:So how do you load a gpx or loc file in?

File -> Open then choose files of type GPS (GPS, Loc...)

Ahhhh.
Didn't click on the dropdown. How embarassing.

It's a very cool program.
When you zoom in, it's not quite right as far as the actual location of the cache goes.

Probably 15-20 meters at best, so while you could find an easy cache just using the map, in a park under many bushes you could take a little longer.

Of course, seeing your own house (and what's in the neighbours backyards) is kind of cool.

And it runs on my computer! (Unlike World Wind)

I am most impressed! I couldn't run Worldwind on my el-cheapo desktop, only on the laptop, and the desktop's the one with the 21" screen.

This runs well, and seems to have better resolution than WW (at least in the cities/suburbs) I could see our pool and shed quite clearly, and I plan to put a canvas on the shed roof to see how often the images are updated!

Have you noticed that Sydney CBD is low-res? I noticed the same with New York City in WW, so I assume it's a silly anti-terrorist ploy... The suburbs are fine, but many country towns are also low-res only.

The ability to load GPX directly, rather than jumping through XML hoops is marvellous.

It must've been popular, as I noticed this morning that they've suspended further downloads for now!

Yes, most impressive program. I do really like the image overlay feature. Had a play with it last night and overlayed these road maps over Rockhampton.



Without overlay


With overlay, with transparency set to about 50%

I like that - How do you calibrate the overlay?
<br />I can see a google earth tips thread soon.

... on the wiki

I think the mouse navigation in World Wind is better, but Google's ability to load a GPX, then link straight to the gc.com page is so cool.