Introduction

Several companies make low-cost digital mapping programs that possess some functionality with corporate ESRI Geographic Information Systems. Some of the companies that offer this type of digital mapping software include National Geographic’s TOPO! Image Support for ArcGIS and Multi-layer, MapTech Terrain Navigator Pro and DeLorme Xmap. Image files are either included with the software or are purchased separately. The image files will not work with other digital mapping software and require either the “pro” versions or additional software to function with ESRI GIS. National Geographic and MapTech’s DRG mapsets are “enhanced”, i.e. scanned at higher resolution (250dpi versus 100 dpi) than standard USGS “public domain” DRGs. Desktop mapping software products are generally user-friendly, produce attractive maps, and work with many makes and models of GPS. Their functionality with ESRI GIS varies depending on the vendor.

Additionally, National Geographic, MapTech and DeLorme all offer companion products
that allow downloads into PocketPC and PalmOS devices.

Other low-cost mapping products are available that interface with user-supplied source
maps or images. One such product is OziExplorer. OziExplorer has a shapefile converter feature that allows waypoints, tracks and routes to be automatically converted to .shp files for export to ESRI GIS. OziExplorer also has a full-function add-on software program for use in Pocket PCs (OziExploreCE).

Digital Mapping Software “Pro Versions”

The following are brief product overviews taken from the internet with screenshots
examples.

Maptech http://www.maptech.com
Some advertised features include:
USGS MAPS ON CD-ROM

• Maptech scans official USGS topo maps to produce the highest quality maps available.
  
• Two scales for the continental US: 1:24/25,000 (7.5 minute series) and 1:100,000 scale. Alaska is 1:63,360 and 1:250,000 scale.
  
• Maps can be copied and stored on the hard-drive.

• 1 meter resolution USGS Digital Orthophoto Quads for most areas of the continental US (see coverage map).
  
• Upon Internet registration, you will have access to download all photos within a state region
  
• A 1-year subscription for photo downloads is included in the price. Any photos you download are yours to keep using after the subscription ends. If you need more photos in the future, additional subscriptions are $99.95 per year.
  
• Downloaded photos are stored on the hard-drive.

Cost: $299.95 per state plus $99.95 after one year for subscription to statewide aerial
photos

Comments: Advertised as the “Cadillac” of desktop mapping, the program seems to live
up to that claim by being both easy-to-use (even for first-time users) and yet feature-rich
enough to handle a variety of mapping tasks. The Pro version allows images to be
directly exported into ESRI and other GIS corporate software. Waypoints, tracklogs and
routes have to be downloaded separately using other software (e.g. DNRGarmin). In
testing the software we found that the aerial photos do not tile well in ArcView 3.2.

Fig.1 – MapTech Terrain Navigator Pro Export screen to move DRG into a
georeferenced image file compatible with ArcView. User picks projection and datum.

Fig. 2- Maptech Terrain Navigator Pro medium quality image downloaded into ArcView 3.2.

Fig. 3 - Maptech Terrain Navigator Pro medium quality image (aerial photo) downloaded
into ArcView 3.2.

National Geographic TOPO! Image Support of ArcGIS and Multi-layer
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/extension.cfm

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Import a seamless map across multiple USGS quads
  
• Conveniently imported in a single layer or theme
  
• Beautifully enhanced 3D shaded relief generated from NED elevation data can be toggled on/off
• Supports a broad range of projections
• Small file size
  
• Photo quality, high-resolution graphics
  
• Compiles map data from the award-winning TOPO! State Series software. (Note: Not compatible with TOPO! Alaska or
  TOPO! Hawaii.)
  
• Premier topographic map set for the Geography Network

Fig.4 from National Geographic advertisement

Image Support for ArcGIS works well in ESRI GIS but users can’t toggle DRG colors.
Some National Forests are currently using TOPO! DRGs instead of standard USGS
DRGs.

PRODUCT FEATURES:
Includes all of the features of the Image Support Extension (listed at left) PLUS:

• Import hillshades and DEMs in addition to seamless USGS base maps
• Individual layers can be toggled on/off
  
• Transparency, color ramps, and visible scale ranges can be adjusted separately
  
• Combine any of the three layers to create the exact map you need
  
• Compiles map, hillshade and elevation data from the award-winning TOPO! State Series software.

Fig. 5 Multi-layer advertisement DRG (see also Fig. 6 and Fig. 7)

Fig. 6- Hillshade example

Fig. 7 – Hillshade + DEM (color layers toggled)

Comments: TOPO! Image Support for ArcGIS software works well with ESRI. The
Multi-layer product was not tested. The desktop mapping program is easy to use and
produces very attractive maps (particularly the hillshade).

DeLorme Xmap 4.0 http://www.delorme.com/professional/xmap/features.asp
And http://www.directionsmag.com/features.php?feature_id=100

DeLorme XMap 4.0 is a scalable mapping software program that provides GIS tools at an
affordable price. The base package includes the functionality discussed in this review with some
custom datasets. DeLorme provides the option to purchase additional GIS functionality for XMap
such as Map Export Module 2.0, Image Registration, PhotoFlight and the XMap programming kit.
DeLorme XMap 4.0 is also designed to work with various add-on geographic databases. The
geographic databases come on CD’s and can be copied to the hard-drive or can be left on the
CD. XMap will automatically search your hard-drive and CD drive for the datasets when the
program starts. The databases that can be purchased separately include:
•

• 3-D TopoQuads® - USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle maps.
  •
• Sat 10 - 10-meter colorized satellite imagery for an entire state or region.
  •
• Phone Data - 116 million residential and business phone listings.
  •
• USA Street Network - Vector dataset with coverage of the entire United States.
  •
• USA Topographic – Provides elevation profiles of any road or trail and shows the location of land cover including
  wetlands, forests, glaciers, rock cover, and urban areas.
  •
• Aerial Data Packets (ADPs) – Users can build their own custom dataset containing a composite of USGS DOQs, 7.5-minute Topo Quads (DRGs), Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and DeLorme’s 10-meter resolution satellite imagery (Sat 10).

Aerial Data Packets provide you with all of the available public data and DeLorme data
geographically linked. No need to search for and cut/paste together datasets for your project. You can also view the data in 3-D.

Professional Symbols and Draw Tools - Mark your map with an extensive range surveying,
ICS firefighting, and common map symbols. You can also create your own bitmap symbols. Easy
and time-saving map marking tools include arc, spline, point-to-point or freehand line drawing.

XMap’s split-screen view is used in this example to show a side-by-side view of 3-D TopoQuads
and Sat 10. With the split-screen view, you can quickly identify new features and update the
USGS 7.5-minute topo maps.

(the above are from DeLormes' web site advertisement)

Comments: To fully function, a number of modules must be purchased. Only a minimum
amount of testing was done with this software. DeLorme has a variety of desktop
mapping software products including a DEM product TopoUSA and Street Atlas. All the
software shares a common GUI and handles GPS inputs well. Note that ICS symbology
is part of DeLormes' map symbols set.

Comparisons Between These Software Products

Although not all the products identified were fully tested, some observations can be
made. Depending on specific mapping needs.

MapTech could provide the best product for the price, particularly if the area of interest
is a single state. Cost issues come into play after the one year free aerial photo
subscription expires. MapTech’s desktop mapping program has a lot of utility and
includes outstanding 3D and terrain “rubber sheeting” features. It even has a special 3D
mode for 3-D glasses (included when you but the software). The software allows an .avi
export of the 3-D view that approximates a low-level helicopter survey. Support for
MapTech products (via their website) is fairly good. MapTech’s handheld software
(Pocket Navigator $100.) is an excellent companion product for the Terrain Navigator
series. Its PocketPC version is the best of the three. The export of waypoints, tracks and
routes is limited to a .txf file format (that unfortunately doesn’t appear to be readily
compatible with ESRI GIS).

National Geographic has exceptionally nice color hillshade images that can be brought
into view (ESRI) using either the Image Support or Multi-layer software add-on. Both
pieces of software are relatively expensive but only have to be purchased once (they will
work with any state series DRGs). The desktop version of TOPO! is user-friendly and
can produce really nice maps. Updates for the software allowing for new models of GPS
are not as frequent as MapTech or DeLorme updates. It is hard to find product support
information on National Geographic’s website. The handheld (TOPO! Sync) software
isn’t as easy to use as MapTech’s but produces high quality images on handhelds and has
a full range of features. National Geographic’s software provides for a .txt export
whereas Maptech doesn’t.

DeLorme has a “tried and tested product” that is relatively user-friendly on the Desktop
side. The Xmap product was not extensively tested but undoubtedly functions exactly as
advertised. There is an export feature to allow moving .txt files. The “modular” components seem to me to be a bit gimmicky and pricey. The handheld version of Xmap is considerably “clunkier” than either National Geographic’s or MapTech’s.

Other Digital Mapping Software

Several companies sell mapping software that allows users to download and calibrate
image files. These external software packages are GPS-friendly and have some export
utility to corporate GIS (primarily shapefile exports).
OziExplorer http://www.OziExplorer.com
Cost $75. (OziCE costs an additional $25.)

Comments: Ozi is a well-known product that has world-wide user groups. It handles
DRGs with world files very well and is flexible enough to allow almost any image file to
be turned into a moving map with GPS. Des Newman is the creator of OziExplorer and
provides excellent support for the software, constantly updating it and adding new features. There is a 3-D version now along with the handheld (OziExplorerCE) for PocketPCs. The handheld version is the best I’ve tested for ease of use and trouble-free operation. Ozi will export any waypoint, tracklog or route as a shapefile to ESRI.

TeleType
http://www.teletype.com/
Cost $95. (plus $195. add-on for shapefile converter)

Teletype GPS markets mapping hardware (GPS) and software specifically focused on
PocketPC users. The software is designed to work with Microsoft’s Terraserver on-line
mapserver. With Teletype software and access to internet, users can download calibrated
DRGs or aerial photos. Teletype recently advertised a new version of software that will
allow exports as shapefiles. The Desktop Version isn’t nearly as functional as National
Geographic, MapTech or OziExplorer. The Pocket PC version tested isn’t as easy to use
as either OziExplorerCE or MapTech Pocket Navigator. Teletype makes several utilities
and add-ons to provide additional functionality to their basic mapping software. A $65.
add-on allows trace (tracklog) exports as .txt files. Overall, Teletype is OK, but isn’t as
easy to use as other software and really isn’t any cheaper.

Garmin MapSource
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/
Cost $100. (Garmin Mapsource topo)

Although primarily marketing GPS units, Garmin’s Mapsource digital mapping products
have added functionality for use with ESRI GIS. The newest versions include export
features to .dxf and .txt files. This feature is seldom needed with the DNRGarmin
extension, but can still be useful for large data transfers of lat./longs. The desktop
version is constantly being updated and support for their products is quite good. The
desktop version is particularly nice for making “quick maps” of user-created waypoints,
routes or tracks.

Summary

None of the digital mapping programs tested worked exactly alike. They each had some
unique features and interfaced with ESRI GIS differently. The prices varied widely. All
the desktop mapping programs tested are capable of producing attractive, accurate
mapping and will work with all kinds of GPS units. For the price and overall versatility,
OziExplorer has the most functionality by providing a simple way to use desktop
mapping with an easy export of GPS downloads and created draw features to ESRI
shapefiles. National Geographic’s software provides exceptional background images for
use in ESRI GIS. MapTech’s image files (exported to ESRI) are also much better than
typical USGS image files. The added benefit of being able to export MapTech’s high
resolution aerial photography directly into ESRI could be a significant benefit depending
on the mapping needs. DeLorme’s products have some interesting and useful features
that make them ideally suited for variety of mapping assignments. Other manufacturers
of mapping software seemed poised to create new products that increasingly function
with corporate GIS.