If you don't use the built-in Mscape Map Service, you need to have the right coordinates for your map if you are using a GPS device to track where you are.
There are several ways you can do this:
- Method 1: Using the free HP Map Aligner software
- Method 2: Contact your Ordnance Survey Liaison Officer
- Method 3: Use the Streetmap website
- Method 4: Use your PDA and GPS unit
- Method 5: Use a GPS navigator
As well as using maps from the Ordnance Survey or other professional sources, you can create your own maps (by drawing or scanning one, or saving one from a mapping website). Whether you do this, or get your map from the OS, the following steps explain how to get the co-ordinates for the map so it can be used in your mediascape
Method 1: Using the free HP Map Aligner software
HP have provided a free tool that is included with the Mscape Suite software that gets your coordinates for you. All you need is a digital image (this can be a map, sketch, anything you like) which you load on to your PDA, then using the Map Aligner software on your PDA, you go outside with your PDA and GPS unit, and stand in several points in the area, telling the PDA where you are on your map, and using the GPS unit, it will figure out the coordinates for your map. Follow these more detailed instructions for more information: Getting coordinates using HPs Map Aligner
Method 2: Contact your Ordnance Survey Liaison Officer
1. If your OSLO (Ordnance Survey Liaison Officer) supplied your map, contact them (phone the Ordnance Survey Customer Helpline on 0845 6050505 to get the contact details of your Local Authority's OSLO).
2. Then ask your OSLO to provide the coordinates for the map as 'OS Grid references' for at least three corners of the map area. Each of these should be a 6 digit number.
Method 3: Use the Streetmap website
2. Enter the street name or postcode of the area you want to view
Click Search
3. Zoom in as far as you can go, by clicking on the "+" symbol under the map (zoom in to the 500m scale)
4. Click on the top left corner of the area you will be using for your mediascape
5. Scroll down the page and look at the values in the 'search' box - it will be 2 co-ordinates - e.g. "358710,172650" - these are the numbers you can enter into the mscape maker 'create map from image' wizard as the X and Y
6. Repeat this process for the three other corners.
7. Note that as you won't be able to click in four points that make an exact square or rectangle, you may have to manually adjust these numbers before you submit them in the mscape maker 'create map from image' wizard as they may not form an exact square. For instance if you have a value of 172618 on the top left X value and 172625 on the bottom left X value, you'll have to adjust one so that it equals the other.
8. If the mscape maker 'create map from image' wizard states that the area is not square you will have to similarly adjust the numbers slightly so that the difference between the two Y values is the same as the difference between the two X values.
Tip: Each unit on the coordinates equals a metre in real space, so if you know the area you are mapping is 100m square, then you can adjust the co-ordinates accordingly.
Method 4: Use your PDA and GPS unit
2. Connect your PDA to your GPS unit and startup the Visual GPS CE software.
3. Walk to one corner of the area of your map - make a note of the latitude/longitude coordinates.
4. Repeat this process for all four corners of the mapped area.
5. Download and install Coord Trans (trial) from: http://franson.com/coordtrans
6. Open up Coord Trans on your PC - this will allow you to convert the latitude/longitude values into six digit map grid coordinates
Method 5: Use a GPS navigator
1. Use a GPS navigation unit such as a Garmin or Navman to get coordinates for the four corners of the area you want to use in your mediascape.
3. Open up Coord Trans on your PC - this will allow you to convert the latitude/longitude values into 6 digit map grid coordinates