For advanced users, CalTopo offers a number of custom layers: MapBuilder, viewsheds, sunlight, scanned maps, DEM-based shading and third-party WMS and tile sources. A persistent issue with these layers is that they are tied to either the map you are working on, or the URL of a blank page. It’s easy to go wild customizing […]
A lot of people use Google Earth to supplement CalTopo’s route planning features. Given that, I’m happy to announce a big step forward in integration between the two. First, the export menu now has two Earth options – the traditional KML file, and a KML network link, which provides for automatic syncing between Earth and […]
CalTopo PDFs are now sporting a couple of improvements. The most noticeable of those is a title input field on the print page: If filled out, it will show up in a couple places. On the bottom of the PDF itself: on the account dialog: and also in Avenza PDF Maps: Slightly less noticeable is […]
I regularly get asked about using CalTopo layers in desktop programs, often but not always ArcGIS. There are a number of protocols for accessing seamless map data, and one of them (WMS) has been supported by CalTopo for a while. However I always kept it closely guarded – if you asked nicely I’d provide the […]
I’ve never been happy with CalTopo’s reliance on USGS 7.5′ topo scans. While I expect them to remain the gold standard in backcountry navigation for years to come, in some places they’re quite out of date. Even when they aren’t, it’s difficult to use them for high level trip planning – zoom out a couple […]
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