By Laure Roupioz
Abstract:
Nowadays, there is an increasing use of GPS devices for pedestrian navigation and especially by hikers. A broad diversity of data are offered via Internet but they are spread and poorly described. From those observations and at the hand of the increasing demand for hiking data, the need to improve the hiking network is expressed. This problem can be tackled by different ways. In this case, the study focuses on digital data and the idea is to solve this problem with an open mapping approach. This choice influences the methodology concerning the cost and the technical accessibility aspects.
The first step is to explore the existing data and check the usability of the web offered data. In order to get a good overview of the provided data, a web search is performed and analyzed. The result drive to a data description and classification as GPS data, digital maps or geo-data. Thus, it has to do with the usability of those data for the purpose, by testing their accessibility, availability and compatibility. According to those criteria, the GPS data appeared to be suitable for the network application.
All the real world walking paths data are not provided or accessible. Then the collection of new ones is required. According to the approach, the GPS methodology is a relevant technique. Several fieldworks analysis lead to the conclusion that using the tracking collection mode with a setting of one point every 150 meters, is the most convenient solution. However, it also points out that it is more an indication because this depends also on other factors, like the device and the surrounding.
From those two data sources, a network is build based on an adapted segmentation, attributes are selected and a difficulty level added. The main issues to deal with are to homogenize the data and to make them fit to each other to avoid redundant information. The result of this project is a network created for a study area in the Veluwe and validated on the field. The methodology gives the guidelines to improve a hiking network for GPS users from the open mapping point of view.
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Key words: GPS, waypoint, track, network, segmentation, difficulty level, hiking data, pedestrian navigation.