Mapping the North Country Trail Moderators, Vendors, Etc

Home , Appalachian Trail, North Country Trail

IMAGIN IMAGINews S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F INTEREST: SUMMER 2015 · Thanks to all attendees, speakers, Mapping the North Country Trail moderators, vendors, etc. for Crown Point State Historic promoting the NCT. With Site on Lake Champlain, 28 chapters and 11 affiliated making the 2015 through the remainder of partners, the NCTA IMAGIN New York, on to represents thousands of Conference a Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, volunteers, committed to success. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and carrying out Congress’s vision finally terminates along the for the NCT. In 2014, · Put next year’s The North Country National canal lands of the Garrison NCTA volunteers conference on Scenic Trail (NCT) provides a Diversion project at Lake contributed 76,000 hours your schedule. nationally significant Sakakawea State Park in building and maintaining the May 15-17, 2016, recreation experience as it North Dakota. The 7-state NCT. traverses the unique natural, expanse of the NCT passes we will return to historic, cultural, and through 10 National Forests, The NCT has had a GIS the Great Wolf ecological landscapes of and more than 150 other program, in one form or Lodge in America’s north country. public land units. another, since the late 1990’s. Traverse City, Authorized by Congress in First starting with combined MI. 1980, as an amendment to The North Country Trail is efforts between the NPS and the 1968 National Trails managed by the National Park University of Wisconsin- System Act, the NCT Service (NPS) in concert with Madison, and then stretches 4,600 miles through its partner, the North transitioning into an NCTA seven states, making it the Country Trail Association staff position funded in longest national scenic trail in (NCTA), both headquartered various ways by the NPS. the National Trails System. in Lowell, MI. The NCTA is made up of a coalition 2014 saw a number of new The NCT works its way of volunteers united in mapping and GIS related INSIDE THIS west, from New York’s building, maintaining, and ISSUE: The North Country Trail Feature 1-3, Article 7 Conference 4 Recap

Conference 5 In Pictures

Upcoming 6 Events

Vendor Info 7 P A G E 2

Mapping the North Country Trail of information behind these Peninsula. Even with the trail segments and point need for a data connection, data. Just click on a section he reported great success of trail and a table will pop with the app and said it saved up showing relevant him from getting lost information about that numerous times! segment. This information includes ownership, Tech Series Maps camping regulations, Excerpt from A Walk in the allowed uses, certification Woods by Bill Bryson. status, and NCTA chapter contact info, among other “Appalachian Trail [AT] maps ArcGIS Online products launched by the things. are so monumentally useless NCTA. These include new that I had long since given up digital/paper maps, an AGOL is a new tool and is using them. They vary interactive web mapping rapidly developing; somewhat, but most are on system and options for taking currently there are many an abysmal scale of 1:100,000, information along on the great features including which ludicrously compresses trail. Although much of location search and every mile of real world into hiking is about “unplugged” measurement tools. More a mere inch of map. Imagine a time in the woods, these functionality is coming in square mile of physical navigation tools are very non the future. landscape and all that it might -intrusive, useful, and contain – logging roads, efficient. To visit the NCTA’s public streams, a mountain top or web interface for the main two, perhaps a fire tower, a ArcGIS Online NCT map, go to: knob or grassy bald, the In early 2014 NCTA began northcountrytrail.org/trail/ wandering AT, and maybe a developing some simple web maps. You can also pair of the important side maps using a newly access this map (with trails – and imaging trying to purchased subscription to somewhat limited convey all that information on ArcGIS Online (AGOL). functionality) via the free an area the size of the nail on AGOL is similar to Google Explorer for ArcGIS your little finger. That’s an To visit the NCTA’s Maps or Google Earth, in App. This is available for AT map.” that it provides a streaming both iOS and Android. public web interface online map service. Unlike http://doc.arcgis.com/en/ Google Maps, AGOL is explorer/(.) Once ArcGIS App for the main NCT perfectly compatible with the the app is installed GIS data maintained at the and opened on a map, go to: NCTA. This compatibility phone, search for allows for an “out of the “nct” in the app; northcountrytrail. box” ability to handle large the map is titled org/trail/maps and robust GIS data sets. “North Country This data is then overlaid on Trail (Public).” any one of a variety of base maps. These include street In late summer maps, topographical maps 2014, long distance and satellite imagery. Not hiker, Tom only does this allow for Ackerman used appealing and dynamic AGOL on his (zoom/pan) maps, but also iPhone for much of enables the general public to his section hike of access the detailed database Michigan’s Lower IMAGINEWS SUMMER 2015 P A G E 3 Mapping the North Country Trail needed. NCTA chapter. This should prove to be a very useful resource for The first edition of these new technical chapters’ trail management efforts, as series maps have been released for well as reinforcing to hikers that the three NCTA chapters in north central chapters really are the local experts Minnesota. Through countless hours of along the trail. For retail purposes, research and development—reviewing these maps will likely be combined other trail organizations’ maps, into regional sets in many places. For requesting input from our local land example, the Central Minnesota map navigation experts from Fortune Bay set covers the Star of the North, Expedition Team, and some field testing Itasca Moraine and Laurentian Lakes that included one very memorable bear Chapters. encounter — this research showed that a 1:40,000 scale map with 10-foot The last and probably most exciting contour intervals (50-foot in hilly feature of these new maps is the Tech Series Map regions) is the perfect balance of system used to communicate mileage. topographic detail, while still maximizing For the last few years an exciting Author’s note: I remember coming to the most miles of trail on a single sheet project has been developing on the this section in Bryson’s book and of paper. Pacific Crest Trail, known as the literally turning red in the face: NCTA’s “Halfmile Project”. This ingenious maps are at a 1:100,000 scale! That The driving factor behind the page size system developed by a couple of moment started the on and off again of these maps (8.5” x 11”) was the goal Pacific Crest Trail Association development of what became NCTA’s of offering a download and print at volunteers solves two common “Technical Series Maps,” a term home option. So from now on when problems in long-distance trail borrowed from legendary backpacker hikers call the NCTA office on Thursday mapping. The first problem is that a Andrew Skurka, for the more detailed or Friday, asking how they might acquire trail line file (track) of any substantial sets of maps he puts together for his maps for their weekend hike , we will be length and detail will not fit into a hikes. able to direct them to the download regular consumer grade GPS unit; this option on our website. This function is data often exceeds the manufacturer’s There is value in 1:100,000 scale maps currently being put in place by a third- size limitations. The half-mile strategy for hiking; after all, hikers have walked party contractor and should be available for working around this was to thousands of miles with them by early spring 2015. reduce the trail line to a series of successfully! In fact, when looking at generic waypoints at half-mile very early prototypes of these new, The NCTA’s Technical Series maps are intervals along the route of the trail. more detailed maps, Andrew Skurka fairly typical topographical trail maps, By sequentially numbering these himself said 1:100,000 scale is all that showing features such as public lands, continued on page 7 was needed for a trail like the NCT water, elevation, roads, and points of Half-mile waypoints because the NCT is a well marked, well interest. Behind the scenes, the biggest maintained, and mostly a well used trail. advantage of these maps is the base Users are navigating from point to point data, which is completely customized by following blazes, not trying to NCTA. Although derived mostly from bushwhack and read the landscape. state and federal sources, this data has Beyond that, it’s worth noting that been altered to meet NCTA’s needs current NCTA 1:100,000 scale maps allowing corrections and updates for all generally give trail users a bigger picture those things that are so often in error of the landscape surrounding the NCT, on state and federal map products - including roads and towns. This is rural road names, water features that helpful for getting to the trail and really don’t exist, etc. This custom base map important if a hiker needs to locate a will then be available to use in all future good bailout point for any reason. So map products produced generated by 1:100,000 scale maps are an important NCTA. tool for trail users, but NCTA staff still felt (as did many hikers and volunteers) These maps are compiled at the NCTA that a more detailed map product was chapter level, with a map set for each P A G E 4 IMAGIN 2015 Annual Conference Wrap-up

A huge The 2015 IMAGIN conference, wine tasting, Conference was a great brewery tour, euchre THANK YOU! success judging by the tournament and fire pit to Andrew Brenner smiling faces and overall social were all well and the entire attendance. Additionally, of attending and judging by the Conference Team for the people responding to noise level everyone the post conference survey enjoyed themselves. a job well done 91% rated the conference Team Lead as good or excellent. The great support of the Andrew Brenner conference by the vendors Team Members and attendees enabled Chad Collins IMAGIN to meet its goals Keynote Christian Carlson, Dir. of Pete Schneider for the conference and State & Local Sales, Esri Scott Ambs launched IMAGIN towards Diane O’Connell another growth year. The work that went into making Caryn Ashbay conference resulted from a this conference a success. Thomas Van Bruggen great deal of hard work by the conference committee Janice Rockburn ~Andrew Brenner, and our management Conference Chair Janet Mocadlo company Rhiel Solutions Maryellen Jansen and we appreciate the hard

Conference Sponsors* An additional Keynote David Behen THANK YOU! Michigan CIO & DTMB Director to our management We had 151 people team: attending the conference which was the highest number we have had in over five years. We had two dynamic keynote speakers who provided perspectives on where both Esri and the State of Traci Riehl Michigan are going with Maryellen Jansen respect to GIS and Lauri Brantley IT. In addition, there were 30 for making sure technical papers everything ran presented by smoothly members of the Michigan GIS community.

The many social activities of the *Conference Sponsor category included one ad in the IMAGINews

IMAGINEWS SUMMER 2015 P A G E 5 IMAGIN 2015 Annual Conference in Pictures

Right Brain Brewery Tour Group At North Peak Brewing for supper Scott Ambs, Jackson County receiving the IMAGIN Geospatial Achievement Award

Matthew Rowbotham, North Country Trail Association accepting the IMAGIN GIS Innovation Award

Calix Martinez, City of Flint, accepting Volunteers of the Year, Janice IMAGIN’s GIS for Everyone Award Euchre Tournament Rockburn, Kathleen Stack, and Caryn Ashbay.

Relaxing around the campfire

Map Gallery Thanks you to everyone who submitted a map making this our best showing in several years. Congratulations to our winners. Special thanks go to our judges Jim Bennnett, InfoGeographics; Jeff Lewis, North Arrow Technologies (map gallery sponsor); and Matt Malone, City of Farmington Hills.

Judge’s Choice Winner - Lake People’s Choice Winner - Red Cedar River Michigan Water Trails Map, Paul Watershed, Joe Welsh, RS & GIS P A G E 6

· October 1, 2015- Upcoming Events Statewide GIS User Group, Constitution · July 20-24 2015-ESRI Group, Whiting Forest, Hall, Lansing User Conference, San Midland · October 9, 2015- Diego, CA · August 14, 2015- IMAGIN Board · July 21, 2015-4th IMAGIN Board meeting, in person, Annual Michigan meeting via location to be Meetup @ ESRI UC teleconference determined 2015, Yard House, · September 9-11, 2015- 1023 4th Ave., San MiCAMP Conference, Diego Special Boyne Falls Have an upcoming GIS thanks to Michelle · September 10, 2015- related event you want to Lazar, FTC&H for advertise? Send the date, organizing the Southeast Michigan GIS time, and place to Michigan Meetup at Users Group [email protected] If you are interested in the ESRI UC · September 18, 2015- submitting an article for · August 6, 2015- IMAGIN Board a future issue of the Statewide GIS User meeting via IMAGINews please teleconference contact the IMAGIN Communications Team via email at: We’d like to use this space to feature additions to the IMAGIN community [email protected] and celebrate successes. Has your organization hired a GIS or GIS-related person? Have you been promoted, earned a GISP or other credential, received an award, etc? Let us know about it at [email protected]

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IMAGINEWS SUMMER 2015 P A G E 7

Mapping the North Country Trail continued from page 3 waypoints, you can load this digital bread crumb trail into a to view and track your location on one of these PDF maps GPS, and in theory always be able to find your location to using GPS enabled devices such as a smart phone or tablet. within a half-mile of the trail – genius! Among other things, you can also measure distances, find coordinates, and record tracks and waypoints right on top Estimating distance works the same way, in half-mile of the PDF map. All of the NCTA’s downloadable Tech increments. A by-product of this sequentially numbered Series Maps will have this Geospatial PDF functionality built waypoint system, is that when these labeled waypoints are in. shown on a map they become a mileage index system that allows you to estimate the distance between any two points The app “PDF Maps” by Avenza seems to be the most on a map, theoretically to within a half-mile. popular for working with Geospatial PDFs: http:// www.avenza.com/pdf-maps This mapping project is a huge undertaking and is going to It is available for both iPhone and Android. take some time to complete. With the Central Minnesota This is also going to be really useful for sharing the kiosk map set released, we will soon be finishing up the rest of the and brochure maps NCTA produces for the public (think state of Minnesota with a Kekekabic and Border Route map QRCodes on the kiosks that allow you to download a set. Trail users should also see sets for Pennsylvania and the Geospatial PDF map on your phone, right at the trailhead!) Superior Shore Line Chapter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Additionally, consider trail management applications such as later this summer. trail alignments, route planning and parcel boundary maps with the ability to show your location as well as record Geospatial PDF Geospatial PDFs tracks and waypoints, while scouting in the field (where With more recent features are often not obvious). releases of ArcGIS, any map project can now · To download some freely available Geospatial PDF maps now be exported as a from the NCTA visit northcountrytrail.org/trail/maps

Geospatial PDF. A Geospatial PDF is ~Article originally published in the North Country Trail essentially a PDF that Association’s North Star magazine fall 2014 issue. has a real world coordinate system Submitted by Matthew Rowbotham, GIS Coordinator, linking it to on the North Country Trail Association — ground locations. One [email protected] (616) 897-5987 of the most exciting ext.203 functions is the ability

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Thomas VanBruggen, IMAGIN President & Coeditor IMAGINews publishes original, timely, and innovative articles and news items that advance knowledge regarding GIS, related technologies, and their Sarah Merz, IMAGIN Vice President, Communications use within Michigan. IMAGINews welcomes submissions from IMAGIN Team Lead, and Coeditor members and others. Please send article submissions in Microsoft Word format to [email protected] . Lori Schultz, Coeditor Contents © 2015 IMAGIN. All rights reserved. Michael Woods, Coeditor Maryellen Jansen, Coeditor Opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are not necessarily those of IMAGIN, its officers, employees, or the editors and Brodey Hill, Coeditor publisher of IMAGINews.