The new universal boydsmaps web app is (finally) here!

[Boyd]

Just starting to actually look at these maps. I really like them on the computer, but the print is too small for my old eyes when using as a GPS in the car. Will have to see if I can create a mobile version. Looking at the coverage of the nice aerials, not so great around my home, but looks good in Ocean County. Here's Forked River Mountain at zoom level 21. Would have been better if they shot it during the winter however.

https://boydsmaps.com/#21.00/39.847723/-74.289293/mbxhybrid/0.00/0.00

Compare that to the NJGIN 2007 aerials at the same zoom level...

https://boydsmaps.com/#21.00/39.847723/-74.289293/njgin2007/0.00/0.00

 

[Boyd]

Figured out how to convert the Mapbox "Navigation" map to work in the Maptalks API! Here are light and dark versions of this map, which has much larger text and better clarity for use on phones. Buildings appear at zoom level 17 and there's quite a bit of detail if you zoom in farther.

https://boydsmaps.com/#17.00/39.706850/-75.114135/mbxnightnav/0.00/0.00

https://boydsmaps.com/#17.00/39.706850/-75.114135/mbxdaynav/0.00/0.00

This also points the way to creating some other customized maps using their editor.

 

[Boyd]

Update, January 2024: boydsmaps no longer has maps from Mapbox, so the original links here don't work anymore. I have replaced the two links below with similar maps that are locally hosted at boydsmaps.

Just playing around this afternoon I had an "aha" moment, wrote some quick code and we now have 3d terrain and sky fully implemented in the boydsmaps app! Like they say, "it's easy when you know how".

https://boydsmaps.com/#12.53/37.741809/-119.592947/mbx3dnalc/57.60/71.60

Or closer to home...

https://boydsmaps.com/#18.84/39.847823/-74.286762/mbx3dortho/-80.40/80.00

Now, the only thing I couldn't get working was changing the vertical exaggeration "on the fly". So I have created three separate maps - one with no exaggeration, another with 2x and one more with 3x. This actually seems to work very well, just flip between them to see the effect.

When you choose one of these terrain maps, you'll be able to tilt the view much farther than other maps which allows you to see the sky. If you switch back to a conventional map, the tilt will snap back to its usual limit.

Now, this is brand new code with minimal testing. So check it out and see if you have any problems. These maps don't perform quite as well as they did in my 3d demo example, due to all the overhead of the boydsmaps app. They seem to work acceptably in a "normal" sized window but are slower in a large full screen view. They may be a little more than older phones can handle, have not done any testing on a phone yet.

As with other updates, it may be necessary to clear cache, delete site data or even delete the app from your phone and re-install. See the discussion of these issues above. And again, the Mapbox maps aren't free, so I'll be monitoring usage to see if usage exceeds the allowed quota of free imagery and may have to pull them if it's going to cost me $$$.

Another thing to consider, if you are using waypoints they will work fine on these maps however the locations will be deceptive. The waypoint location will be at 0-foot altitude which will not appear to be correct if they are on a mountain.

 

[Boyd]

They may be a little more than older phones can handle, have not done any testing on a phone yet.

Just did some quick tests. Everything seemed to work very smoothly on my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Also fine on my 6-year-old iPhone 6s Plus, maybe a bit slower but still quite responsive. However, the app crashed repeatedly on the cheap Android phone that I bought for testing. Maybe it's expecting too much for a $120 phone to be able to handle this?

Let me know how well it works for you.

 

[bobpbx]

I went from Yosemite to the Grand Canyon, and then explored up past the Kiowa National Grasslands. One thing is perfectly clear; this country is immense and the open space is abundant.

 

[Boyd]

Here's another series of 3d maps - just "because I can". They're the same as the other 3d maps however I have added 3d buildings. The data comes from openstreetmap and you won't see much detail, just boxes representing the building footprint with approximate heights. Like the others, there are three versions with 1x, 2x and 3x vertical exaggeration.

Here's a view of Brookville with 3x exaggeration

[old link removed]

Independence Hall with 1x exaggeration

[old link removed]

You need to zoom in to level 16 to see the buildings or even farther if you want to see them in the distance. But I'm really impressed by how responsive these maps are, considering all the detail. Again, not sure if these have a lot of practical use - but I think they're fun. They also present a little more accurate 3d view in areas with hills/mountains. Note that the vertical exaggeration only affects the terrain, not the buildings themselves.

 

[bobpbx]

Yeah, I tried with the boxes, but switched to regular X3 and it's more realistic. This is a house in Brookville.

 

[bobpbx]

"I don't care what you do with that old boat carcass Fred, just get it out of my yard or you'll sleep alone tonight!"

 

[bobpbx]

I've noticed something; when I use your link to hook up to the 3D views, if I hit the N on compass to make North up, it exits to a 1 dimension view.

 

[Boyd]

Clicking the compass switches to North-up 2d view, that has always been it's intended purpose. There is no way to simply make North up and remain in 3d view, but you can easily just rotate the map until North is at the top. You can't "hit N on the compass", clicking anywhere on it switches to 2d view.

 

[Bog Mermaid]

I’m just seeing this for the first time, this looks amazing. I’m looking forward to exploring this app in my January “down” time while exploring the now more visible terrain. Thank you!

 

[Boyd]

Glad you're enjoying it!

Have spent two frustrating days trying to get my own LIDAR terrain data into mapbox, it's truly a mind-bending, complex exercise. Not something they really support but I found some pointers with Google. Just now I got a small example working (sort of) but there are lots of problems and it's not something that can be added to my app in the present form. One issue is that they only support a maximum zoom level of 16, but the LIDAR data is level 17 native - so this limits the amount of detail. Here's a view of Forked River Mountain (just a screenshot, it is not internet-accessible).

This clearly has much more detail than the mapbox terrain (it shows the ruts in the trails), but I have a LONG way to go before it's actually something usable. At least it's a start.

Here's the currently-available mapbox terrain for comparison.

 

[Boyd]

One issue is that they only support a maximum zoom level of 16, but the LIDAR data is level 17 native - so this limits the amount of detail.

Progress! I now have my test working with LIDAR elevation data stored on my own server instead of theirs which lets me use the full 1-meter (level 17) resolution. Next step is creating a big dataset covering the whole pines. That is going to involve a lot of render time... will fire it up tonight at bedtime and see if it's done by morning.

 

[Bog Mermaid]

Glad you're enjoying it!

Have spent two frustrating days trying to get my own LIDAR terrain data into mapbox, it's truly a mind-bending, complex exercise. Not something they really support but I found some pointers with Google. Just now I got a small example working (sort of) but there are lots of problems and it's not something that can be added to my app in the present form. One issue is that they only support a maximum zoom level of 16, but the LIDAR data is level 17 native - so this limits the amount of detail. Here's a view of Forked River Mountain (just a screenshot, it is not internet-accessible).

View attachment 16563


This clearly has much more detail than the mapbox terrain (it shows the ruts in the trails), but I have a LONG way to go before it's actually something usable. At least it's a start.

Here's the currently-available mapbox terrain for comparison.

View attachment 16564

Amazing digital rendering of this easily recognizable place. Was able to add the app to the home screen on my iPhone with no issues. Been having fun exploring it, I believe this will be very useful to me! Again, thanks for all the time you are continuing to put into this, to share with all.

 

[Boyd]

That is going to involve a lot of render time... will fire it up tonight at bedtime and see if it's done by morning.

LOL, ran all night and was not even 10% completed so I killed it... something must be wrong here. Need to figure out a better way to do this.

 

[Boyd]

Gonna take more trial and error to find a workflow that resolves the issues in my elevation data, but I'm getting there. Compare the current mapbox 3d view

to my LIDAR version

 

[Boyd]

Got it working with the grayscale imagery too, this should please @pinelandpaddler (wherever he is). If I can solve a few more problems, will put an alpha version online in the next few days, with partial coverage of the Pines. Looks like it will take multiple days to render the full South Jersey elevation dataset, so that will come later.

 

[Boyd]

OK... this is truly "alpha" software with limited capabilities at this point. But decided to share, since I'm having so much fun playing with it. This is clearly unfinished software - use at your own risk! There are no menus or controls yet, and just the grayscale imagery. But it's kind of a revelation to finally see some of these places in three dimensions. I have used 3x vertical exaggeration for all of these. No promise that these links will always work, but will try to keep them compatible.

You will notice some glitches where lines go from the horizon up into the sky... that needs to be fixed. The coverage is somewhat limited, but vastly greater than the old LIDAR site. As mentioned above, eventually I'll expand it to all of South Jersey. In the meantime - if you're adventurous, take a little tour of the Pines (and beyond)...

Note: 3d LIDAR imagery is now fully integrated into the boydsmaps web app, so the following is no longer relevant

Pine Hill
boydsmaps.com/3d/#15.89/39.787857/-75.003027/solid/56.00/63.00

Bear Swamp Hill
boydsmaps.com/3d/#18.01/39.751905/-74.464952/solid/0.00/82.13

Mount Laurel
boydsmaps.com/3d/#16.40/39.934757/-74.894195/solid/-170.40/85.00

The Forked River Mountains
boydsmaps.com/3d/#15.89/39.845937/-74.287681/solid/-81.60/57.50

Jemima Mount
boydsmaps.com/3d/#15.46/39.711377/-74.618767/solid/-60.00/65.50

Bethlehem Loading Company
boydsmaps.com/3d/#16.54/39.407310/-74.737292/solid/0.00/67.96

Apple Pie Hill
boydsmaps.com/3d/#17.15/39.807289/-74.590962/solid/68.33/75.13

Batsto
/boydsmaps.com/3d/#16.64/39.643676/-74.649309/solid/21.60/68.00

New Freedom
boydsmaps.com/3d/#15.58/39.753537/-74.929405/solid/101.40/62.50

Sharps Mountain
boydsmaps.com/3d/#17.00/39.801374/-74.811334/solid/-82.33/80.00

Arney's Mount
boydsmaps.com/3d/#15.21/40.007501/-74.701750/solid/-19.19/76.48

 

[enormiss]

Cool, had my bearings with the new freedom one but was lost on the pine hill map.
Was going to ask where then realized the coords were in web address.
Would not have guessed that was a golf course

 

[bobpbx]

Very cool Boyd. This will be useful.