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Dr. Tom's Independent Software Reviewspresents:
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Features:
USGS
Topo Maps at regional coverage (1-7 states): 149.95 $ or sub state regions
(1 CD): 49,95 $ in 1:24,000 scale (7.5 minute). Currently available: ALABAMA,
ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA,
GEORGIA, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA,
MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MISSISSIPPI,
MONTANA, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY,
NEW MEXICO, NEVADA, NEW YORK, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE
ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA,
VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, WEST VIRGINIA and WYOMING
High-quality
digitized USGS Maps (complete with collars) in 2-D or 3-D (requires Enhanced
Digital Elevation Data - sold separately for $49.95). Map Annotation with
markers, routes, and tracks. Customized printouts, including grids in
Lat/Lon and UTM. Elevation profiles, 3-dimensional landscapes and line-of-sight
calculations; area measurements and elevation changes; object and route
transfer from popular GPS units; waypoints creation for transfer to GPS
for field use; readings transfer from GPS to Terrain Navigator 2001.
Fig. 1: 100% view of a 1:24000 USGS Topomap and Profile calculation of MapTech Terrain Navigator 5.01
Please click on the image for a closer look!
System Requirements:
Windows
95, 98, ME, NT or 2000; Pentium-class CPU; 256 Color Display (16/24/32
bit color for 3-D); OpenGL Video Accelerator recommended for optimum 3-D
performance; CD-ROM drive; 32MB RAM; Mouse or drawing equivalent.
MapTech's
Terrain Navigator 5.01 offers the basics plus many nice special features
like altitude profiles or 3D views. The resolution of the topo maps is
excellent. Unfortunately, I was not able to access the new 3D viewing
and mapping options although I upgraded from 4.05 to 5.01 ( a free 10
MB download). Information on MapTech's web page does not make very clear
whether the 3D functions require Terrain Navigator 2001 and/or the Enhanced
Digital Elevation Data CD which is another $49.95 - hopefully covering
all available states and not only one region!
Together with National Geographic Topo!
Interactive Maps,
MapTech
Terrain Navigator provides the highest quality topo maps in this comparative
test. In addition it comes with most advanced features compared to any
of its competitors. If you only need coverage of a sub state region, $49.95
sounds like a lot - but you get a whole lotta maps and features for your
money. Reginal coverage of 1-7 whole states at $149.95 is only beaten
by National Geographic Topo!
Interactive Maps.
Free Demo Download: http://www.maptech.com/downloads/
Company Information: Maptech, Inc., 10 Industrial Way, Amesbury, MA 01913, USA; Phone: (888) 839-5551; URL: http://www.maptech.com
Alternatives:
- DeLorme Topo USA: http://www.delorme.com
- National Geographic Maps (formerly Wildflower Production's) TOPO! Interactive Maps: USGS Topographic Maps on CD-ROM: http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/
- Hanta Yo's Topoguide: http://www.hantayo.com
- ESRI's ARC/INFO and ARC/VIEW, the professional user's mapping program: http://www.esri.com
- Topo3D: http://www.topo3d.com
- iGage / All Topo Maps: Topo Maps on CD ROM: http://www.igage.com