Data Hacking

GPS Data
This chapter is all about data.
As you walk, drive, sail, or otherwise move around with your GPS, you are
gathering a great deal of data. In this chapter, you will learn what you can do
with this data while in the field and when you get back to base. You’ll see how
to create and edit your own waypoints and routes and how to upload these
to your GPS. Then, you’ll learn how you can download, modify, and upload
data that you captured while using the GPS. You’ll also look at various applications
into which you can export your data for managing it and storage.
This chapter also describes how you can add GPS information to digital
photographs, plot lightning strikes, and go wardriving. For any programmers
that might be reading this, we will also be looking at some websites
and applications that might be of use to you if you’re interested in writing
your own GPS applications.
Finally, you’ll learn how you can create your own data for upload to
your GPS.
GPS Data Collection
As you move around with your GPS, it is continuously gathering data and
storing it so that you can access it later. The newer and more expensive the
GPS, the more information it can hold. For example, the Garmin eTrex
basic version can hold the following:
500 waypoints
1 route
50 waypoints per route
1,536 tracklog points
At the top to the range, the Garmin Vista has greater capacity in all areas:
1,000 waypoints
20 routes
125 waypoints per route
10,000 tracklog points
chapter
in this chapter
˛ GPS data collection
˛ Working with data
˛ Using EasyGPS
˛ Using G7toWin
˛ Creative uses of
GPS data
˛ Sharing waypoints