Embedded Files
Software
Software
OCAD (paid): https://www.ocad.com/en/ocad-orienteering/ Barb has saved the OCAD license information in BitWarden.
To get the latest OCAD update, open the program, and go to Help > Download Update. This has not always worked for me - it looks like it's downloading a bunch of data, but then fails. I then click on the Link in the popup window ("If the automatic download failed, please install OCAD from this link"). I tried this on 4/23/25. The current version of the OCAD software on my computer was 2020.7.11.4509 - build date 2025-02-10. Actually, I didn't install from the downloaded file because it seemed it was going to reinstall and I am not sure if I'll need to add my license again etc....
Learning to use OCAD
Learning to use OCAD
The following was provided by OCAD: The OCAD Basics exercise teaches both basic and advanced drawing and editing functions in an interactive way. Many tips and tricks for working efficiently with OCAD are also presented. The exercise file is therefore not only suitable for beginners, but also for experienced users who want to refresh their OCAD knowledge. It can be found in the OCAD program under Menu File > Open Sample Maps in English, Swedish or German (OCAD Basics_EN.ocd, OCAD Basics_SE.ocd or OCAD Basics_DE.ocd). If the files are not visible, please download the latest OCAD Update.
More OCAD Tutorials can be found here.
Additional awesome posts:
Starting a Map
Starting a Map
Use the New Map Wizard.
Remember to check "rotate the map"; the given angle in OCAD is generally correct.
Steps for making a sprint map:
Use Map Wizard in OCAD to bring in Open Street Map data. We are usually using the schoolyard ISSprOM version. Set the scale as you want it but do not check "Scale Symbols".
Bring in additional elements by importing the OUSA YMP OCAD file containing just the OUSA graphical elements. Place using the mouse. Import symbols and colors.
Get LIDAR data and bring that in via OCAD
Draw in contours
Draw in buildings
Outlines of paths and streets
Fill in paths and streets
Use the menu to navigate to sub-pages!
Obtaining LIDAR data and OCAD import
Obtaining LIDAR data and OCAD import
Get LIDAR from coast.noaa.gov/dataviewer - for details, see the LIDAR Data page.
Optional: Extract just the portion you want using lastools. (Note: you can get the data from NOAA for just the area you want.)
Import into OCAD
Sources
Bill's tutorial "Creating Orienteering Base Maps using LiDAR Data"
The Orienteering USA club development page has map making resources. Particularly useful:
Jordan Loughlin (?)'s "Brief Guide to Orienteering Map Creation"
Barb's notes
Barb's notes
"Orienteering mapping with LiDAR, smartphones and free tools" by Greg Wilson, 2017. This has a lot of good info for getting LiDAR, and using LASTools to clip and merge it.
DEM Import Wizard (OCAD)
You can provide the coordinates of 4 corner points "easting" and "northing"
Use different symbols than the form line to represent the draft form lines and contours. Create these before importing the data. You want symbols for:
Frequent form lines -- this is for seeing all the details in the map
Non-smoothed contour and index lines
Smoothed contour and index lines
Andrea suggested creating smoothed contours at 10x the resolution so you can interpret things... Not smoothed: many intervals; smoothed, not many intervals.
Jordan's basemap prep methodology
Jordan's basemap prep methodology
Get data and transform LIDAR to UTM if needed
Batch run KP in lidar tiles (basemap 1m, keep all files)
OCAD map generation using new map wizard
Run DEM wizard (TIP smoothed contours, Slope, Hillshade, vegetation basemap)
Import KP products (contours, knolls, depressions, formlines) [check same coordinate system; make new symbols!]
Load background maps (strava, imagery, KP generated maps)
Feature possible extraction from Slope/Hillshade/Imagery
Some info from Jordan
Look at metadata to determine grid system (we want UTM) and units (we want meters)
UTM is most common projection for orienteering maps.
NAD83 and WGS84 are the definition of the fundamental coordinate system (the grid); UTM uses WGS84; state plane uses NAD83.
Always confirm that elevation and coordinate system are both in m
DEM = digital elevation model
DSM = surface
DTM = terrain - the bare earth
Data sources
Lidar
Imagery
https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ requires an account
State/county orthoimagery/GIS. Orthoimagery is corrected for elevation
Google maps imagery not recommended - not well corrected for elevation
OpenStreetMap data available via OCAD wizard or https://www.openstreetmap.org/
Strava heatmap: crowd sourced trails https://www.strava.com/heatmap; use hillshade for adjustments
Government GIS data: trails, park boundaries
Finishing a map: north lines, legend, frame etc
Finishing a map: north lines, legend, frame etc
From Andrea Schneider:
Save the OCAD file of a map using "Save As..." to a new file, called e.g., "Frame Odiorne conference".
In the "Frame..." file delete absolutely everything, and also remove all backgrounds, then load the actual map OCAD file as background into the frame file. Now you can put Northlines, legend, etc., wherever you want, without worrying about touching anything on the main map, you can replace the background file easily if a new version is created, you can "covering white" over areas of the map that you don't want to show, and still write on top, cause you're covering the background with the lowest level white, you can easily move the entire layout around, etc.
None of my maps have the layout stuff in the same place as the main map, and I do not have to have different versions of the main map for different age groups using different sized areas, but rather have several layout files.
To bring in the template, maybe:
Import OCAD map
Position: Place using the mouse. Uncheck "Rotate object...". "Import all symbols and colors".
Place it so that the border is around the map area you want.
Because I imported all symbols and colors, I then remove a bunch of unused symbols from the symbol collection. (Select them, then right click, then Delete; then say yes to the pop-up that is checking if you really want to do that.) Is there a way to easily see which symbols are in use?
Miscellaneous OCAD challenges
Miscellaneous OCAD challenges
Getting rid of the blue rectangle. DEM > Show Frame
Unable to export PDF: check that you are not in Draft mode
Import additional symbols: one way is to copy objects from one map that has those symbols (eg playground symbols) to a map that does not. It should also be possible to import them in a different way but I don't know how to do that yet.
Changing the FRAME files to a new scale
Changing the FRAME files to a new scale
Our template files are stored in the Maps Google Drive under "Generic" folder here.
Open the file, eg NG Templates > NG Frame 1000.ocd
Map > Change Scale
Enter the new scale and uncheck the other two boxes
Double-check that the extent remains the same for printing from US Letter (eg Layout > Define Paper Size)
Move the stuff inside the window off to the side, then select the frame with the black arrow, then use the anchors to change the size of the group of items.
Save as NG Frame XXXX.ocd where XXXX is the new scale.
To set up layout (frame) file so that you can print at scale 1:1000 while drafting at 1:4000, do the same as above but do check those two boxes, and define the extent at 1:1000 scale.
Converting to a new symbol set
Converting to a new symbol set
Map > Symbol Set Conversion
Operations on maps
Operations on maps
To set up a map to change scale - this must be done before you can import from the template that is in the correct scale.
Map > change scale. It will warn you that the background maps will no longer be correct - so you'll delete them.
Delete the background maps (you can bring them in again afterward)
Simplify it by removing all unused symbols. (Select unused symbols, then delete them.) Make sure you deal properly with hidden symbols.
To create a blank georeferenced canvas, in order to have a new palette of symbols and colors. (If you import a palette onto something that already exists, it's messy)
Select all symbols (hover over symbols on right, right click, select > all)
Select all objects (hover over over symbols on right, then select...)
Delete
Delete all symbols (hover over symbols on right, then delete...)
Map > Optimize/Repair - this step vastly reduces the file size.
Bring in the OUSA YMP template
File > Import the template. Choose the OCAD file at the correct scale. Place with cursor. That brings in the YMP symbols, the frame, the colors.
Bring in the simplified map with the mapping you've done so far
File > Import the map. Put the symbols at the bottom.
Go symbol by symbol and convert to the correct symbol. (Select objects by symbol, then convert)
New Map Wizard menu. Note choice of ISSprOM 2019 and checked "Import OSM data"
Select School Orienteering Maps 2019.ocd for the Symbol set, for most of our maps.
The third popup step looks like this; you'll need to select your location and select "Rotate map to magnetic north".
If you click on "Change" for the coordinate system, you can see that it chooses good defaults. You typically do not need to change anything here. Note that we have now selected a location and checked the "Rotate map" button. The angle is generally automatically chosen and correct.
On the left is a park in Pittsburgh, PA that was set up with the Map Wizard using the schoolyard set at 1:1000. On the right is the same area that was set up using the ISSprOM set at 1:4000.
On the left is the same map as shown above on the left (1:1000 with the schoolyard set). On the right is the same area that was set up with the schoolyard set at 1:4000. It looks the same as the ISSprOM set at 1:4000, as expected.
If you draft at 1:4000, you are forced to simplify, which can be a good thing.
At 1:4000, the schoolyard symbols like bench will be too big, but it could work well at 1:2000. Generally I try to find a scale which allows the map to fill the screen; in this case it was 1:2000. Here, I find out what will fit on US letter paper in OCAD using File > Export as shown.
For teaching, consider drafting at 1:4000 (this map would take up half a page), and print at 1:2000 so the symbols are large and clear.
Report abuse