Bart Eisenberg
GPS Video Tutorials
I'm a serious hiker and not-so-serious kayaker, a septuagenarian, retired from a three-decade Silicon Valley career writing about and for technology companies.
In 2016, strictly as a hobby, I began making video tutorials about OsmAnd Maps & Navigation, a GPS app with extraordinary features and, at the time, confounding documentation (now much improved). I've since done videos on Custom Maps and Avenza Maps, which both make use of raster maps. Also linked here: my video essay on how the crowd-sourced project OpenStreetMap has become the world's trail map. I had hoped that one would go viral. I'm still hoping.
Custom Maps (Android)
Custom Maps is an Android (only) GPS app that can use almost any digital map, whether found online or photographed out in the world. These maps often show features that are unavailable, or less clear, than those found in conventional GPS navigation. Created by Google engineer Marko Teittinen, Custom Maps is the only app I know that can both georeference a digital map and use that map for navigation.
A Walk Through Custom Maps: as of version 1.6
OsmAnd Maps & Navigation (Android & iOS)
OsmAnd primarily uses data from the OpenStreetMap project. It can do turn-by-turn navigation on hiking trails as well as roads. It can record GPXs and follow them; estimate distance, ascent and descent; show an altitude profile and an analysis of the climbs you'll encounter. It can show contour lines, hill shading, and points of interest. OsmAnd also works well as a tour guide, showing nearby sights that have Wikipedia articles and letting you read those articles offline.
Except where noted, all videos use OsmAnd's Android version; the iOS version is similar.
The basics (Android & iOS)
The basic first steps for setting up OsmAnd versions 4.3
Using the Configure screen menu versions 4.3
Basic navigation versions 4.4
Plan a Route versions 4.5
Analyzing elevation versions 4.5
A walk through OsmAnd for iOS: The iOS version of OsmAnd came after the Android version, and has largely caught up. This is an overview.
GPXs
Creating GPX routes and tracks: analyzing, navigating, changing how they look.
Advanced
Managing profiles: Profiles are pre-configured settings for the map and navigation. Here's how to use and customize them.
The Quick Action button: Shortcuts for frequently used functions.
Uploading geospatial data to OpenStreetMap: How to update OpenStreetMap directly from OsmAnd.
Displaying raster maps from the web using Mapc2mapc. How to use the Windows program Mapc2mapc to use one or two digital maps as layers in OsmAnd. On Android devices, digital maps can also be navigated using the Custom Maps app.
taginfo:OpenStreetMap · Data © OSM contributors (ODbL)
OpenStreetMap
The data source for OsmAnd's offline vector maps, OpenStreetMap is the world map that anyone can edit.
OpenStreetMap has become the world's trail map: A video essay. Launched in London, OSM is still best known for its urban geography. But over time, the project has also become the world's most complete database of recreational trails.
Avenza maps ( iOS and Android)
AvenzaMaps is a GPS app known for its large, worldwide Map Store. Some maps free, others are for purchase. Users with some technical savvy can also import maps from anywhere online, georeferenceing them using the free, open source QGIS desktop program. Compared with Custom Maps, Avenza has the advantage of its map library and the ability to run on iOS. On the downside, georeferencing requires a separate, desktop program. This version uses Avenza's iOS version; the Android version is similar.
