The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : gps and cartography I'm using a gps-device since 2006 to measure bordermarker-coordinates and to record tracks.  Online mapping-services like Google Earth and Geoportail are increasingly accurate and useful. It's my intent to provide tracks, waypoints and ultimately the GRPdesBF-trail appearing as exact as possible within Google Earth.  So the main medium will be the .kml-format. But there will be conversions in the more universal .gpx-format which can be imported on gps-devices and mapping-sites. All bordermarker-coordinates in 1 gps-file Two flavours: - Google Earth-kml: esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kmz - Gpx-file: esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.gpx The coordinates in this file can differ from the coordinates in the individual daytrip-tracks. In those cases, this is the authoritative list, showing the locations as exact as I can get them. Most of them are based on my own gps-readings and are corrected to show as exact as possible within Google Earth. A minority is derived from the French IGN-maps or from other sources. Bordermarker-waypoints All bordermarker-waypoints (in the .kml-format) have a suffix: MIOM = coordinates measured with a MIO Pda, used 2006-2008 GARM = coordinates measured with my Garmin-gps, 2009- DAR = coordinates provided by Charles Darrieu OTH = coordinates from others OZIM = coordinates established within Oziexplorer with French IGN 25k calibrated maps IGN = coordinates established with online mapping-sites like Visugpx wich use the Geoportail IGN-maps.  If you can zoom in up to 'cadastre'-level, the coordinates can be very precise in habited areas. In mountainous terrain the 25K IGN-maps are more reliable. SUP = supposed location of a bordermarker which is unfindable or has disappeared. Coordinates established on the base of IGN-coordinates, Procès-Verbal or other sources. SPEC = speculated location, when no exact indication is available, actually a simple guess GEM = coordinates established within Google Earth using IGN/OZIM-waymarks as a base in addition with info from pictures, my memory and the Procès-Verbal.  GEC = coordinates establised within Google Earth but confirmed/corrected with my own gps-waypoints or reliable waypoints from others. Often the satellite images are so detailed, you can spot the markers themselves or verify with pictures their precise location. These waypoints should be considered as the most exact (in Google Earth). Tracks of the trips The kml-tracks of the daytrips and ultimately the GRPdesBF are drawn on Google Earths-maps. If gps-tracks (recorded while walking) were available, they were corrected to 'fit' as exact as possible on the roads and trails visible in GE. Measuring the altitudes of waypoints and tracks Recorded altitudes in gps-tracks or by a altimeter are not quite reliable or consistent. I've chosen to  use the elevation data as provided on the gpsvisualizer-site. Apparently they use the NASA SRTM3 database for non-US locations.  I suppose there are more precise elevation data (DEM) available for the Pyrenees  but haven't figured that out yet. So: the .kml-files (containing no elevation data) are converted into .gpx-files with the elevation data added. That should produce far more consistent altitudes of waypoints and tracks then by own gps-recording. How exact is Google Earth anyway? Well, I'm not an expert on gps, GE or mapping but recorded waypoints and tracks can be amazingly exact within GE.  But remember that a gps-reading in the best circumstances still can differ 5-10 meters from the actual coordinates.  In dense forests the difference can be much more.  The historical modus of GE - showing earlier satellite-pictures - gives sometimes a slight change of the bm-location over the years. In those cases, the most recent satellite-maps were used, assuming that they are the best calibrated ones. However, remember that - when projected on a 25k topographical map - these differences are irrelevant. Cartographic Sites/Software Allmost all maps and tracks on this site are made or derived with from online services Google Earth: Amazingly detailed satellite maps, including a 3D modus.  Making tracks and waypoints is easy in the .kml-format. Note: if you want to import .gpx-files, GE removes details of the track. It's better to load the .gpx first in Garmin's Mapsource or Basemap and from there show it in GE. Map overlays for Google Earth This  site gives the opportunity to project in Google Earth other map-images from Google, Yahoo, Windows Live and Open Street maps.  I especially like the terrain-view of Google Maps which shows the elevation lines. Google Maps: Provides street maps, terrain-maps and recently incorporated Google Earth in its map-choices.  You can paste internet-links to .gpx and .kml-files in the search-frame but not load them from your pc. Gpsvisualizer: Great site to convert gps-files and to draw maps. Has the ability of adding elevation-data to your gps-files. Oziexplorer: Extensive computerprogram to view and make waypoint and tracks on calibrated digitalisized maps.  On peer-to-peer-sites there are many digital topographical maps available, calibrated for this program.  I use this program mainly for making waypoints of bordermarkers when no other sources (like my gps-recordings) are (yet)  available.  As stated above, I started using a gps in 2006. Note: making waypoints based on French and Spanish maps is often possible with the cartographic services hereunder. French online cartographic services Geoportail A elaborate French mapping site, a sort of mix of Google Maps and Google Earth but focused on France. Since 2010 you can import .gpx-files and .kml-files (''Voir'' -> ''covisualizer'' or ''Show'' -> ''combined view'', Google Chrome seems to perform best). Geoportail has in its principal viewer a wealth of information divided in layers, uses other satellite maps and provides among others cadastral maps. Visugpx: Visugpx draws maps of .gpx-files in two formats: one is in a Googlemaps-frame (which can be done by many more sites) and the other one is on the French IGN-topographical maps which is more unique and very useful. You can enlarge the viewframe ("Afficher en grande taille") and details are given about lenght, elevation profile and so on. If Visugpx doesn't perform properly, you might try another interernet-browser like Firefox or Chrome. New ClicGPX  Another way of showing gpx-files via Geoportail on the IGN-topographical maps (or Openstreetmap). In showing .gpx-files on Geoportail-maps, it does a better job. The screen is larger and you can create your own gpx-tracks. Spanish online cartographic services Nationwide there are two possibilities: 1. The Iberpix-viewer of the IGN: you can zoom-in to 25k-level, showing a remarkable relief-shading on the maps, showing overlap with France and even bordermarkers. The satellite images are very detailed and you can import .gpx-files. 2. The Sigpac-viewer which usses the same maps as Iberpix at 25k-level and has no advantages - it seems - compared to Iberpix. Each Spanish province has in addition its own service, each one different. They have one disadvantage in common (except Sitna): they don't show the bordermarkers. But they can be useful to check the borderline in some special cases.  If they don't perform well in your browser, try another one, e.g. Opera. Euskadi viewer Covers a small portion of the esfr-border Sitna The 'Geoportal' of Navarra offers this viewer which allows to zoom-in very deep. In the 'topographic cartograpy'-mode you'll see the bordermarkers indicated ("muga") if you zoom-in enough. Sitar The service of Aragon. ICC Catalonia has the largest stretch of the esfr-border. Its Cartographic Institute provides a nice viewer of its topographic maps. It has a large zoom-in capability - with very detailed elevation lines - and offers satellite pictures as well. You can import .kml and .gpx-files. An unique and very useful feature: an overlay-function within Google Earth: see this page and choose Google Earth -> Automatic (tile) Andorran online cartographic services The Andorran government offers various maps for download on this page. For our purpose (a trail through Andorra from Port de Rat to the Portella Blanca), three series are relevant: http://www.mot.ad/ord_cartografia_muntanyesandorra.html: fourteen 10k-maps with walking trails indicated http://www.mot.ad/docs/1-50000.jpg: a 50k overview-map of Andorra http://www.mot.ad/ord_cartografia_mapatopo.html: 5k maps, unfortunately not covering all Andorra