Adding Morocco Map to Memory-map
 

Hello everyone, I am planning a trip to Morocco Sept 2010. I use Memory-Map on a PC with Evermore GPS in the UK and France which works very well.

I have seen a video on you tube of someone using Memory-Map with map sheet 742 (michilin morocco map) on his PC.

I have scanned map 742 to my computer but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get it on Memory-Map.

Can anyone help?

Scanned maps
 

Only certain versions of Memory Map allow you to import and calibrate scanned maps.

In the Map menu there should be a calibration option. If you have this put the scanned image in the same folder as your other maps. Load the image and then use calibrate to pick points on the map and enter the lat and long.

Hope this helps

Tony

Thanks Tony, I can see 'calibration' in the MAP drop down options, but it does not allow me to select it. I shall give MMap a call in the morning and ask why, as I have the latest V5 version which is still under warranty.

You will only see the "calibrate" after you have loaded in a map image that you want to calibrate, jpeg, tiff, png.

:thumbup: JB

I had the scan done in a printing shop and copied to a CD-R as a JPEG IMG. Have tried to copy it to memory-map from the cd drive but it keeps saying 'no map files found'. Have tried copying it to paint and again saving it as a jpeg img but still no joy.:(

Iirc the 742 doesn't have any grid lines on it so there is nothing on the map to use as points reference for calibration. There is an IGN 1:1000,000 map that does, but obviously that would mean re-scanning.

Thanks I shall give it a go.....Here is a video with map 742 being used on Memory Map (in Morroco)......it can be done.

Morocco or bust! - Episode 3

I am told you can calibrate a map using 3 refrence points (road junctions etc) even although there are no gridlines by calibrating the 742 with same points on Google earth/maps. My problem is that I can't get as far as uploading the JPEG image of 742 to do so.

Sorry for wasting your time - was just trying to help.

On the contrary, your advice is very much appreciated.:thumbup1: And I might yet need to revert to your suggestion of the IGN Map.

I have put a comment on the you tube clip and hope that it's originator gets back to me.

Help!!!

Still unable to load a scanned (jpeg) map 742 onto my memory-map.:stupid:

Maximus- sorry can't help on that one.
However a long shot suggestion is to switch to a Garmin gps, use Mapsouce and there is a road and topo map of Morocco which is also free and use Nroute on your PC (or Mapsource) both of which are free as well.
p.m. me if you help with that otherwise MM people are really your quickest and best option
Seems that in that youtube the pc is attached to a Garmin 276C or its later model, the 278C gps

Thanks Bertrand, Now have Mapsource and topo map on computer. Think I will go down the Garmin GPS route as it appears tried and tested in that part of the world.

Full Instructions
 

Maximus. It's my video that you saw. I picked up your posting on YouTube and will attempt to explain how I integrated the Michelin 742 map with Memory Map.


Due to Ordnance Survey license restrictions, Memory-Map OS Editions do not include a Calibration feature for self-scanned maps, which is where you have been getting stuck. To achieve your goal you need to install a second installation of the European edition that will support self scanned maps with calibration. In order to do this however, you do need to have a licensed copy of Memory Map installed in the first instance. European users can disregard this workaround.


frinch11 is right to say the the Michelin 742 map does not have grid lines to aid calibration, so what you have to do is use 'known landmarks' instead. This is not has tricky as it sounds with a little help from Google Earth.


Bertrand also makes a valuable point, that the Olaf topo map on a Garmin unit is a tried and tested way forward. The great thing about Olaf is the level of detail, as it is based on GPS tracks provided by other overlanders. The disadvantage, in my humble opinion, is that to really benefit from this accuracy one has to be zoomed right in on the Garmin, which doesn't really give you a good overview of your journey.


I found that the two systems when used together really complimented each other. Once up and running it was very satisfying to see my GPS position and direction of travel, together with my pre-planned route and earlier tracks, clearly overlaid on the 742 sheet map. The Garmin 276c served as GPS for both systems yet each could be operated independently of each other.


It goes without saying that a standalone Garmin unit loaded with the Olaf topo map is a perfect Morocco solution for bikers. However even the most tech savvy of our two wheeled friends would struggle to ride a bike, use a garmin and simultaneously operate a car PC or laptop without serious risk of disaster. That's not to say that it should be attempted on four wheels, but as the video shows it is perfectly feasible.

So here's what you want to know. If it doesn't work out, I'll try my best to help.


1. Install a registered copy of Memory Map, using a valid User ID, serial number and license key.


2. Download and install Memory Map European Edition from http://www.memory-map.co.uk/dl_mm_OS_V5.htm


3. Copy your scanned map to your hard drive. Avoid using the default C:\Maps_v5 directory as this will cause a conflict with your OS edition. Rather than create a sub-directory I found it necessary create an entirely separate directory to the default. e.g. C:\Maps_Maroc


4. Open Memory Map European Edition and select the Map icon (or Ctrl +M). Then select 'Refresh Map List' and then choose 'Add Folder' to select your Morocco Map directory.


5. By now you will be able to view your Morocco Map. Next is is the fun part - configuring the calibration options.


6. From the file menu select Map > Edit Map Properties and add the name of your map together with any other relevant data. Importantly, tick the 'Allow Calibration' check-box. Click the OK button to save your settings.


7. Next it is time to add calibration points. Rather than explain the whole process here just look up 'Scan Maps' in Memory Maps help index (European edition).

8. Once finished, close the various dialog boxes and close the program.

8. Make backup copy of your C:\Maps_Maroc directory. Extra configuration files will have been created by Memory Map and you'll thank yourself later if you have to do it all again for some reason.

9. That should be it. Enjoy


If you are using a Garmin GPS receiver just hook it up to your PC with a USB cable and away you go. Garmin device, Mapsource, nRoute and Memory Map - all working together like a treat.




--- Using Google Earth to identify calibration points of known landmarks. ---


1. Open Google Earth and from the file menu select, Tools > Options. Find the 'Show Lat/Long' settings and change the default value to Degrees, Decimal Minutes. This will get GE talking the same language as MM and also Garmin GPS units.


2. Zoom in to the Morocco area in Google Earth and select a minimum of three exact points which you can identify on your scanned map. These points should be quite far apart form each other, for example at or near the four corners of your map. The obvious things to choose would be a large towns, but you'll get much better accuracy choosing really specific sites such as road junctions, coastal headlands and tiny villages. Although Memory Map recommends a minimum of three points of calibration, it really is a case of the more the better. I used about 25.


3. Note the Lat/Long of each location and enter these into MM as per the help file instructions. In GE you can get the Lat/Long by looking at the status bar as you move the mouse around. A better and more precise method is to add a placemark (map pin icon) at each location and for future reference save these points to a folder within 'My Places'

Paul,

you are an absolute star. :thumbup1: Thank you for responding in such detail to my call for help.

I was very impressed with your navigational set up on your trip, and as an avid user of memory-map have been hoping you would see my post.

I shall get on the case tomorrow and let everyone know how I get on.

Mac Mclennan

Just keeping you all up to date.

Installed European Edition of Memory-Map.
Tried to add Michelin Map as JPEG...... but no joy:(.

To cut a long story short, apparently I cannot use an RGB image - It must be 4 or 6 bit Indexed colour and be saved as a TIFF or PNG file.

Phoned memory-map:

I only have 'paint' and that's not good enough to convert the JPEG image to TIFF/PNG file. So the map has gone back to be re-scanned and saved as both TIFF and PNG files.

Pick map and new files up tomorrow, and will let you know how I get on.

It shouldn't need rescanning, just converting in Photoshop or similar. It will only take a minute or two, plus the time in burning it on to a new cd.

I think I did mine as a tiff by the way.

Got my scanned michelin map back to as a TIFF file. Offered it once more to memory-map and voila......success :thumbup1:

Have just calibrated the map with google earth and all appears to be well.....How pleased am I.:clap:

Thanks again for your help everyone, particularly Paul.

Not sure that my Evermore GPS will work well in Morocco? But works fantastically well here in the UK and France plugged into the USB on my computer.

Any Thoughts?

Excellant result it sounds like, but I decided to do it as a home project. I scanned the Morocco map in four sections on my 11"x19" scanner as TIFF files and stitched them together using Panaview software. I then calibrated them using OZI Explorer and ended up with thew same results as you.

:clap: JB

Everybody's happy then.:thumbup1:

Maximus, I am sure that your GPS will work fine in Morocco although personally, I'd still recommend a Garmin as I have found them to be more reliable than a basic USB mouse and depending on which model you also get the option of using Garmin maps too. They're not cheap though, even second hand on eBay.

working with self scanned maps
 

I use OziExplorer too as a back up to Mapsource when there are no detailed Garmin maps available (Sahara region!) and in OziEx it is very simple to import self scanned maps (various formats) and calibrate it. Any idiot can do it, no complex side tours needed.
:thumbup1:

cheers,
Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Are there any sources for memory map for North Africa especially Libya and Egypt?

Try Stanfords
 

I'm not aware of any official Memory Map products. You'll probabley need to get a sheet map and then scan it.

Try Stanfords' Maps, Travel Books, Guides and Travel Information

Max, will be interesting to see how accurate your Mich map was. The whole map is tilted to the east of north hence no grid which would look odd (for why the tilt, see link below) and who knows what projection Mich has. Small errors get magnified in my experience of trying to do the same with an RKH map.

I found Olaf more than adequate in Mk (for pistes, that is) and on the road most paper maps are fine - see my Morocco map reviews here.

It may be useful to know you can buy an as-good if not better RKH Morocco road map as a pre-calibrated download here for 15 euros. (Havent tried it as I'm not PC.)

For Libya and Egypt in digi see here, near the top. Or have a look at Touratech QV or RKH downloads again - they do an Egypt and Libya for the same price.

hth

Chris S

Chris, my trip is not until next year.

Paul Driver has already used the Mitchilin map with memory map and although it may not be completely accurate, he thought it complimented the maroc topo map as he could see 'the big picture' on his tablet pc, as opposed to the small screen on his garmin showing the track he was on.

If Paul sees this maybe he can elaborate and let us know how accurate memory map/michilin was.

I have looked at the map you mention, although there is no mention of it being programmed for garmin/mapsource which I have.

The BSMaps mentioned by Chris Scott above can be ordered in the following calibration formats:
OZIExplorer
Fugawi
Pathaway
ttqv
gps-mate
compegps
Magellan

JB

I had a feeling once you get into GPS editing with a PC, most use Ozi or Fugawi, Garmin MapSource being too, I believe is the word is 'proprietary'.

As you say the big picture (and a big screen) is what is needed but there will never be any good in-built digi mapping for African countries until existing paper maps get converted. Apart from Olaf's efforts at least RKH have started the ball rolling. Can't see Mich Corp ever doing it.

Ch

Maximus, I've only just seen your post re Michilin map accuracy, sorry for the time lapse.

Yes I did notice slight inaccuracies, but these were pretty minor and not such that you'd get into trouble or badly lost.

Typically you'd notice that your track might be running parallel to a road rather than being directly on top of it. The discrepancy would only be of a couple of millimetres at most. Granted, this margin of error could represent 2 kilometres on a 1:1m scale, but for the big picture it really didn't matter that much. It was always obvious where we were and as I mentioned before, for actual navigation we used the Olaf map on the Garmin GPS.

I suspect that using many calibration points rather than the minimum three makes a big difference in 'smoothing' the map.

Many thanks Paul......managed to pick up a Garmin Streetpilot 3 and have loaded the morocco topo map on it (couldn't warrant the cost of the 276c for two weeks). I was pretty impressed with the streetpilot when I recently used it on a trip to Scotland. Biggest downside is that the screen picks up 'a lot' of reflection and is difficult to see when sunny......and yes, they do sometimes get sun in Scotland :-).

September does not seem so far away now. :D

Sounds like you've got a good setup now.

Roll on September, have a great time.

I am heading back to Morocco next spring, and would like to try out my memory map whilst there. I don't travel beyond Europe often enough to venture into Garmin and Fugawi expense etc, and as I already have European MM - I would like to give it a go. So...

Has anyone got a copy of a png or Tiff Morocco map (calibrated or not), that I could purchase from you?? And or piste routes too - or is that just pushing my luck!!

Thanks, Talljohn

PM sent

adding morocco map to memory-map
 

John,

Did you get anywhere with your attempt to get Olaf onto Memory-Map? It's something I'm also trying to do so I can use my little RoadAngel unit with a colour map.

Cheers,

Tim.

Hi Tim,

Sorry mate but I'm not aware of any way of converting garmin vector maps to raster.

The closest thing I've tried is viewing a vector map on a jailbroken iphone. You can see the app in action in this video YouTube - iPhone + Garmin img - Map Viewer & Navigator

The end result was pretty ugly and difficult to view the detail because of the 'compact' nature of vector maps. I suspect that even if you could make a conversion you'd end up with absolutely massive file sizes in order to achieve the necessary zoom levels