Navigation - Using Avenza PDF Maps

Overview

Avenza PDF Maps is an app capable of taking specialised PDF files that contain information about the GPS coordinates for that area. What this means for you is that you can:

• Show your current location and direction on the map.
• Overlay routes from other people's activities or courses.
• Measure the distance between multiple points.
• Mark key points.
• Find locations by coordinates.

There are also a number of other functions in there I'm sure that I haven't had to use as yet.

Getting the App

Avenza PDF Maps is available for:

• iPhone / iPod / iPad (if you are carrying an iPad I hope you're not running...)
• Android
• Windows Phone (currently in beta at time of writing)

It is completely free to download and use with no ads.

Loading a Map

There are many maps freely available that are compatible with Avenza, such as many of the Parks Victoria maps (You Yangs, Brisbane Ranges, Wilsons Promotontory, Macedon and possible others). A lot of departments seem to be getting on board with this idea, so wouldn't hurt to email the responsible department for the area if one isn't available and see if they've got one in the works (or encourage them).

Downloaded Maps

After downloading a map (from Parks or otherwise), you can simply add it from device storage, from Dropbox (easy way to get it from your computer to your phone) or directly from a website URL (e.g. http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/518228/Map-Brisbane-Ranges-National-Park.pdf).

Purchasing Maps

To buy maps, simply press the shopping cart / trolley icon and you can browse by category or find maps (by name or area). It is easier to find by direct name if you know of someone that has the map you're after already. The list view is generally easier to use than map view and you can preview them before buying to make sure it is suitable.

Using a Map

Loading a Map

After opening the 'PDF Maps' app on your device, you'll initially have a blank list and you'll need to load in some maps (see above). Afterwards you can open a map simply by touching the title or image in the list. If you don't have location services / GPS enabled, then you won't be able to use the locator so I suggest you enable this before-hand, although the app will prompt you. Easy to switch this on and off in the notifications bar on Android.

Interacting with the Map

Interacting with the map is very intuitive and quite responsive. Simply touch and drag to move around, pinch to zoom in and out and you can even rotate it while pinching by rotating your fingers.

In the menu bar at the top below the map name are several functions. The first shows your current location on the map (requires GPS / location services enabled). Some times this reports you are not currently on the map but restarting the app or phone can resolve this (fairly rare though). The second button adds a placemark pin (the red pin shown is where I dropped some water on one run). The third allows you to add additional layers, such as routes or save them to a file. The fourth allows you several functions, but I only use the 'Measure Distance or Area'. Once in that mode simply drag the map around and press '+' to add a point at the center of the screen (under the silver marker) and 'X' to delete and the distance and total will be displayed at the top. Great if you're dying to get to the next aid station or in a group run and people want to know how far left. :)

Adding a Route

After exporting a route to KML (see here for more info) you can add it by going into the Map Features section (second icon from right) and then pressing the down arrow with the line under it (first button in the menu) to import it. If the file is not already on your device, I suggest you use the phone web browser to export it (so it saves locally), or use Dropbox to store it from your desktop so you can import it directly from there. If the import fails, try exporting to GPX (see link above) and then using the GPX 2 KML web site to convert it to KML and retry (leave Waypoints, Tracks and Routes ticked and download the file after conversion).

After import, the route should show as a red line on top of your map which is great when used with the GPS locator function to tell you not only whether you are still on course, but what is coming up and how far away different points are using the measuring tool.