3D Fly-bys of your Zumo Routes in Google Earth

Brian

Stunning 3D fly-by of your saved Routes in Google Earth. You will need to be broadband enables and will need the following software ..

GPS VISUALIZER
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map?form=googleearth
GOOGLE EARTH
http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

- both are freeware. GPS Visualizer is web-based, not download.

Using an existing saved Route in your Zumo, go to your Routes folder, select a Route, select Share and the Route will be saved on your SD card (SD card - Garmin - GPX - share_routes.gpx), save this to your desktop.

Alternatively using Mapsource create a route using the Route Tool, join Waypoints using mouse clicks, keeping waypoints reasonably close together following the basic contours of the roads (this makes for a better fly-by as Google Earth follows the Waypoints).

When you've finished your Route give it a descriptive name in Track Properties and save it in GPX format onto your desktop (ie: Save As - Devils Bridge Route.gpx), you can also transfer the Route to your Garmin Zumo using Transfer - Send to Device (then when you have disconnected the USB lead, the Zumo will load up its maps as usual then ask you to Import New Data? Answer Yes and this will be stored into the Routes folder.

Run GPS Visualizer (this is a web-based prog), point the 'file input' towards your desktop to your GPX Route file, click convert and it will create a KMZ file (you can rename this ie: Trip_To_Devils_Bridge.kmz and save this to your desktop). Click on the KMZ file and it will open up Google Earth, down the left hand side of Google Earth you will see reference to your Route file, click on 'Waypoints' for a overhead satellite view, press the play Icon for a visual run through each Waypoint, then click on the Icon below (3 spheres), press play and be prepared to be impressed by the 3D fly-by.

You can tweak Google Earth settings for faster fly-bys and more detail for roads etc etc.

Another thing you can try is a 3D fly-by of a Logged Route. In the Zumo's menu go to .. Settings (spanner icon) - User Data - Manage Trip Log - Clear Trip Log .. then set off for a drive/ride somewhere, the Zumo will create a new Trip Log of that route, go back to the Zumo and under the same menu's select Save As Route - this will create a Route in the Routes Folder, you will also have the option to Share the route onto the SD card as previously mentioned, just create a Google Earth KMZ file as explained above. The results this time are even more impressive as the Route (or Track) Waypoints are usually 5-6 seconds apart for a more accurate road-hugging fly-by. (note: It isn't a necessity to clear the trip log as a new one is created each time with a date/time reference)

It may seem difficult to create these 3D fly-by's but with a bit of practise you can create a route from scratch in Mapsource and have the end result into Google Earth in 5-10 minutes, depending on how long your route is.
Have fun.
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Aprilia Tuono, Zumo 550
Ipaq 2210/Fortuna/TomTom Nav6
& Road Angel 7000 + Memory Map

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