Travel Route Animation Across the Pacific using a "Freeware" Application

gandjcarr wrote on 9/1/2012, 4:42 AM

If you really want to have your route go across the pacific, there is a free application available that will provide you with results similar to this

The application uses google maps and because it is freeware it takes some time to figure out how to use it. It is also a little cumbersome and does not look or act nearly as sophisticated as the Travel Route Animator in MEP. But if you really want to fly across the pacific this is the only way I know how to do it short of purchasing a seperate travel route animator. It is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/routegen/files/routegen/1.6/routegen-win32-1.6.exe/download

If enough people would like me to create a video tutorial on how to use this product, send me a personal message and if there is enough interest I will do it and hopefully save you some time with the ins and outs of this product.

Good Luck

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/1/2012, 1:44 PM

Hi George

While strictly not a MEP program it does get round the current Pacific east - west problem.

A nice little program - only down side is that to get the map link required by the software you must type in the area you want eg Switzerland and then zoom in/out to get the URL into the correct format for the program.

John

gandjcarr wrote on 9/1/2012, 2:21 PM

Hi John,

That is not entirely true. You can actually set the map up by dragging it wherever you want setting the zoom, 1 step larger than you think you need, then click on the link icon, and it will generate the link you need. That is why I thought I might do a tutorial. There are a number of little quircks that i have learned about this application that takes some time to figure out with trial and error.

johnebaker wrote on 9/1/2012, 3:38 PM

Hi George

This is the URL I get if I search Google for Switzerland then view the map:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=switzerland&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hnear=Switzerland&t=m&z=8

This is the URL you get if I then adjust the zoom after the above or go to maps first and then enter the country:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=switzerland&hl=en&ll=46.815099,8.22876&spn=6.443398,14.27124&client=firefox-a&hnear=Switzerland&t=m&z=7

The Routegen expects the second URL.

John

gandjcarr wrote on 9/1/2012, 4:18 PM

Hi John,

We may be talking about different things here. I don't actually search google maps for anything, I just bring a map in the main window of google maps, zoom it to the view that I want to cross the pacific, go one step out and use that link as the map that I use.

Maybe I should just do the tutorial to show what I mean. I was flying from LA to Tokyo in the original example. I could do the same thing the same way from Zurich to Tokyo and fly over the antlantic, the US then the pacific to Tokyo. And it would look like this.

johnebaker wrote on 9/1/2012, 5:40 PM

Hi George

Depending on which way you search for a map ie Google search then click Maps or Google Maps then search, you get different URLs.

Your method always gives you the correct URL form as you have used the zoom.

John

terrypin wrote on 9/3/2012, 2:57 AM

I prefer to make my own with Google Earth and KFA, as in this example:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/USA-Flight-2011.mp4

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

gandjcarr wrote on 9/3/2012, 4:37 AM

Very Nice Terry,

What is KFA? I really like this approach, and the flight path that you used in the example is much more realistic than a straight line.

Well done!

terrypin wrote on 9/7/2012, 11:15 AM

Hi George,

Thanks for your feedback. Had to upload it to my own host as I suspect YT would have objected to my Sinatra track!

KFA = Key Frame Animation. Yes, you knew that

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK