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There is a trend on the camera market, people want now to tag their
photo, not only by adding sound (micro can be found now on point and
shot consumer camera), or letting the camera add EXIF embeded data ( Exchangeable
Image File Format) into each
pictures.
Consumer always want more!, and with the arrival of
Google Maps on the market, some years ago, It has not taken much time
till users decide to add geoposition (with a GPS) to their
pictures. While this feature can be found on some high end
camera model
(camera body > $10000, as an option it is quite pricey too),
TomTom, Garmin and other consumer GPS are now able to provide a cheap
and ready to go alternative. A data logger is a device able
to record periodically latidutes, longitudes, altitude, date
and time while yyou are on the road. It is now possible with some tools
to merge pictures and files produced by GPS ad save new meta
informations in EXIF data.
Click Here for a live example
Why use a data
logger?
- What
itinerary did I travel yesterday?
- When did I
start driving today?
- How long
did It take to go from A to B and C in between?
- Which is
the current altitude and speed?
- How can I
remind precise positions?
- When
exactly I traveled there?
Combined with your favorite DSLR or point and shot camera
- You take pictures but now can't remember the exact place of
some of the photos
- With a software, you can then match the
coordinates
with the picture and you like to see your pictures on
a map. (Google map, Google Earth)
Dedicated data
logger
Sony has started to sell a small device (Sony GPS-CS1KA), it cost $105
and do not use
the latest SIRFstar III chipset, so don't expect much of it, old GPS
chipsets are known to be slower to find satellites, have lower
sensivity, do not work also well in city.
Anyway here are the main characteristics:
- Keep track of your digital photos with satellite precision
- Holds approximately 360 hours (31MB) of data
- Records a location log every 15 seconds
- Simple operation; no need for complex set up or
connection, one button, two lights
- Compatible with most digital still cameras; compliance with
EXIF 2.1 or later
- Small
- 12-channel GPS with no screen.
- The included software detects the unit and imports the GPS
data.
Another module detects attached cameras/MSD and imports the data
Or you may want to buy a better
dedicated data logger, Royaltek, Evermore,
Gisteq or Globalsat are selling small device.
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| Amod AGL3080 GPS Data
Logger SiRF III, Driverless, 128MB, Push to Log |
EverMore
GT-900BT Bluetooth Data Logger (SiRF III, Driverless, 120,000
Waypoints, Photo Software Included) |
GlobalSat
BT-335 Bluetooth Data Logger SiRF III, Download via Bluetooth |
Royaltek
RBT-2300 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS SiRF III GSC3f/LP, WAAS,
650,000 Waypoints |
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| Royaltek RGM-3800
GPS Data Logger SiRF III GSC3f/LP, WAAS, 650,000 Waypoints |
starz
BT-Q1000 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver 51 ch, Auto
On/Off, WAAS,
Bluetooth, USB, Push to Log, 100,000 Waypoints |
EverMore GT-600
Image Tracker |
i-Blue
747 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver Auto On/Off, 32 ch,
WAAS,
Bluetooth, USB, Push to Log, 16Mb Memory with Google Integration |
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| GiSTEQ
Bluetooth PhotoTrackr for Digital Camera |
GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr
for Digital Camera |
i.Trek
Z1 BT Data Logger GPS Receiver Solar, MTK 32 Ch, WAAS, Auto
On/Off,
Bluetooth, USB, Data Logger with Google Earth Integration |
i-Blue 757 Pro Solar
BT Data Logger GPS Receiver |
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| Wintec
WBT-201 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver Auto on/off, WAAS,
Bluetooth, USB, Push to Log, Google Earth Integration with Photo |
RoyalTek
BlueGPS Mini Mobile Data-logger RBT-1100 for Windows, Pocket PC and
Palm Output to Google Earth |
GlobalSat
DG-100 GPS Data Logger SiRF III, USB, Push to Log, Google
Earth Integration |
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Price range are from $50 to $200, depending on brand, size,
memory (number of points saved), chipset, number of chanels (ability to
use more satellites at the sam time equal to more precision and
sensivity) and export functionnality.
Tom Tom
Software data logger
If by chance, you have a Tom Tom and are ready to take it in
your holiday, look no further: Event_logger
is the software you are looking for!
Installation is straightforward, just dump all files to your SD CARD,
and start your Tom Tom, as default the logging start. A text file
(Event_Logger.txt) let you configure the software
"Event_Logger is a tracking and
logging
application enhancing Tom Tom GO. It can
log Tom Tom GO events to Itinerary files that are managed by Tom Tom GO
like any
other native Itinerary created through the ordinary user interface;
besides,
Event_Logger can produce standard GPX XML files where events are
represented as
way points and the whole route is logged through a sequence of track
points
obtained by querying Tom Tom GO for location information at short
periodical
intervals"; from Event_Logger
introduction
On the plus side:
- Work as expected.
- Complete documentation.
- Files are saved in directory /itn and use a standard file
format (GPX)
- Google map viewer in Internet Explorer (drag and drop file)
- A Tom Tom will also show you the right way :-)
Some issues:
- Tom Tom battery lifetime, very limited especially if you
are in a
8 hours trip, do not forget to set the Tom Tom contrast to the minimum
- a XSL (transformation language) render the file directly in
Internet Explorer but NOT in firefox as an activeX support is required
to view the MAP.
| Example
of GPX file |
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<?xml
version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" standalone="yes"?>
<?xml-stylesheet href="gpx.xsl" type="text/xsl"?>
<gpx
version="1.0" creator="Event_Logger 7.1 -
http://web.tiscali.it/macri/Event_Logger"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0
http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd">
<name>END Thursday 15 November 2007
22:43:42</name>
<desc>(Waypoints are missing in this
track)</desc>
<author>amacri</author><email>
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
</email>
<url>http://web.tiscali.it/macri/Event_Logger</url><urlname>Event_Logger
7.1</urlname>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"
standalone="yes"?>
<?xml-stylesheet href="gpx.xsl" type="text/xsl"?>
<gpx version="1.0" creator="Event_Logger '"$VERSION"'
- http://web.tiscali.it/macri/Event_Logger"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0
http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd">
<trk><name>Thursday 15 November 2007
21:37:01</name><cmt>Started</cmt><desc>Gablerstrasse
40-41, Zürich</desc><trkseg>
<trkpt lat="42.35860"
lon="6.52764"><ele>450.0</ele><time>2007-11-15T19:37:01Z</time><course>0.0</course><speed>0.0</speed><fix>3d</fix>
<sat>3</sat><hdop>2.3</hdop></trkpt>
<trkpt lat="47.35859"
lon="6.52767"><ele>450.0</ele><time>2007-11-15T19:37:08Z</time><course>62.0</course><speed>0.0</speed><fix>3d</fix>
<sat>3</sat><hdop>2.3</hdop></trkpt>
<trkpt lat="42.35859"
lon="6.52769"><ele>450.0</ele><time>2007-11-15T19:37:11Z</time><course>62.0</course><speed>0.0</speed><fix>3d</fix>
<sat>3</sat><hdop>2.3</hdop></trkpt>
<trkpt lat="42.35858"
lon="8.52770"><ele>450.0</ele><time>2007-11-15T19:37:15Z</time><course>62.0</course><speed>0.0</speed><fix>3d</fix>
<sat>3</sat><hdop>2.3</hdop></trkpt>
<trkpt lat="42.35861"
lon="8.52750"><ele>450.0</ele><time>2007-11-15T19:37:21Z</time><course>62.0</course><speed>0.56</speed><fix>3d</fix>
<sat>3</sat><hdop>2.3</hdop></trkpt>
<trkpt lat="42.35848"
lon="8.52719"><time>2007-11-15T19:37:27Z</time><course>339.0</course><speed>4.72</speed><fix>none</fix></trkpt>
</gpx></trkseg></trk></gpx>
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Garmin data logger
Garmin is able to create NMEA (The ASCII data stream received from
navigation equipment (such as GPS receivers) conforming to the
NMEA 0182 Version 2.0 specification.)
file out the box, you do not have to install anything and can jump to
next to "Viewing your trip"
Using a data logger with your camera/camcorder
They are all quite easy to use, start both device and check that the time are more or
less in sync, so that both date and time are very near together. That's
all! We just need now to use a software to mix pictures, video and
GPX/NMEA file together.
Viewing your
trip
Basically what you need to find is a GPX viewer. there is a lot
available online (use Google :-)), here are some I've used
Geo tagging
your pictures/video
Sony picture motion browser tag automatically pictures and video, but
this tool is checking prior to installation that you have a genuine
sony camera/camcorder.The next tool I've found is named: RoboGeo
RoboGeo
($35) has a very easy to use step by step menu n the left side of the
main windows. The most interesting functionnality for me is the ability
to create Google Map
web pages with icons that show where each picture was taken. When these
icons are
clicked, additional info about the picture is displayed along
with the
option of viewing the full size image. It is really worth the money.
And the Map you'll get in Google Map with the above GPX file (the demo version of RoboGeo add
random coordinate as long as it is not registered, that's why some point are in the lake of Zürich). When these
icons are
clicked, additional info about the picture is displayed along
with the
option of viewing the full size image.
GPSTagr site
which allows people with a GPS Track log in GPX format to
upload their log, authorize the application site to modify their
images, search for images with relevant timestamps, manually exclude
images from geotagging - then process the net list of your flickr
images against the GPX track log.
Picasa
(Free) let your tag picture one at a time, it open Google Earth and
wait for You to click on the map. Not very useful if you have many
pictures and a GPX file for matching them. It is still avery good tools
for viewing and organizing thousands of pictures.
RedHen
is a free download that synchronizes the GPS log files with
just about any digital camera's standard EXIF
datafile. RedHen can drop icons onto a Google Earth map- Make
sure you save the new "Spatial Media" folder in the "My
Places" folder so your images are available next time you open Google
Earth.
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