The rapid expansion of digital mapping technologies -- hand held GPS units, location aware smartphones, Google Earth -- has created powerful opportunities for individuals to work with location data on their own.
Paddle SC allows users to download the line and point data (river centerlines, portages, points of interest) that appears on each Waterway and Trip page. This information can be saved in two formats: GPX and KML.
GPX files ("GPS eXchange") are commonly used to transfer information to and from GPS units. Some smartphone apps also work with GPX data. Point data from Paddle SC gets stored as waypoints on a GPS unit; line data is read in and stored as tracks.
KML files ("Keyhole Markup Language") are best known for their compatibility with Google Earth. They can also be opened by a growing number of other programs and apps. Google Earth is a freely available mapping program that can open and display Paddle SC data on top of aerial imagery (and numerous other data sets).
Remember, when you download GPX and KML files from Paddle SC, that information is current at the time of download. Paddle SC is a dynamic website, and trips and waterways information is regularly edited by site administrators. Check back periodically to keep your own files current.
