====== GPX to SHP ======

===== Summary =====
This document outlines the procedure to use handheld GPS data in any GIS software.

===== Prerequisites =====
==== Hardware ====
  * GPS unit
  * cable to transfer GPS data to and from PC (serial/usb, or possibly bluetooth)



==== Mac ====
  * LoadMyTracks
    * http://www.cluetrust.com/LoadMyTracks.html
  * gpx2shp
    * http://gpx2shp.sourceforge.jp/
    * w/ proj4, expat, gpsbabel, libusb, and possibly more
    * gpx2shp must be built from source on the Mac (nothing tricky, just have required libraries installed and use the --prefix=/sw option)

==== PC ====
  * FIXME

===== Procedure =====
  - (Field) use GPS unit to create waypoints, tracks, or routes in the field
  - connect the GPS unit to a computer, and download the waypoints, tracks, or routes
    - (Mac) LoadMyTracks was used
    - (Mac) MacGPSPro should work, as well as any other that will create .gpx files
    - (PC) FIXME ?
  - once .gpx files are created, use the gpx2shp command line utility to create the .shp files:
    * **we use the --stats flag to show statistics, and the --fast flag because our .gpx output did not include times so speed cannot be calculated**<code>
$ gpx2shp --stats --fast Track-2007-04-22\ 23\ 35\ 18.gpx 

Track Points:
        track count:    1
        point count:    53
Routes:
        route count:    0
        point count:    0
Waypoints:
        point count:    0

$ ls

-rw-r--r--   1 user  admin  4529 Apr 23 00:19 Track-2007-04-22 23 35 18.gpx
-rw-r--r--   1 user  admin   577 Apr 23 08:21 Track-2007-04-22 23 35 18_trk.dbf
-rw-r--r--   1 user  admin  1004 Apr 23 08:21 Track-2007-04-22 23 35 18_trk.shp
-rw-r--r--   1 user  admin   108 Apr 23 08:21 Track-2007-04-22 23 35 18_trk.shx
</code>
  - the .shp files may now be used in any GIS program, such as QGIS, AutoCad Map, MapServer, etc...