GPX to SHP

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

• GPS unit
• cable to transfer GPS data to and from PC (serial/usb, or possibly bluetooth)

• 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)

1. (Field) use GPS unit to create waypoints, tracks, or routes in the field
2. connect the GPS unit to a computer, and download the waypoints, tracks, or routes
   1. (Mac) LoadMyTracks was used
   2. (Mac) MacGPSPro should work, as well as any other that will create .gpx files
   3. (PC) ?
3. 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

     $ 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

4. the .shp files may now be used in any GIS program, such as QGIS, AutoCad Map, MapServer, etc…