The OpenStreetMap project is “a free editable map of the whole world”, created by users with GPS data or by tracing over Yahoo Maps images (allowed by Yahoo) or public domain Landsat data. Data is viewable by anyone; registration assigns you a username and password that lets you contribute your own data to the project, using a multi-platform map editor like JOSM or Meerkartor. JOSM also lets you save downloaded data from OpenStreetMap, and this data can be converted to the .img format used by Garmin mapping GPS units, or converted to a GPX file for general import into GPS units.
The current OSM data in Garmin .img format is available for the UK, South Africa, and Africa at the Mkgmap wiki site, and for Germany/Netherlands and the entire world at this site. But if you want the most recent data, data subsets for different areas, or don’t want the entire dataset for the world, you can download data for a specific area from OpenStreetMap and convert it yourself to a Garmin .img file. Data coverage is still spotty, so you should check the OpenStreetMap site to see whether the area you’re interested in has data. If yes:
1. Click the “Download some data from the OSM server” link in JOSM, and specify the latitude/longitude bounds of the area you’re interested in (no more than 0.25 degrees square) (note: you’ll need to have entered your OSM username and password in the preferences section).
2. Save the downloaded data as an *.osm file if you want to convert it to Garmin format, else save it as a GPX file.
3. Use the command line Java program Mkgmap to convert the *.osm file to a Garmin img map file (always the same output filename, “63240001.img”, but you can rename it to a different 8-digit number after creation) . If your osm file is called test.osm and is in the same directory as mkgmap.jar, the command syntax is “java -jar mkgmap.jar test.osm”. Enter the appropriate data path if it’s located in a different directory, but the 63240001.img file will always be created in the directory where mkgmap.jar is located. If you’d prefer a GUI, I’ve created a simple one for Windows that you can download here; unzip it to the same directory as mkgmap.jar and run it. The *.osm file will have to be in the same directory as mkgmap.jar for this GUI to work; sorry about that.
4. Upload the .img file to your Garmin GPS using a program like sendMap, or MapUpload if you have a compatible Garmin unit. For GPX files, use the upload program of your choice (e.g. GPS TrackMaker or EasyGPS).
Thanks to David from the UK for the tip.
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See Real USGS Topo Maps, Aerial Photos And Scanned Maps On Your Garmin GPS WithMoagu:
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Actual screenshot |
Other posts in the Garmin GPS series
- Garmin microSD Card Tricks
- Exporting Data From Garmin’s MapSource Program To Google Earth
- Free Garmin GPS Unit Auto-Routing With MetroGuide Maps + Free European Basemap
- Cheap Worldwide Road And Contour Maps For Garmin GPS Units
- Converting A Garmin USB GPS Connection To Multiple Serial NMEA Connections
- Converting OpenStreetMap Data Into GPX Or Garmin .img Format
- Adding Garmin .img Map Files To MapSource
- Sources For Free Garmin .img GPS Map Files
- Beta Version Of DNRGarmin
- Google Maps Search Interface For Garmin .img Maps
- High-Res Garmin Topo Maps For CO, WY, and UT (also Argentina, Uruguay and Chile)
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units I
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units II
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units III - Custom Waypoint Icons In MapSource
- Garmin Handheld GPS Units That Support Custom Waypoints
- Garmin MapSource For Free
- Garmin GPS Unit Waypoint Icons Table
- A Look At OpenStreetMap’s TIGER Data Exported To A Garmin GPS
- Beating The Garmin 2025-Map Limit With US Topo Maps
- High-Res Garmin Topo Maps Now Out For Utah
- Introduction To Garmin GPS Custom POI (Points Of Interest) Data
- Garmin Topo Maps For Montana And California
- Creating A Garmin Custom POI Datafile
- Managing Custom POI Data On A Garmin Handheld GPS
- Creating Custom Icons For Garmin Points Of Interest (POI)
- Creating A Garmin GPS Points Of Interest (POI) File From A Point Shapefile
- Entering Multiple Datasets For A Single Set Of Garmin Custom POIs
- AZ Garmin Topo Maps And More From The GPS File Depot
- Updates For Two Garmin-Related Programs
- Put USGS Topographic Maps, Aerial Imagery, And Other Raster Imagery On Your Garmin Handheld GPS
Hi, and thanks for all the great tools and info !
I was wondering if there was a way to get OSM data and convert it to shapefiles. My idea is to use OSM data on a Mapguide OS server.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers
Alex
Check the OSM Wiki for instructions on how to convert an OSM file to GML format, which MapGuide can use. If you want to go a step further, the wiki also gives an example of how to convert a GML file to a shapefile using ogr2ogr.