BG-Map TechNote

How to Create or Update a Basemap For Use With GreVid

Revised 5/9/08

GreVid version 5.0 and higher is capable of displaying plant location maps. This document describes how to create or update a basemap for use with GreVid.

BG-Map can also provide a service to create or update the GreVid basemap for you. For details, click here..

Step 1 – Create a Bitmap Image of Your Basemap

In the AutoCAD window of BG-Map, format the map as you wish it to appear in GreVid by turning layers on or off, attaching xrefs, erasing, adding etc. Do not turn off the GRID layer as it will be needed to assist you in georeferencing the map. Select AutoCAD Plot from the Plot menu.

Select the Printer/plotter GreVid Map.pc3. If this device is not available, download and install the BG-Map Plotters from here.

Set the paper size to one of the following values. The higher the number, the more detail will be shown by GreVid, but more memory will also be used. The setting 4800X4800 works best in most cases. Chose from one of these:

2400X2400
3600X3600
4800X4800
6000X6000

If the above paper sizes are not available, download and install the BG-Map PMP Files from here.

Set the Plot Style to BGMAPBK.ctb. If this plot style is not available, download and install the BG-Map Plot Styles from here.

Click the Window< button, and select the window that encompasses the area you wish to include on the map displayed by GreVid. Normally, this would include the entire grid area. However, if there is a part of the map that you are not currently using to map plants, you may leave it out.

Set the other settings as shown in the example above, and click OK. This will produce a .PNG image file of your basemap. Save it to any convenient name and location.

Step 2 – Create a Georeferenced Map Library Using GPSTools Studio

If you have not already installed Franson GPS Tools Studio and the prototype map library, download them from here.

Open the prototype map library, GreVid_Map.MapLib, using GPSTools Studio. You can access Franson GPSTools Studio from the Windows Start Menu under Programs.

In the Map menu, choose Delete Map, and delete the map GreVid_Map when prompted.

In the Map menu, choose New Map, and select the .PNG file that you created in AutoCAD in Step 1 above. The New Map Settings window will appear. Simply click OK without changing anything. The map will be loaded and the Scaling Wizard Step 1 will appear.

Set the options as shown here regardless of where you are located or what units or datum your map is based on.

Country/Region: United States
Datum or Grid: Easting/Northing
Select Grid: UTM (nad83)
Zone: 1

Click Next, and to go to Wizard Step 2 and select either Cartesian or Linear, whichever is listed. Click Next to go to Wizard Step 3.

Use the scroll bars and the zoom control slider to go to a known point on the map (normally a grid line intersection.) Click exactly on that point. This will take you to Wizard Step 4.

Enter the known coordinates of the point that you clicked (Easting=X and Northing=Y). Leave the units set to meters regardless of which units your map is in. Click Next. This will take you to Wizard Step 5.

Complete Wizard Steps 5 – 8 in the same way that you completed Wizard Steps 4 and 5. Make sure to choose three different reference points that are widely separated and near the edges of your map.

The message Scaling Completed should appear. Click OK. You may click on various points on the map to check the accuracy of the map scaling. The coordinates that are displayed should match the coordinates of the points clicked. If the points are not reasonably accurate, you may run the scaling wizard again from the map menu.

In the File menu, click Save MapLib, and close GPS Tools Studio.

Step 3 – Copy the Map Library to Your Mobile Device

Make sure that GreVid is not running on the Mobile Device. Connect your mobile device using ActiveSync. Using Windows Explorer copy the file GreVid_Map.MapLib that you just updated with GPSTools Studio to the \Program Files\GreVid folder on the mobile device.

The updated basemap will now be displayed by GreVid.