Here's a summary of how you can maintain geographical features used by the programs on this website.
Main and personal data
A key distinction is between the central feature database I maintain on this site, and the personal data which others maintain
- central database: the route lines and Points of Interest (POI) displayed on this website are stored in a central database (SQLite, accessed geographically via Featureserver). I maintain this centrally and only I have the rights to maintain this data. However, I certainly don't have the time or knowledge to set up all this data myself, so it is mainly taken from data that others have entered, and copied into this database in a standard format
- personal data: most people use one of two methods to create geographical data
- go out in the field with a GPS device and record the track or points
- use one of the software programs available on the web, such as Google Maps/Earth, to trace the route or points over the maps/photos available in these programs. This is typically stored either in a Google Earth file (kml/kmz) or in Google's MyMaps, now called My Places, facility
Adding your data to my central database
If you have data, whether route lines or POI, you would like to be included, please contact me with a copy of the file or url, and I will include it in the database if appropriate. I use the GPSBabel program to convert the myriad of different GPS formats into more standard formats such as GPX or KML. You could install and use this program yourself if you prefer, or there is an online version at GPS Visualizer.
Reading other people's data
You can display any KML or GPX file, either your own or someone else's, over any of the mapbases in this site by using my fileview page. This includes any Google MyMaps/My Places (go to the map/place on Google's site, and get the kml link (marked 'KML')).