Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates

palmettoposting · 06-12-2008, 11:09 AM

I need some advice on which GPS device to purchase. I have a company that sends employees to inspect properties, 50-100 a day. We locate our properties through latitude and longitude coordinates, supplied by my clients, because many properties are vacant pieces of land with no physical address. My software has the capability of importing the coordinates to an SD card.
Is there a device that will accept an SD card with numerous Lat/Lon coordinates and optimize the route?
I dont need the fanciest unit with alot of configuration capabilities. The guys that will be using the devices didnt just step off of the space shuttle

Keith · 06-12-2008, 11:14 AM

Just off the top of my head, you MAY be able to use this to import the waypoints: Garmin: MapSource - Trip and Waypoint Manager

Someone with more experience with that product may be able to shed more light.

Max · 06-13-2008, 6:38 PM

Just to take it a step further, what do your employees typically carry with them?
(laptop? smartphone? nothing?)

I just want to make sure we're giving you the best advice possible

palmettoposting · 06-15-2008, 7:19 PM

Right now just a digital camera.

Max · 06-16-2008, 11:37 PM

Ah ok, I was going to suggest something like a Garmin Vista CX or similar.

Though, it depends what you want to do with the unit as far as navigating to the site, or surveying it via GPS. If your primary interest is getting to the site via whatever conventional roads are in existence - than something like one of the Nuvi series (750 is a reasonable unit for this purpose) would work pretty well as it has tracklogging and the ability to save routes.

If your goal is surveying the land and marking/mapping it via GPS - the 60csx, Colorado series, or Vista HC are some of the units that I'm familiar with. Some of the other members here have good luck with the Magellan Meridian series and Explorist series units for handhelds but I haven't spent much time with them (ended up buying the Garmin and have just stayed with them).

The software above is typically included with the handheld units, but Garmin is pretty big on using their units to their abilities. So if you get one of the auto units, give a call to their CS line and tell them you'r einterested in uploading waypoints via PC and they'll likely shoot you a DVD with the software (gratis). I've done this a couple times with good success

06-12-2008, 11:09 AM	#1
palmettoposting Join Date: Jun 12 2008 Location: SC Posts: 2	Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates I need some advice on which GPS device to purchase. I have a company that sends employees to inspect properties, 50-100 a day. We locate our properties through latitude and longitude coordinates, supplied by my clients, because many properties are vacant pieces of land with no physical address. My software has the capability of importing the coordinates to an SD card. Is there a device that will accept an SD card with numerous Lat/Lon coordinates and optimize the route? I dont need the fanciest unit with alot of configuration capabilities. The guys that will be using the devices didnt just step off of the space shuttle

06-12-2008, 11:14 AM	#2
Keith Administrator Join Date: Dec 27 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Age: 36 Posts: 238	Re: Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates Just off the top of my head, you MAY be able to use this to import the waypoints: Garmin: MapSource - Trip and Waypoint Manager Someone with more experience with that product may be able to shed more light. __________________ My Blog

06-13-2008, 6:38 PM	#3
Max 'tis the season for seat time Join Date: Dec 28 2006 Location: Near Boston, Ma. Posts: 876 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates Just to take it a step further, what do your employees typically carry with them? (laptop? smartphone? nothing?) I just want to make sure we're giving you the best advice possible __________________ Nothing free is good, nothing good is free.

06-15-2008, 7:19 PM	#4
palmettoposting Join Date: Jun 12 2008 Location: SC Posts: 2	Re: Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates Right now just a digital camera.

06-16-2008, 11:37 PM	#5
Max 'tis the season for seat time Join Date: Dec 28 2006 Location: Near Boston, Ma. Posts: 876 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Route optimization from Lat/Lon coordinates Ah ok, I was going to suggest something like a Garmin Vista CX or similar. Though, it depends what you want to do with the unit as far as navigating to the site, or surveying it via GPS. If your primary interest is getting to the site via whatever conventional roads are in existence - than something like one of the Nuvi series (750 is a reasonable unit for this purpose) would work pretty well as it has tracklogging and the ability to save routes. If your goal is surveying the land and marking/mapping it via GPS - the 60csx, Colorado series, or Vista HC are some of the units that I'm familiar with. Some of the other members here have good luck with the Magellan Meridian series and Explorist series units for handhelds but I haven't spent much time with them (ended up buying the Garmin and have just stayed with them). The software above is typically included with the handheld units, but Garmin is pretty big on using their units to their abilities. So if you get one of the auto units, give a call to their CS line and tell them you'r einterested in uploading waypoints via PC and they'll likely shoot you a DVD with the software (gratis). I've done this a couple times with good success __________________ Nothing free is good, nothing good is free.

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