1. Check the quality of your track
To obtain an accurate estimation of the distance and elevation of your route, it is crucial to create a quality track with a high density in your points. For each track, the average distance gap between two points will be shown with a corresponding smiley face. When you edit, the maximum distance gap between two points is also shown.
For a quality track, we recommend that you keep the average distance gap between points below 15 meters.
Having a high density in your points is a necessary condition for a quality track (except for some specific tracks), but it doesn't necessarily mean that the track is corresponds exactly to the field, as shown by the example n°2 below. It is essential to check your track's quality!
When generating an elevation profile for your route, you need to choose the calculation method to apply. You need to select to criteria: the elevation threshold and the altitude origin: GPS altitude, IGN MNT, Google MNT, Aster Gdem MNT. We explain the differences between those down below:
A) Using altitudes from an MNT (IGN, Google, Aster GDEM)
Trace de Trail provides you with several numeric field models ("modèles numériques de terrain" - MNT) to gather altitude information about the points in your track.
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MNT IGN: only available in France, this MNT's quality is excellent - recommended in France
- MNT Google: international - recommened outside of France - Premium / Premium pro subscribers only
- MNT ASTER: international
Did you know? In order to determine the points for which an altitude will be asked, Trace de Trail automatically densifies or lightens your track so that it obtains an even distribution in the points.
B) Using GPS altitudes
If your track is created from a gpx file that includes altitudes, you can use them to calculate the distance and the elevation of your track.
On a side note, there are two types of GPS:
- the GPS with a barometric altimeter use a 3 meter threshold
- the GPS without a barometric altimeter use a 10 m threshold
The elevation threshold defines the difference between the minimum and maximum altitude taken into account for the elevation calculation.
If using altitudes from your gpx file creates an elevation profil irregular with many peaks that do not match the field's reality, chose an MNT's altitudes!
You now have the possibility to display the different types of way in your track: road, path, track, etc...
The different types of way will be displayed on the map and on the elevation profile by clicking on the icon
How to add waytypes?
Waytypes are automatically added when you draw an itinerary with the automatic routes tool: in this case, waytypes are taken from the IGN or OSM database according to the one you selected when creating with the automatic tool.
But, if you created your route by importing a GPX or by drawing point by point, waytypes will not be added automatically. To add them, you have two options:
Option 1. Recalculate the track with the automatic route tool (here)
Option 2. Manually add the waytype if you know the field.
To do this, position your mouse at the beginning of the part you want to edit, right click on the first point and on the last one to edit: a pop-up will open and allow you to select the right waytype.
How to edit the waytype if it is not correct?
Waytypes are taken from IGN or OSM databases. If you realize that some waytypes do not match the field's reality, you can correct them. Position your mouse at the beginning of the section you want to edit, right click to mark the start, then position your mouse at the end of the section and right click to mark the end. A pop-up will open and allow you to select the waytype that you want to show.
When you are creating a route that goes through a bridge or a tunnel, the standard mapping tools do not identify the specific part as such and only take into account the field's landform to evaluate the distance and the elevation. With Trace de Trail, you are able to deal with these parts, by removing the elevation while maintaining the correct distance.
How to proceed?
- Position yourself on the track, right before the bridge or the tunnel, right click and select Start of a section to edit
- Position yourself at the exit of the bridge or the tunnel, right click and select End of a section to edit
- In the pop-up that opens, select the type of infrastructure (bridge or tunnel) and click on Edit
- Click on "optimize your profile" in Step 2 - the selected part's elevation has disappeared from the elevation profile. If you are displaying the waytypes, a dotted line will appear on the section.
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