StrePla Streckenflugplanung und Auswertung, Flight planning and analysing for glider pilots


	Demo Tour	Vector- or Raster Maps

Raster maps

Raster maps, also called Bitmaps are scanned maps. Since the on the screen resolution is restricted, there will naturally be a problem with the clarity.

Our raster maps are scanned in several scales and placed on the hard drive. Since each individual pixel has to be described by the software, the use of memory is not insignificant. The ICAO map Germany needs e.g. 270MB.

Examples for the respective resolutions:
Click on the small pictures and you will get to see a window in the original resolution.

Scan level1

Scan level2

Scan level3

Normally raster maps cannot be zoomed. The so-called block effect will occur.

Unwanted block-effect

We have managed to reduce this effect so that it is possible to zoom in StrePla4, without losing too much picture quality. Since we think it is important to be able to see the complete triangle on a screen, this was a prerequisite for the sensible use of raster maps. Here you can see a few examples of how it affects the screen.

The question of Copyright is asked when scanning maps. For the majority of the maps we have solved the Copyright problem for you. Please infer to the map selection to see which maps can be delivered to you. If you scan your own maps, or let us scan them for you, you may use these yourself, but usually the manufacturer will forbid you to pass these maps on.

For the raster maps we are working together with the company IFOS, who produce the program for motor pilots Flightplanner. Our raster maps are compatible with the Flightplanner. The Flightplanner's and StrePla4's licensing model makes it possible for gliders who are also motor pilots to only have to buy these maps once. They can be used in Flightplanner and in pocket*StrePla.

Vector maps

Vector maps have the advantage that they can be arbitrarily zoomed. Other than that, you can, in order to improve the clarity, fade objects such as the turnpoint's names out from a certain zoom level. These vector maps are available for the whole world (at least in countries, where gliders fly!).

Contours are shown every 50m for terrain elevation from 1m to 1000m, every 100m for 1000m to 2000m, and every 200m for terrain over 2000m. Different colours can be assigned and saved for different elevations.

You can download these maps from the server or directly from StrePla. To do this, points to Extras,Map Management.

Examples for the different zoom levels:
Click on the small pictures and you will get to see a window in the original resolution.