The problem with the Radio Mobile plots is that they are just image overlays. Shape files are referred to as vector files similar to what Autocad files are. What that means is that the file is a series of instructions of points and instruction on how to connect them to create lines which render at the proper scale and proportion at whatever zoom level the map is rendered. You can equate this to a picture that becomes pixilated when you zoom in too far.
To answer your question, I know of no free tools to do what you mention (although they may exist but I don't use them because I have tools for the job already). The process would be to take your image in to some sort of mapping program and calibrate the image so that the software knows the latitude and longitude of any pixel in the image area. You would then have to do some process which would create an outline of the coverage area to develop a polygon line system. This polygon is not a line but a series of instructions using points and commands on how to draw the line at any given zoom level. I do these things in my GIS software and it is a tedious process. One could always hand trace the coverage area using Google Earth. Many did this for the original map. Brian From: Randy Cosby [mailto:dco...@infowest.com] Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 10:55 AM To: bwebs...@wirelessmapping.com; WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Time to update the National WISP Map? Brian, Any tips on turning radiomobile coverage overlays into shape files? I've been playing with some open source tools and have made a little progress, but haven't had time to refine the technique yet. I think if ISPs could produce shape files more easily, the response would be much greater. For our state program (Utah), we gave them gps coords for each subscriber, which they used to extrapolate approximate area. I know they also accepted radiomobile graphic overlays and converted them for some ISP's. Of course they have millions of dollars to spend on such projects... I was disappointed with how few did submit this round. Randy On 10/11/2010 8:04 AM, Brian Webster wrote: I have been thinking that I should do another update to the WISP National Map. I would really love to improve the quality of the coverage area this time. The thought is to have each WISP who participated in their respective state broadband mapping initiative request a copy of the shape file for their network. If everyone sent that information to me I could use that to create a better nationwide map. Thoughts, ideas, complaints? For those who are not familiar with my previous work on this project you can visit these links: http://www.wirelessmapping.com/National-Coverage-Map-for-Fixed-Wireless-ISP% 27s.php this page describes the project http://www.wirelessmapping.com/Google%20Maps3.htm this links to the live Google Map Brian ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ -- Randy Cosby | InfoWest, Inc | www.infowest.com Vice President | 435-674-0165 x 2010 | facebook.com/infowest
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