The US Forest Service has GPS data for many trails. In 2013 I happened upon a USFS GIS server hosting that data. I began displaying that trail data with my Gmap4 browser app and asking questions so I understood the data better.
Then the trail data disappeared from the GIS server.
Apparently USFS management was clueless that anyone who (1) knew the address ("endpoint") for the GIS server and (2) had GIS client software, could display (gasp!) the trail data.
I have seen the trail data. Is it perfect? No, of course not - and it never will be. Is it more right than wrong? Absolutely!
Certainly the USFS could provide that data to the USGS so many more trails could be included on the new digital topos but so far the USFS has refused to do so.
Naturally I filed a FOIA for this trail data and naturally it was denied. My FOIA appeal is currently pending before the USFS Chief.
Here's a bit of good news. Before the trail data disappeared from the GIS server I downloaded the data for trails in the national forests in WA, OR and CA. I then processed that data with some custom code to make it more useful and produced a series of trail maps with mileages. If you are curious you can visit the Gmap4 examples page and look down just a bit for the link to the national forest maps.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html
Then the trail data disappeared from the GIS server.
Apparently USFS management was clueless that anyone who (1) knew the address ("endpoint") for the GIS server and (2) had GIS client software, could display (gasp!) the trail data.
I have seen the trail data. Is it perfect? No, of course not - and it never will be. Is it more right than wrong? Absolutely!
Certainly the USFS could provide that data to the USGS so many more trails could be included on the new digital topos but so far the USFS has refused to do so.
Naturally I filed a FOIA for this trail data and naturally it was denied. My FOIA appeal is currently pending before the USFS Chief.
Here's a bit of good news. Before the trail data disappeared from the GIS server I downloaded the data for trails in the national forests in WA, OR and CA. I then processed that data with some custom code to make it more useful and produced a series of trail maps with mileages. If you are curious you can visit the Gmap4 examples page and look down just a bit for the link to the national forest maps. http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4_examples.html
Joseph, the Gmap4 guy