Has anyone ever created an data map combining the various reported sightings? I think having a map the could show clusters of sightings along with any other details that might possibly be mapped, such as hair, heights, groups, vocalizations..etc. It would be a useful tool to focus efforts or possibly spot migration patterns. I cannot believe this has not been done, and I have searched this forum for any mention, but came up emtpy handed. If this has not been done then I would like to persue it, and will be interested in what data you researchers would find highly important to be mapped geographicly.

I have state by state about a year ago. Not all of them,but a few of them are done.

Last week I came accross this map of North America that apparently used BFRO data. By "Mangani" on a DeLorme map, as of 6-20-05


http://penn.freeservers.com/bigfootmaps/bfrocrma.gif


Has a N.A. map and then regional maps that can be enlarged.

Well what I had thought about doing is add the BFRO data, and some others to Google Earth. Not sure how many of you have worked on google earth, but it suits this purpose perfectly. I am currently working on Indiana, which shouldn't take too long. The files can be exported and shared with other memebers. One member does california, another does oregon and then files can be downloaded. Soon enough every research that wants will have an interactive map with documented sightings based on location. I have edited the palce marker in google earth to be a small red dot. I'm trying my best based of descriptions to get an accurate location. With google earth the satelite images allow me to locate landmarks, and it's easier to visialize habitat. If someone would like to help with my google earth project then pick a state, create a "my places" folder and then start adding places. I have been pasting the Observations from the BFRO DB into the descriptions.

Here is an example

If you look carefully on my Bigfootmaps site you'll note that there is a link to a discussion thread right here at Bigfoot Forums. The mapping data on my site include all reports from BFRO, TBRC, and several other online sources.

I have spent a great deal of time compiling this data and have made it freely available to anyone with an interest in this topic. The sighting coordinate data can be downloaded for the purpose of importing into other mapping software tools. There are individual .txt files for each data source. So for other "mappers" who are interested in expanding on this work, I would suggest that you might want to work on mapping reports from other data sources, that I have not had time to work on. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Some possiblilties: International Bigfoot Society, OregonBigfoot, BigfootEncounters, etc.

I have absolutely no objection to someone importing the data I have already compiled into Google Earth, as this would provide a universally accessible tool for viewing it online, something that cannot be done currently with the TopoUSA map files I have created. Based on my own investigations, it appears to me that to handle the thousands of data points easily would require Google Earth Pro. I would encourage anyone who wants to put this data into Google Earth to "go for it".

I would prefer not to reinvent the wheel. I would much rather use the data already compiled, as it will save weeks of work. Where is your mapping site? (I'm new so I am not familiar with anyone here). I will store as much data as physically possible in the free google earth, as my intention is make this highly accessible to anyone interested in studying geographical patterns.

http://penn.freeservers.com/bigfootmaps/

Sorry, I didn't notice that the link billkirby quoted above was not a link to the web page!

Thanks for the link, and the information. I don't think it's alltogether usable for what I want. For one I can find noway to directly import delorme information into google friendly format. The text files do provide coordinates, and link to the report, which will speed things up when adding them to google. I will be able to just go down your list instead of hunting through the website. Is delorme capable of exporting to a .gpx file for .loc? If so then I could use it for sure. Thanks for your help thus far.

No. The current version of TopoUSA does not, to my knowledge, provide an export capability directly to .gpx. However, have you considered the possibility of reorganizing the data records in the .txt files? It is possible to do this relatively easily by parsing the data into Excel, reordering the columns (i.e., fields), inserting any additional columns - if required, and then re-exporting as .txt, with any required field separators. So it may be a fairly simple matter to convert my data records to whatever format is required for Google Earth. I do believe though that you are limited in the number of data records that can be imported to Google Earth at one time with either the free or premium version.

I do record all sightings in Washington state on Green Trail maps. You can see terrain well on these, it helps to use terrain with direction of travel. That is why if a report is reported then it would help if direction of travel was added.

http://www.internationalbigfootsociety.com/map/

NightHunter, what are "green trail" maps ? is that a brand of topos? I have never heard of them and was wondering.

Dav

Guess I should have read this thread first. I've converted Mangani's data to a .kml file. I'll upload a copy of it tomorrow. It's only up to date thru last August.

Would you mind sharing how you did it? I'm deffinately interesting in knowing how.

Mangani found a way to export his data out to a delimited text file. I brought that file into ArcGIS and tweeked it a little to suit my tastes. I made a few maps that I put up on the board that you can probably still find if you search my name.
Recently I stumbled across a tool for ArcMap that allows me to convert from GIS to .KML. I tested it with the BF data and it worked out fairly well. The folks here at the forum are going to host the data for me, should be up in the next week. It will only be the data thru last august as I haven't had the time to download his latest dataset and convert it to GIS - it's not a automated process. But you should be able to add the couple dozen reports since then yourself once you get the kml file.

Click to view attachment
Here is my Wisconsin and surrounding area sightings map. It shows the terrain little....rivers, lakes etc... I update it whenever I come accross a new report or encounter. I have more detailed county maps for my owns used to locate roads, creeks and smaller landmarks for me to find exact sightings locations. If anyone has any area to add where they have had or heard of BF activity please let me know!!! :new_thumbsupsmileyanim:

The data on that map is a bit strange to me, all of the sightings in washington, oregon, and california are in clusters, like a grid pattern. Is that actually where the sighting occured or is the program putting the sightings into clusters like that?

Maybe someone else here can answer your question, but I believe you are asking about the International Bigfoot Society map, not the Google Earth map that belemnoid referenced in the quote you included. In the meantime you might consider checking out the my Google Earth map. I plan to add IBS data to it as time permits. There is a separate discussion thread for that.

Yes, because according to that map I see a huge population of bigfoot in the downtown portland area. I saw your post and those maps are 100% more readable :new_thumbsupsmileyanim: