Route Planning
Event Organisers can use various electronic systems to plan a rally route.
The first task is to locate and arrange for the use of Venues for the Start / Rest Halts and Finish, as appropriate.
The proposed event should preferably then be sketched out on traditional paper copies of the Ordnance Survey 1 : 50k maps, to link the venues and provide about the right mileage for the event. There will be adequate opportunities to amend the route to meet the required timing at a later date.
Computer programmes are available to help plan the route on the PC or Laptop. The suggested programmes include : -
GPX Editor
Route Converter
Open Route Services
Event Organisers can use various electronic systems to plan a rally route.
The first task is to locate and arrange for the use of Venues for the Start / Rest Halts and Finish, as appropriate.
The proposed event should preferably then be sketched out on traditional paper copies of the Ordnance Survey 1 : 50k maps, to link the venues and provide about the right mileage for the event. There will be adequate opportunities to amend the route to meet the required timing at a later date.
Computer programmes are available to help plan the route on the PC or Laptop. The suggested programmes include : -
GPX Editor
Route Converter
Open Route Services
The route of the rally is called a ' Track ', in the mapping software. [ In the mapping software, a ' route ' is the straight lines linking the waypoints ] It can be saved in the Event computer folder in the .gpx format. The initial route should be given a relevant name and suffix number of ' 1 ', and future amendments can be the subsequent numbers. When the basic framework of the route has been prepared, it can easily be flexed to make the best use of the available country roads, avoiding all M.UK sensitive areas, simply by tagging anywhere along the route line and dragging it to an alternative route. The secret is that the line of the route follows the " road centre line data " and not the direct lines linking the waypoints.
The Organiser should drive the route to ensure that it is suitable for the planned rally. The location of the Time Controls and Route Checks / Code Boards can be decided to ensure that there is only one defined route. If the MiRally Timing and Management system is being used, the location of the Check Points don't need to be defined on the availability of parking places and can be anywhere along the route, decided by distances.
The M.UK and the RLO's can receive and process the proposed routes submitted to them as .GPX files. The .GPX files can be used to notify the local Police who have compatible mapping systems.
By placing the waypoints at the locations of the Controls / Check Points, the distances between the points can be calculated.
When the distances between the timing points are established, the permitted time between the Points can be calculated. Simple EXCEL spreadsheet templates are available from John Broughall. Alternatively, the Event Organiser can supply the distances between the timing points to John and he will prepare the first draft for you to use as the basis of timing the event.
Details of the Controls can be prepared using Google Street View and grabbing the picture with the ' Print Screen ' function on the keyboard. That picture can be cropped to the required size using any simple photographic computer programme, like IrfanView. By using the online mapping in Street Map, the location arrow can be placed with its point at the control site. At the base of the StreetMap map, click on " Click here to convert coordinates ", to reveal the Map Reference, the lat / long details and the nearest Postcode of that Point. [ Example Control ]
Please contact John Broughall for any help with the preparation and running of a rally. John@MiRally.uk
The Organiser should drive the route to ensure that it is suitable for the planned rally. The location of the Time Controls and Route Checks / Code Boards can be decided to ensure that there is only one defined route. If the MiRally Timing and Management system is being used, the location of the Check Points don't need to be defined on the availability of parking places and can be anywhere along the route, decided by distances.
The M.UK and the RLO's can receive and process the proposed routes submitted to them as .GPX files. The .GPX files can be used to notify the local Police who have compatible mapping systems.
By placing the waypoints at the locations of the Controls / Check Points, the distances between the points can be calculated.
When the distances between the timing points are established, the permitted time between the Points can be calculated. Simple EXCEL spreadsheet templates are available from John Broughall. Alternatively, the Event Organiser can supply the distances between the timing points to John and he will prepare the first draft for you to use as the basis of timing the event.
Details of the Controls can be prepared using Google Street View and grabbing the picture with the ' Print Screen ' function on the keyboard. That picture can be cropped to the required size using any simple photographic computer programme, like IrfanView. By using the online mapping in Street Map, the location arrow can be placed with its point at the control site. At the base of the StreetMap map, click on " Click here to convert coordinates ", to reveal the Map Reference, the lat / long details and the nearest Postcode of that Point. [ Example Control ]
Please contact John Broughall for any help with the preparation and running of a rally. John@MiRally.uk