accessing DEM data with CIQ?

Is there a way to access the DEM (terrain elevation) data that is stored in the device's basemap?

Apparently there's no mention of a method capable of doing this in the API docs, unless it is very well hidden.

Alternatively, is there a way to read contents of a file that is copied on the device's memory drive (SD card)?

I would then put DEM data in a folder on the device and read it from there, but I can't find any method for file operations either.

jim_m_58 over 5 years ago

Neither is possible in CIQ.

NVelev over 5 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

Thank you for your quick response, Jim

I was afraid it is this way, but asked to make sure about it.

All the best!

Nick

peterdedecker over 5 years ago in reply to NVelev

As Jim mentioned this is indeed unfortunately not available. I too would like to see more features that expose what the map is showing, personally I'm not so much interested in elevation, but I would like to know where eg the roads are on the map.

Anyway back on topic:

A workaround to get the current elevation for your location would be to use an external api such as the google elevation api where you can pass the current latitude and longitude to the web request: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/elevation/start

Alternatively if you don't want to depend on external requests and want to be restricted to using watch only functionality you have an elevation history and the current altitude available in the connect iq API (but both these are measured values by the watch so they might be off from what is the reality)

NVelev over 5 years ago in reply to peterdedecker

Thank you for the suggested alternative approaches, but they will not be useful in this particular case.

I should probably have explained what is the intended usage. It is an app that I use airborne and the DEM data is needed to be able to establish a value for the height above ground (AGL).

The function has to also be able to work on the device alone, independent of external connections and web services as there's no reliable cellphone coverage for most of the time.

All the best

Nick

jim_m_58 over 5 years ago in reply to NVelev

Isn't this something that's done natively in the aviation watches - the D2's?

NVelev over 5 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

It is available only on the aviation specific models.

I've seen it on the old devices like GPSMAP196/296/496 and it is most probably there also on the current portable aviation models.(however not on the D2 watch, as far as I can see in the user manual)