New tool: SABRE Maps Online Calibrator

[Steven]

Thanks to the SABRE development team, a new tool has now been released to help make georeferencing of maps even easier than before.

The SABRE Maps Online Grid Calibrator makes it very very easy to georeference most of the map types that we have on SABRE Maps, and are planning on bringing to SABRE Maps. It can be found in the left-hand blue menu on SABRE Maps itself; though it does need you to be logged into SABRE.

It's designed to be as intuitive as possible, and a lot of the prior manual reading off of corner co-ordinates is no longer required.

To help people use it, there's a full set of instructions at SABRE Maps/Online Grid Calibrator, and we've even created some YouTube videos on the new SABRE Maps YouTube channel to help with getting people started.

It's really easy to help us out in bringing new maps to SABRE Maps - try it out, and see what you think. Ask any questions you have, and we'll do our best to answer them.

[c2R]

Glad this is live at last, Steven.

Any help at this would definitely be welcomed - the 1:25k first series is exceptionally easy; most require 9 clicks and you're done.

Let us know if you need any assistance.

[Bryn666]

This is great news.

When I have some spare time soon I shall have to attempt a go. Life is bonkers busy at the moment with rebuilding a bedroom and work deadlines all meshed into one.

[frediculous_biggs]

I'm very excited to see the number of maps we have available increasing now we have this tool. It's really easy to use, and the 1:25k maps especially are quick and simple. Perfect for a spare 5 minutes.

Edit: If anyone has an A3 scanner or A3 scanner/printer they don't want then please let me know

[M4 Cardiff]

Is this for georeferencing maps that others have scanned and need referencing, or can user's own submissions be used?

[Steven]

Is this for georeferencing maps that others have scanned and need referencing, or can user's own submissions be used?

Both.

Anyone can provide a map scan that we don't already have, and then as long as they're happy to do so, it can go into the Grid Calibrator for someone (which may be the contributor) to georeference.

[c2R]

It's nice to see we've had a few people try this - it'd be good to see a few more people having a go - there's loads of 1:25k provisional and first series maps on there, most of which require nine clicks and you've got a map completed in under a minute... The faster we can get this lot done the quicker they will be able to be put online. They're so easy to do that it took me longer to type this message!

We're currently working through blocks SK, SW, and SX; but if anyone has a preference for which block to tackle next then feel free to put a request in... I was thinking SU....

[Chris5156]

Really glad to see this online now - I tried it several times when it was in development and it's an incredibly easy way to do something useful for the SABRE Maps project. I've just done a few 1:25000 map sheets and will come back to do some more as time allows.

It can look a bit daunting at first, because it's a specialised tool for a job you've probably never done before - that's how I felt when I first saw it. But the documentation and the video are great, and it actually makes it very easy to georeference a map. If anyone is reading this and wondering what it's all about I'd encourage them to jump in and have a go; if you get it wrong the worst thing that will happen is that Steven will get in touch to let you know and you can try again!

[Steven]

Thank you to everyone who's given it a go!

If you've not heard from me personally, it's because everything has worked perfectly, and the maps you've georeferenced are in the "preparation pool" and being put together for the future release of them on SABRE Maps.

If you've not had a go, then try it out - you might just surprise yourself at how easy and rewarding it can be to put something back into SABRE.