Generalization
Generalization of tracks
A track is created by a (great) set of individual shapepoints (=a set of vectors making the track looking like a smooth curve).
The more shapepoints, the more smooth the curve or track looks like, but the more applications will suffer doing something with that track. As an example, some webbrowsers have a problem displaying a line of 1000 vectors.
The generalization of a track results in reducing the number of shapepoints. Obviously, you want to reduce those shapepoints which are "redundant". You don't want to remove shapepoints which have much effect on the overal shape of the track.
Generalization techniques
Several techniques exist to do this (and are used within the RouteYou technology). One of the most famous technique is Douglas-Peucker.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is generalization used by RouteYou
When you upload a track to RouteYou, we apply generalization to your track to get to about 500-1000 points.
This has the effect that you will still be able to edit your track/route (otherwise your browser would flip). It will also have the effect that your line might not look that smooth (depends a bit on the length of the line).
Generalization tools
You might like to generalize your route/track yourself before you upload it to RouteYou (if you want).
There are plenty of advanced mapping and geomatics software to generalize lines. But here is a list of tools which might be available to you.
- MapSource (software of Garmin - you get this if you buy some of their GPSs)
- GPS trackmaker