GPS Track Viewer — Convert, Compare, and Clean Your TracksA GPS track viewer is a versatile tool for anyone who records position data—hikers, cyclists, runners, drivers, researchers, and even drone pilots. The right viewer does more than display a line on a map: it helps you convert between formats, compare multiple recordings, and clean noisy, inaccurate data so your routes are accurate and useful. This article explains what a GPS track viewer does, why those three capabilities (convert, compare, clean) matter, common features to look for, practical workflows, and tips for getting reliable results.
What is a GPS track?
A GPS track is a sequence of timestamped geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude), often with altitude and other metadata such as speed, bearing, and sensor readings. Tracks are typically recorded by wearable devices, smartphones, dedicated GPS loggers, bike computers, or drones. The raw output is commonly saved in file formats like GPX, KML, TCX, FIT, and CSV.
Why format matters: Different devices and apps use different formats. Converting between them preserves compatibility with mapping tools, fitness platforms, or GIS applications.
Convert: making tracks usable everywhere
Conversion is the bridge between devices, platforms, and tools. A track viewer that converts files saves time and prevents data loss.
Common formats:
- GPX — widely used, open, great for tracks and waypoints.
- KML/KMZ — used by Google Earth and some GIS tools; KMZ is compressed.
- TCX — Garmin’s XML-based fitness format with workout data.
- FIT — compact binary format used by many fitness devices; preserves rich sensor data.
- CSV — plain text for custom processing or spreadsheets.
Key conversion considerations:
- Preserve timestamps and timezone information to maintain accurate timelines.
- Keep sensor data (heart rate, cadence, temperature) when converting between fitness formats.
- Be aware of differences in how formats store elevation and metadata—some loss can occur unless the tool maps fields carefully.
Practical conversion workflow:
- Open your original file in the viewer.
- Inspect metadata to confirm timestamps and sensors are present.
- Choose the desired output format and any export options (e.g., include waypoints, compress to KMZ).
- Export and validate the file in the target app or device.
Compare: spot differences, overlaps, and errors
Comparing tracks is essential when you want to:
- Check device accuracy (two devices recording the same route).
- Merge multiple attempts of a route to find the most efficient line.
- Verify that a shared route matches what you actually traveled.
- Reconcile a planned route with the actual track.
Comparison features to look for:
- Side-by-side map overlays with adjustable opacity and color-coding.
- Synchronized playback of multiple tracks by timestamp.
- Timeline graphs showing elevation, speed, and heart rate for each track.
- Distance-in-time alignment tools that match points by closest time or spatial proximity.
- Segment-level diffing to highlight where tracks diverge.
Practical comparison workflow:
- Load multiple tracks into the viewer.
- Align tracks by start time or by a chosen reference point.
- Use opacity and color to visually inspect differences.
- Play back the tracks in sync to see where devices disagree.
- Export a merged route or annotate discrepancies for later analysis.
Clean: remove noise and improve accuracy
Raw GPS data often contains errors: jitter, spikes, missing points, or altitude anomalies. Cleaning improves map visuals and the reliability of derived metrics (distance, pace, elevation gain).
Common problems and fixes:
- Jitter (small oscillations): apply smoothing filters (moving average, Kalman) to coordinates.
- Spikes (sudden, impossible jumps): detect by speed/acceleration thresholds and remove or interpolate.
- Gaps (missing data): interpolate linearly for short gaps; mark longer gaps as pauses.
- Wrong timestamps: detect inconsistencies and correct or remove affected points.
- Elevation noise: use DEM (digital elevation model) correction or apply smoothing to altitude data.
Cleaning tools and options:
- Smoothing (spatial and/or temporal).
- Outlier detection by maximum speed, acceleration, or distance between points.
- Interpolation and resampling to a uniform time or distance interval.
- DEM-based elevation correction to replace noisy device altitudes with mapped elevations.
- Batch cleaning for many files using preset rules.
Practical cleaning workflow:
- Visualize the raw track and inspect graphs for speed spikes or elevation anomalies.
- Apply a conservative smoothing filter and re-inspect results.
- Remove or interpolate any clearly erroneous points (e.g., 1 km jump in 1s).
- Resample to a consistent time interval if needed for comparison or merging.
- Optionally apply DEM correction for elevation and save a cleaned export.
Useful features beyond convert/compare/clean
- Searchable waypoints and POI import/export.
- Geofencing and automatic segment creation (useful for training and race analysis).
- Track statistics (total distance, moving time, stopped time, average/max speed).
- Route planning and turn-by-turn export for navigation devices.
- Heatmaps and density analysis for multiple tracks.
- Privacy controls to remove or obfuscate sensitive start/end locations.
Example workflows
-
Hiker: Convert a Garmins FIT file to GPX, clean jitter from a canyon hike, then export a KMZ to share with friends who use Google Earth.
-
Cyclist: Compare two rides of the same hill—overlay tracks, sync by time, analyze where power/heart-rate differs, then export the best line as a route file for a bike computer.
-
Researcher: Batch-convert GPS logs from multiple field units to CSV, clean outliers, resample to 1-second intervals, and feed into spatial analysis tools.
Tips for better recordings (so you need less cleaning)
- Ensure GPS antenna has a clear sky view before starting.
- Keep device firmware up to date.
- Use GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo in addition to GPS when available.
- Reduce logging interval for more precise tracks (at cost of battery).
- Carry a backup device if accuracy is critical.
Choosing a GPS track viewer
Match the tool to your needs:
- For quick conversions and sharing: simple web-based viewers.
- For deep analysis and batch processing: desktop GIS or specialized fitness tools.
- For route planning and navigation exports: apps that support turn-by-turn formats.
Compare features like supported file formats, cleaning tools, batch processing, DEM correction, and privacy controls when deciding.
Conclusion
A strong GPS track viewer that can convert, compare, and clean tracks turns raw location logs into accurate, shareable, and analyzable routes. Whether your goal is a clean map for sharing, precise metrics for training, or reliable data for research, these three capabilities are the core of a useful toolset.
Leave a Reply