Mapped route took me into a low clearance hazard

[openmind]

Hi,

The route the map wizard took me on sent me down a road with a low. clearance hazard. The map couldn't have known of the height problem because I had not entered my rig's dimensions. Please consider adding the preliminary step of requiring rig dimensions so that no one gets hurt or wrecks their rig.

Thank you,

Michael Elliott

[Mark Sedenquist]

Michael,

You really ought to be using the Advanced Mapping tool -- the requirements of what you are trying to do exceed the operating parameters of the Map Wizard. Read post #1 on this thread to get tips on how to use the program.

But this mapping tool wasn't intended to be used where height restrictions are an issue, your suggestion to add one is an interesting idea -- but obtaining data about height limitations is hard to come by, so it's not a feature we'll be able to incorporate.

Happy Planning!

Mark

[openmind]

Thank you, Mark. I'll go to the AMT this morning.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Michael,

A further clarification about the use of the Advanced Mapping program for the purpose of finding routes that are height restricted. One of the senior members mentioned this issue and I thought I would address it here for everyone's benefit.

You mentioned on a post to "openmind" that putting height restrictions into the AMT might be challenging because of the lack of information about them.

You probably already know this, but the Rand McNally Trucker's Atlas has whole lists of height restrictions for the entire lower 48 states.

I have driven high-profile vehicles in every major city in the continental USA. And I have made extensive use of the data in the Rand McNally trucker's atlas. They only have data on the actual truck routes -- and there are plenty of places in the eastern states that have low railroad bridges on non-truck route roads.

But getting that data imported into a mapping database like the one used by RoadTrip America is VERY EXPENSIVE and potentially very time-intensive. And since we provide the RTA Custom Mapping program free of charge to everyone, this is not an additional cost that we can absorb at this time. If someone comes along that would like to sponsor the cost to underwrite such a data filed importation, we'd be thrilled to offer this additional data information. Realistically, this would require an investment of at least $35,000. So... if someone would like to donate that sum, we'd looking into what it would take to add the fields to enter the dimensions of high-profile vehicles and the search fields for finding and delivering that information to our members.

In the interim, you can probably obtain that information using the web, DOT resources and Rand McNally. Coupled with the information in our mapping program, you can create routes and maps that work for you.

Mark

[openmind]

Thank you Mark,

I appreciate your carrying this thread and sending me that senior member's thoughts.

I keep my copy of, Low Clearances up to date. I've integrated that pgm. into my Garmin LMT760. Those resources were the first to tip me off about the barriers in my path. After reading someone's post somewhere on RTA, I purchased the trucker's atlas (TA). That book gave me an overview of my possible routes. Where I had difficulty sussing out exactly what the TA was saying, Google Earth put me right on the map. There's no ambiguity about a 10'4" clearance when you're looking at an image of the sign itself.

As with RTA, the TA is full of data. I'll add DOT resources to that list as well. It will take me some time to become adept as using them all. I look forward to this adventure, though I'll have to get used to going back for to a book to do research. I've gotten spoiled by the ability to obtain push button/instant answers.

Lucky thing for me, I'm semi-retired.

Thanks again, Mark,
Michael

[Mark Sedenquist]

I keep my copy of, Low Clearances up to date. I've integrated that pgm. into my Garmin LMT760.

That is a nifty use of the data. And I agree, I use Google Earth when I really need to see how much actual space I am going to have to back in a trailer when arriving in the wee dark hours during set-up for a special event.

I would love to be able to directly incorporate that photo detail into our maps -- but Mr. Google and Mr. Telematrix aren't keen on providing that to web developers like us for free. (Not much surprise there).

I hope you have time to report back on your trip when you complete it!

Mark