I’ve been a TUMONZ (The Ultimate Map Of New Zealand) user for years but must admit I wondered what would become of it with the onslaught of web based maps & virtual earths. TUMONZ have a credible web presence with TUMONZ Live, 2D only, but is there still a role for a local install mapping package that isn’t free?
It’s been a while since last update, TUMONZ Version 2, but now there is TUMONZ Version 3. You could almost name it TUMONZ A.G.E.(After Google Earth). It not only acknowledges Google Earth exists but even embraces it allowing TUMONZ user data to be uploaded to Google’s on-line world.
Arriving on a DVD (CD’s still an option if you must) you get a huge volume of data as the standard map package has many features. In addition to the vector mapping & topographic data of previous versions you get new features including better map drawing (appearance & speed), incorporation of LINZ NZMS260 scanned maps, an improved 3D engine and interface. As before you can add additional detail with packs of photos, property data (owner, area & boundary coordinates) and point of interest map books. These are sold as modules allowing you to buy just the data you need or gathered into various “packages” targeted at specific uses.
The install is simplified thanks to the DVD format– No more disc swapping!
Once installed existing users will be in for a shock as TUMONZ 3 introduces a completely new interface. Compared to TUMONZ 2 it’s simplified which greatly helps new users but a little obscure. With TUMONZ you buy the initial install and data but application updates between major releases are free. I was disappointed to find several features from TUMONZ 2 missing but since then updates have restored some of those. The main pain was the elimination of the image export options which I hope will be added soon. You can install and run TUMONZ 3 without removing TUMONZ 2 and it’s something I’d recommend, especially if you are an existing power user.
So is TUMONZ still relevant? For the casual user I’m not so sure but for serious mappers, or commercial users, datasets like the Property Data (title information for the whole country) which are not available on-line make it invaluable.
There’s more on the UI and new display options in the extended post or view the demo content at http://www.tumonz.co.nz
Although the interface is new the UI logic seems to be consistent;
- View
- Left Mouse Click to Zoom in, Right Mouse Click to Zoom out
- Left Mouse button + Drag up/down to Zoom in/out smoothly
- Right Mouse button + Drag to Pan.
- If you have a wheel mouse roll to zoom and press & drag to pan works. If you don’t have a wheel mouse get one!
- Edit
- Ctrl + Left Mouse button to edit objects
- Ctrl + Right Mouse button to access options for the current selection/action.
The 2D map has new layers for road width for a “paper like display” but this is all vector geometry so colour and visibility can be altered to suit any purpose.
- Yay, One Disk Install!
- 2D Vector map. Note the smooth shading.
- 2D with NZMS260 Scheme.
- 3D Viewer with NZMS260 Scheme
UPDATE 28–07–2007: From a recent TUMONZ Newsletter:
TUMONZ 3 Code Moves to Delphi 2006.
We have moved the Tumonz code from Delphi 6 to Delphi 2006. This has been a very substantial task but worth the effort. Now it is back to business with a catch up on new developments; some important new ones below and a lot more coming up for TUMONZ 3.
New features in the free update, v3.33 for TUMONZ 3 customers.
1. Added an 'Auto Save' to save your map objects and icons to file. The time interval can be set under the Settings page.
2. Included 'Add text' to the Draw Menu to give a quick add text option.
3. An advanced setting to enter search paths for map data files if you don't want to store them locally yet still have them load in Tumonz 3.
4. Allow Copy/Paste of Map Objects, Icons, Layers and Folders in the My Data page.
5. Copy to clipboard includes all 'overlays' (grids, scale, edit layer, objects, icons).
6. Sending data to Google Earth. Send data at Folder, Layer and Object levels.
7. Added a new Wizard for those of you who want to set map styles for compound layers such as Contour lines (you will see a button for the wizard when you select the layer folder in 'Current Map Layers' in the Settings page.).
8. Load your own Aerial photos or geo-referenced raster layers. You will still need to have the aerial photos files (cmi extension). These files can now be created by anyone who has a copy of TUMONZ 3 Professional. Photos can be added and saved as a Map Style.
9. You will need Build 3.33 or later if you are purchasing the Whangarei District Aerials.
10. When you run the update, you will find some changes in your available Map Styles. E.g. Legal data on aerial photos. Also more layers have been included and turned to 'Not show' allowing you to change the Show/Not Show setting in the Settings page.
11. A few clients have experienced problems with the measurement units. This has resulted from a crash at closing. Version 3.33 and later will correct this problem.
12. Changes to the distance/bearing display for line segments. Controls are now in the Settings page.
