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Resource Supply, LLC 11607 SW Winter Lake Drive Tigard, OR 97223 503-521-0888 Jon’s cell: 503-707-6236 Tyler’s cell: 503-547-3756

Using Geo-referenced PDF Maps

Geo-referenced PDF maps are easy to create, easy to share because file sizes are small, and easy

to use. There are multiple applications available for the mobile environment as well as the office

desktop. For information on creating Geo-PDFs, click here.

PDF Maps from Avenza is a free application available for both Android and iOS devices,

PDF Maps is used to view geo-referenced pdfs with the additional ability to record locations

based on the devices internal GPS. PDF maps allows users to zoom, rotate, pan and place markers

based on their GPS location.

Adobe Acrobat Reader also suppor ts geo-referenced PDFs! While not as flexible as Avenza PDF maps Acrobat

Reader is still useful when analyzing a geo referenced PDF. There are three tools that deal with spatial data; The

Measure tool, the Object Data Tool, and the Geospatial Location Tool. Measure distances within the PDF by select-

ing the measure tool and clicking two different points on the map. Acrobat reader will also calculate areas. The Ob-

ject Data Tool allows the user to select a data point within the PDF

Avenza PDF Maps

PDF maps is an app for iOS and Android devices. There is no desktop component to it. You can load maps into PDF

Maps using three different methods. The first method is to import a PDF map from local storage. The map can be

stored in the internal memory of the phone or SD card. The second method is to connect PDF Maps to an FTP serv-

er. While I don’t use this method personally, I’m glad they incorporated this method for the enterprise users. The last

method (the one I use) is to connect PDF Maps to a Dropbox account. The concept is basically the same as FTP but

most people don’t have an FTP site, they do however, most likely have a Dropbox account. I primarily use this

method because of it ease of use. Once I am done creating a geo-referenced PDF on my PC , I can drag and drop it

into my Dropbox folder; then access it immediately within PDF Maps. Lets look at how to connect PDF Maps to

your Dropbox account.

1. In Avenza, Click on the “+” to import a

map.

2. Select “From Dropbox” from the menu.

By: Tyler Gakstatter - Resource Supply, LLC

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3. Enter your Dropbox account login details and then

click “Log in”.

4. Press the “Allow” button to grant PDF Maps access to

your Dropbox account.

5. You will now see all of the PDF files available for you

to import from your Dropbox account. PDF Maps does

not automatically import the maps from your Dropbox

account. You will need to click on each map individual-

ly if you want to import multiple maps.

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A map opened in PDF Maps (Android)

Click to show your position on the map based

on the GPS location of the iOS/Android de-

vice.

Click to “drop a pin”/put a marker on the

map. You can place it manually by tapping

anywhere on the map or you can use your

device’s location.

Current location of the cursor in Latitude and

Longitude

Show list of features on the map. This in-

cludes markers, gps location trails, and exist-

ing layers exported with the geo PDF.

Tools. In this menu you can….

-Find by Coordinates

-Find Places (by keyword)

-Plot Photo locations

-Record GPS Tracks

-Measure Distance or Area

-Open View in Google Maps

The map can be rotated, zoomed, and panned

with the touch of your fingers.

Point features from shape

file exported with the geo-

referenced PDF map.

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Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader

Adobe Acrobat is a low key tool for analyzing geo referenced pdfs on your laptop or desktop computer. I don’t see

Acrobat as being used daily as a geo-spatiall analysis tool but I can see it’s value for the times when you have a

PDF map open and want to grab a coordinate of a feature, or get a rough distance measurement between two

points, or want to know the acreage of a certain area. It a great tool for grabbing bite-sized bits of information in a

very short amount of time. Let’s look at how you can accomplish some of these tasks.

This is what a pdf map looks like when opened in the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. To access the geo-

spatial tools click on the “Tools” tab.

There are many different tools available in Adobe Acrobat

Reader, we are interested in the Measure Tool. Click Open

underneath it.

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After opening the Measure Tool you will be taken back to the map view and there will be a new tool bar at the top

with three geospatial tools available to use.

The Measuring Tool with in the Measure Tool allows you to measure linear distances or areas of polygons drawn

by placing points on the map. When using the measuring tool you will see a gray box in the lower right hand cor-

ner that will display the distance/azimuth of the current line and

the geospatial position of the cursor.

The Object Data Tool, when selected, will highlight all GIS features (points, lines, polygons) and display a table

of contents on the left hand side of the screen. This is a great tool for looking at attribute data for GIS features on

the map.

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The Geospatial Location Tool is a simple tool for determining the coordinate of a point anywhere on the map.

Click on the Geospatial Location Tool, then click anywhere on the map with your cursor. In the bottom right hand

corner of the screen you will see a gray box that displays the latitude and longitude of the point.

That is the extent of the geospatial ability within Adobe Acrobat Reader. A few simple tools that allow you to per-

form very basic GIS tasks within a light weight, widely used, and free application.

Between the two of these applications there is a lot of functionality for using geo-referenced PDF maps. Whether

it’s in the field or in the office.

If you have questions, call me at 503-521-0888

Tyler Gakstatter

Resource Supply, LLC 11607 SW Winter Lake Drive Tigard, OR 97223 503-521-0888 Jon’s cell: 503-707-6236 Tyler’s cell: 503-547-3756