Untitled Document

Press Release

GPS2CAD: New Release, New Website

January 11, 2005

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mark Crigler, 602-978-0720;

GPS2CAD: New Release, New Website

AMC Inc. has released GPS2CAD Ver. 3.5, a new improvement to the powerful windows application that enables users to effectively bring into their design environment the GPS points they have collected, their favorite CAD application, and public domain aerial photos and Topo maps. Version 3.5 follows the earlier release of Version 3.1, and now includes significant new capabilities for importing and exporting data from different sources.

Coinciding with this release is the launch of a new website www.GPS2CAD.com, dedicated solely to supporting this program. The previous website, www.AzTechSoft.com will remain, but it’s focus will shift to a more general Engineering theme.

In addition to the product release and website, a new effort is underway to provide Video Help files for GPS2CAD specifically, and the GPS/GIS industry in general. The Videos are being created in an effort to make the program even easier to use. Since GPS2CAD is unique in the market, people who are evaluating it simply don’t have a background with it’s use, as they would in more established programs. The Videos are an effort to provide an easy to use source for understanding the program and how it can significantly reduce the cost of project data collection.

Some of the new features in the latest release of GPS2CAD include:

Direct import of files exported from Garmin's MapSource and Magellan's MapSend .
Import Wizard - to accommodate the many formats that different survey equipment exports their point data into, an "Import Wizard" has been created. This wizard has many steps that allows the user to select the correct information needed to properly import the file..
Save /Open Project - you can now save the project you are working on. The Save/Open feature maintains all the points, routes, and tracks, as well as program settings. This means you can disconnect the GPS unit and still go back to the information.

The new website, www.GPS2CAD.com focuses on supporting this program, providing a point of contact, and showing how the program can be efficiently used. It includes sample projects to help demonstrate the use and capability of the program.

Future plans for GPS2CAD are to take it into the dot Net platform, with increased functionality, and greater compatibility with major GPS and CAD producers. This next release is planned for mid – 2005.

The primary benefit of GPS2CAD is a significant reduction of job costs because it lets you use an affordable GPS unit instead of producing an extremely expensive and overly-accurate site survey.

GPS2CAD enables design professionals to easily and inexpensively use recreational-grade GPS units to collect field information and plot it in their CAD program. While professional survey-grade systems are more accurate, most recreational GPS units are well-suited for many site layout and "topo-plotting" requirements.

Viewing the imported points on actual public-domain aerial photos or topographic maps is an important part of GPS2CAD. These maps are obtained automatically when the user clicks the "View Points" button, and then displayed in a separate window with the map, points and id clearly plotted.

GPS2CAD translates the GPS points from their "satellite based" coordinate system into more than 40 world wide coordinate systems, including the extremely popular NAD 27, NAD 83, and the State Plane Coordinate systems (used in the United States).

The program is designed to work with AutoCAD, versions 14.01 through 2005. In addition, it will export the point data to text files, Access 2000 files, and DXF files, so most technical/CAD programs (including AutoCAD LT) can use the point data.

GPS2CAD Ver. 3.5 is especially useful for capturing and viewing the location of trails, outdoor recreation sites, and topographic features. The program's "Real Time capture" of GPS points allows the user to place GPS2CAD on a laptop, connect their GPS receiver, and "drive around" collecting the points as they go.

GPS2CAD Ver 3.5 (in current release) is a follow-on product to Ver. 3.1, 3.0, and 2.5, which have been on the market for three and a half years. The latest version works with both Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers. And AutoCAD versions 14.01 through 2005. The program works on Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003.

The author believes this is the only product on the market that fills the tremendous gap between inexpensive, hand-held GPS receivers and the CAD environment. The program is currently priced at $345 (U.S.)

For more information, contact AMC, Inc., 4109 W. Laurel Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85029 USA

Phone: (602) 978-0720. Internet: Email: info@GPS2CAD.com

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Editor:

Since 1999 AMC Inc. has been creating and marketing CAD and Engineering applications for Windows users. Mark Crigler is a Registered Professional Engineer (Civil) in the State of Arizona, and has been actively involved in the engineering profession for over 30 years. Since December of 2000 he has been a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer.

Free evaluation copies of GPS2CAD are available at http://www.gps2cad.com/try_free.htm

Screen shots are at: http://www.gps2cad.com/images/screen_shots/index.htm