GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 12: On the Road with DeLorme Street Atlas USA201In addition to a QuickSearch, which is great for basic searches involvingplaces, addresses, ZIP codes, and coordinates, you’ll find two other optionsin the Find tab: Advanced searches: As the name suggests, this option performs moredetailed, advanced searches. You can search by categories (such asrest areas, schools, and parks) as well as specify searches take placewithin a certain area (such as a ZIP code, county, or the current displayedmap). Radar searches: This is cool feature that lets you search for travelrelatedPOIs within a certain distance of the current center of themap — or if you’re using a GPS receiver with Street Atlas USA, fromyour current location. For example, you could request, “Find me allthe restaurants within one mile,” and a list of nearby restaurants wouldbe displayed. When you click a restaurant in the list, Street Atlas USAdraws a route on the map showing you how to get to the restaurantand tells you the address, how far away it is, and how long it will taketo arrive.Getting from Here to Therewith Street Atlas USAKnowing the address of someplace and where it’s located is a start, but gettingthere in a timely fashion without getting lost or frustrated is the true test of adriver (or his or her navigator).One of the benefits of street navigation software is that it can automaticallygenerate a route between two or more points. The software examines the roadsbetween your starting point and destination, measuring distance and factoringin speed limits to select either the shortest or fastest route.Street navigation software can give you only its best guess when it comesto a route. A program can’t account for new roads that were built after themap data was compiled or local traffic patterns. You’ll probably be able tofind faster and more direct routes in cities based on your own local knowledgeand experience. Although routes from software might not alwaysbe perfect, they’re much more accurate than guessing or driving aroundaimlessly.Street Atlas USA has a number of powerful options for creating routes. To giveyou a better idea of how route finding works, start off simple.