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MapStudio updates digital map book

By Stephen Whitford, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 14 Jul 2004

MapStudio has launched the second software version of its map book, which allows users to calculate routes and travel costs.

Cliff Linton-Walls, MapStudio technical director, says MapStudio`s previous product, Map Master, offered maps on CD.

"The new product, the MapStudio Route Planner, gives detailed maps of 16 cities and towns across SA and allows users to calculate routes with up to 50 stop-off points," he says.

The program allows the user to add a vehicle`s fuel consumption rate on urban roads, rural roads and highways, the current fuel price, tank capacity, journey time between pit stops and the time of pit stops. A radius search can also be conducted for places of interest.

Once all the information has been entered, the program gives a recommended route on the map as well as the time it will take, the distance, amount of fuel that will be used and the cost of the journey. On longer journeys, the route planner also marks where the user needs to stop for fuel.

Linton-Walls says once the route has been calculated, a list of directions is also given with specific screen shots for each intersection along the way. Individual screen shots of important parts of the journey can be selected and printed to take in the car.

A city map and list of streets can also be printed of the destination as an aid if the user gets lost. The software can also be linked to a GPS device.

MapStudio Route Planner is retailing at R1495. The price does not include any future updates.

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