I know it can be done, but I've searched the web for the last couple of hours for resources on how to take GIS data and draw a simple map (that is lat/lon aware) using VB.NET without having to purchase some multi-hundred dollar product. Can't find anything good.Anyone have any resources?Thanks,

Hi Chris.If you just want a map, use FGIS:http://www.digitalgrove.net/fgis.htmDick

Dick,Thanks for your reply. What I'm trying to do is make a flight planner that will decode the bgl files and give the user an icon or whatever for a VOR/NDB/Airport on a map, just like all of the other flight planners do (FS Nav, FSFK, SFP, etc). I am trying to find resources on how to take raw GIS data and have VB understand it to be able to draw a map that is lat/lon aware so that, after the bgl's are decoded, I can then have VB draw them on the map in the right place.Thanks,

Hi FolksChris,it might be worth asking Rysiek in this thread -Upcoming FSAINV2 FP Generator Tool http://www.flightsimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37847as he's been doing something similar with a lat/lon based map in VB/.NET.HTHATBPaulhttp://69.44.154.34/ifolio_files/file_gall..._Sig_500x94.jpg

This is an old thread but I thought I would follow up and see if you ever got anywhere with this?Drawing a map is something that sounds simple but turns out to be a bit complicated. What is it that you are having trouble with? Is it the actual drawing in VB.NET using GDI+, the decoding of your GIS data, everything in between?Where are you getting the raw GIS data from? The data files should come with a file format definition. I wrote a mapping tool awhile ago that used US Census data, it was quite a pain to process their data into the format I wanted (roads/rivers/etc. same data as Navteq but free from the gov't in raw form).Are you looking to just generate a flat map, or a 3D world view? Do you plan to use any kind of projection algorithm or just flatten it into lat/long. squares?What GIS data do you want to plot on your map? Just coastlines?As a start you can work on converting the units for the vertices in your GIS data from whatever units they are in to degrees/minutes/etc. Then of course you will need to scale that to the display, and you will probably want to let your user zoom in and out as well.

I am working on an instructor station for my flight deck simulator and have come across the same situation.For now, I am attempting to use a program called BGLXML that decodes the BGL files into BGLComp compatable XML files. I am writing a program, albeit a bit complicated thus progress is slow, that turns the XML files into raw .txt files for use in loading my NAVData for my moving map.Draing the map is easy. Use a picturebox and search for tutorials in VB.NET using DirectX or OpenGL methods. I have come across a very handy VB6 tutorial found here:http://www.codearchive.com/rate.php?rid=1223&go=0212it introduces how to draw to a surface on a form (the picture box) and to format the code to render and update positions. It was a good start for me. I've been using OpenGL for C++ and it was a nice and easy transfer of methods. Plus, OpenGL renders quickly in a VB app, rather than DirectX which seems a bit slower.Once you have your map drawing initialized and data loaded, then you can start drawing your map. The center of the map is your Lat/Lon, so the edges of the map must be a certain distance away, say 5 miles up/down, 7 miles left/right. Using a scalar to convert miles to degrees lat and lon, you can figure out the max/min lats and lons to display, then loop through your data structures displaying each and every icon inside that box.Hope this helps someone.