Yes Boot, that helps, and I'll get at least the southern Lwara placed next time I update the relief map. The one near Khost is outside the northern extent of most of the detailed maps.
To all, I am about to create a series of maps detailing possible ingress routes around the perimeter of the Shawal Valley, and I'd like some input before doing so.
The idea will be similar to the Mantoi map I posted a few days ago in terms of area covered, but I have some specific questions and one general one.
1. Do you get more utility from a shaded relief overhead view (Shawal Shaded Relief Map) or from the two dimensional renderings of the three dimensional elevation models (Mantoi)?
Link for comparison purposes:
http://host1.in-motion.net/~jefft/tech/Mapping/afghanistan/index.html
2. On a straight overhead view, do you get more utility from a shaded relief overhead view or from a satellite image overhead view? On a 2D rendering of the 3D elevation model, do you get more utility from a shaded relief overlay or from a satelite image overlay? The villages rivers and roads can be draped over either background, and then draped over the 3D elevation model or simple viewed from directly overhead.
3. Would you like to see more villages marked or fewer villages marked? There are so many tiny villages in this area (over 100 within 10 miles of Razmak, for example) that there simply isn't room to place them all. I have tried to limit the ones noted to those which might indicate roads or trail systems over the passes. The odds are against my predicting exactly which villages may see combat in the future, so in that regard it seems better to place specific engagement villages as they take place in updated versions of the map.
4. What monitor resolution do you normally use?
5. Do you have access to an image browsing program that allows you to pan and zoom?
6. Does your internat connection make it reasonably efficient to download maps up to 1.5 megabytes in size? If not, what size are you comfortable with?
7. Would you prefer to see possible road and trail systems marked on the map, based on village locations and terrain restrictions, or do you prefer to make those estimations yourself? If you want them on the map, should they be visibly distinguished from known roads?
8. Generally, do you have suggestions for improvements not listed here?
No sense setting up a new series of maps without finding out what helps everyone understand the terrain. Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer.
Sounds ok with me...
. What monitor resolution do you normally use?
Don't know...
5. Do you have access to an image browsing program that allows you to pan and zoom?
No.
6. Does your internat connection make it reasonably efficient to download maps up to 1.5 megabytes in size? If not, what size are you comfortable with?
I'm on a dial up...
I have this theory AQ is using the rivers to move around...less chance of being spotted.
I normally use a resolution of 1.3 arc minutes! J
--Boot Hill
I'll go along with the crowd. But here's my 2cents :
I vote for shaded relief overhead view with villages rivers and roads with several villages marked, but not too cluttered. Maybe an ocassional two dimensional rendering of the three dimensional elevation models.
monitor resolution? 1024 x 768 (but can be adjusted)
I can zoom in on your maps now.
connection is cable
A couple of possible road & trail systems might be nice, but they definitely need to be distinguishable from known main roads.