Question: What grid systems does the Gridpoint Atlas® software calculate?

Answer: The software only calculates the grid system discovered by Bruce Cathie.

Question: How does Cathie feel about the Russian grid system and other grid systems that have been discovered and researched?

Answer: Even though the Russian grid is shaped differently from his own, Captain Cathie feels that the same mathematical concepts can be applied to either system. He feels that one day the various grids could be combined into a single system.

Question: You mention that the Gridpoint Atlas® software comes with a five CD-ROM map database that has worldwide coverage.  Is this a street-level map database?  And will
I be able to show the neighborhood around my house?

Answer: A street-level map database for the entire world does not exist.  I'm just like you, I would like such a thing.  If it did exist, the cost would be out-of-reach for the average person.  The map data included with the Gridpoint Atlas® software is from two different sources.  The first source is the "ESRI Data and Maps, 2000 Edition" CDs.  The second source is NIMA's "Vector Map Level 0" product, which was formerly called "Digital Chart of the World".  The latter database was in the Vector Product Format used by the U.S. Government, and was converted to the ESRI Shapefile format for use in this product.  The "Vector Map Level 0" product is the most contiguous and consistent map database in existence that has worldwide coverage and that is available on a royalty-free basis.  The U.S. Government cooperated with several international governments to put this product together.  The Gridpoint Atlas® software only includes map data that is royalty-free, as we wanted to make the software reasonably-priced and available to the largest number of people possible.  You will still be able to display a decent resolution map of your area and overlay the grid onto it.  This will allow you to take a GPS device into your area and find your local grid points.

Question: Does the software work with GPS devices?

Answer: No.  You will have to plot a map of your desired area, overlay the grid onto it, and then print it out.  You will also need to print out the list of grid point coordinates for that area.  With the map and list of coordinates, you should be able to take a handheld GPS device and drive to the desired grid point locations.  Of course, some points will be more remote and you will have to drive part of the way and walk the rest.
In a future version, we will provide street-level mapping and GPS capability which will allow one to hook a GPS device to a laptop that has the software loaded onto it, and then drive to the grid point, with the map being continuously updated as you are driving.

Question: What languages, tools, and map data were used to develop the Gridpoint Atlas® software?

Answer: Microsoft Visual C++/MFC 6.0 and Visual Basic 6.0, ESRI MapObjectsLT and MapObjects, InstallSheild Professional 6.31, Microsoft Word 2000, Microsoft Excel 2000, Wextech Doc-To-Help, Wextech Smooth Scaling, Adobe Photoshop 6.0, and Powerquest Drive Image 2002.  Map data is from the "ESRI Data and Maps, 2000 Edition" CDs, and NIMA's "Vector Map Level 0" product.

Question: What tools were used to develop this website?

Answer: We used Macromedia Dreamweaver MX and Fireworks MX, and Adobe Photoshop.

Question: What map is displayed in the background of the pages in this website?

Answer: It is a map of Washington D.C. from the early 1800s.

Question: What browsers is this website optimized for?

Answer: This website can be viewed with Internet Explorer 4.x and Netscape Navigator 4.x browsers.  However, it is best viewed with Explorer/Navigator Version 5.x browsers and above.