A reminder to you iPad and iOS users out there about another fabulous and free map reader available to you, the PDF Maps application for iOS from Avenza Systems. The app just recently received a pretty big update!

 Much more than a simple map viewer, Avenza also provides power users with the ability to create, publish, share, and even sell your custom maps! Using the PDF Maps app users have acccess to tens of thousands of intelligent PDF maps and can also add data to their maps, working n a connected or disconnected environment simply by using their iPad. Just today (Dec 2, 2011) Avenza announced on Twitter @avenza the availability of a new release of PDf maps, this version with support for KML import as well as added support from Dropbox – this is huge for custom map creation and sharing!!

Me being curious by nature, I had to rush off and download the app and take it for a quick test spin. I quickly loaded a PDF Map on iPad that I had saved in my library – this is a hydrographic chart for S. Vancouver Island. To test the KML import I simply clicked on the new import option within the app, pointed to my foursquare checkin historical data, available from foursquare,  and voila, my data was dropped onto my map… too easy!  Some sample images of the test I ran are provided below.

To get the latest release of PDF Maps see the iTunes store

Notice the new “Import KML Option” upon loading PDF Maps

KML Data is quickly imported from a file on the web or via Dropbox sharing

Notice the foursquare data is imported along with attributes.

For more about PDF Maps see also:

• Avenza creates burgeoning online marketplace for map publishers as consumption of paper maps decline
• iPad Geo App Tip (Video) – PDF Maps from Avenza Systems
• http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps