How to download locations from Google Map

When we need to download required places like hotels, schools or any location best method is to download from the Google maps. 

1. Step

Use following link for Google map

https://www.google.lk/maps

2. Step

Select "Menu" of the Google map

3. Step

Select "My Map" option in drop down list

4. Step

Once you click on "My Maps" you can see your maps if you have created before, to create new map select "Create Map",

5. Step 

Once you created new maps now you have to add required data to the maps, here I wanted to download hotels locations in Kandy district of Sri Lanka. You can select any places according to your requirement. 

6. Step 

You can see available location on the map with names,

7. Step

Then you have to click on the place makes and  select "Add to Map" option to add those locations to your map.

8. Step

  Once you add locations to map those  added Placemarks change in to red color.

9. Step

Once you complete adding data in to your map you can change the name of you map, click on the "Layer Option" in your map and select rename.

10. Step

once you complete adding data to your map you can print this map or you can export map as KML layer which can be converted to ESRI shapefile if you required to use in ArcGIS or even in GRASS or QGIS. otherwise you can display those KML on Google earth..

11. Step

You can display your KML on Google earth

How to configure GRASS GIS

GRASS GIS is powerful free and open source GIS software which  is an official project of the Open Source Geo-spatial Foundation (OSGeo)

 Users can download GRASS GIS together with QGIS. Use following link to download software.  http://www.qgis.org/en/site/

1. Once user downloaded the GRASS GIS first of all user need to set parameters to the GRASS GIS.

2. To start the GRASS GIS user need to set "GIS DATA DIRECTORY". This location use as DATABASE for the GRASS GIS also call as GISDBASE. To set the location user need to click on the "Location Wizard" button under define new location. 

Browse to location required to store data and then select new project name.

3. Then user need to select the coordinate system required. There are few methods available in GRASS GIS to select required coordinate system. 

using this option user can select the coordinate system from the list provided by the GRASS GIS.

If users does not have clear idea about required coordinate system, using this option users can import coordinate system to GRASS GIS from geo-referenced layer.

once user selected the geo-referenced layer GRASS GIS import parameters of particular layer. following image shows the parameters of "KANDAWALA" coordinate system which I selected.  

4. Once user completed this process just click on "Finish" button and now GRASS GIS is ready to start.

5. Just click on the "START GRASS" button,

Now your GRASS GIS in ready to work.