GeomagInfo Application for Ewe
Version 1.0*

Description

GeomagInfo is an application for Ewe enabled computers to compute the magnetic declination, inclination, and intensity for any location on Earth.

Its main use is to give the current magnetic declination to correct a magnetic compass.
This application is most useful for those hiking and traveling without topographic maps in unfamiliar territory. A magnetic compass can be off by many 10's of degrees in parts of the world.

This application is also useful for correcting the magnetic declination of old topographic maps and navigation charts. The change in declination per year is surprisingly high.

To use this version of GeomagInfo you must install a Ewe¹ VM (Virtual Machine) on your computer. Ewe is a version of Java which runs on a variety of desktop and handheld computers. It is very compact and efficient. It uses only about 2 Mbytes of memory.
To learn more about Ewe please read the introduction on the Bray Mobile Applications page.

About This Documentation

For a Quick Start read Installation. Then after trying it out please return to this documentation to learn all of the features.

Installation

 Since you are reading this documentation, you have found that there is a geomag10Install.zip archive. It contains:

The first thing to do is to install the Ewe VM on your computer(s), if not already installed. Follow the instruction found on the Ewe Download and Installation Page for your computer. The Ewe installer will create directories on your computer and put the Ewe VM files in them. After Ewe is installed find the Ewe directory. For example, in a Windows Desktop it will be where you told the installer to install it, and in the Pocket PC it will (probably) be in /Windows/StartMenu/Programs/Ewe.

There is no installer for GeomagInfo.ewe. The files in the geomag10Install.zip archive can be put in any directory of your choice. However it is recommended that you put them in the directory with the Ewe VM. Specifically the directory in which you find 'ewe.ewe'. This will make it easier to find them if you want to change them, and when you add additional applications from Bray Mobile Applications common files can be shared. In particular the Location Data CSV Files are common to most of the applications at: Bray Mobile Applications.

Once you find the proper directory copy the files in geomag10Install.zip into that directory, in whatever manner you do that on your computer. You may not need all of the Geomagentic Models in your computer. See About Geomagnetic Models to decide which ones you would like to install. Also, it is likely that you already have Location Data CSV files that you are using, so you may not want to copy the ones supplied.

GeomagInfo should be ready to run now. Find GeomagInfo.ewe with your File Explorer, click on it to try it out!

Using the Program

To use GeomagInfo tap the Locations button. Since you have not previously used GeomagInfo you will be asked to first activate the desired model file (.cof), then open desired location file (.csv). The 'File Chooser' will pop up to do the selections. After the Location Data CSV file opens, tap the desired location (it will become highlighted) and then tap Compute.

The date displayed is current date. To change it tap the date and then the desired at in the Date dialog box.

Hopefully the program output is self explanatory. The three terms used are:

Menus

There are two drop down menus:
Menus
This menu has 4 selections:
  • New Model Selecting this pops up the 'File Chooser' to allow the selection of the desired model. Select the model and it will be installed into GeomagInfo, and recompute the result values.

  • New Locations Selecting this forces the Locations button to display the 'File Chooser' so that a new file can be selected, thereby allowing locations to be found that are not in the current Location Data CSV file.

  • About This is the usual About information. It displays the version of GeomagInfo you have installed. Use this to know if your installed version is up-to-date.

  • Quit The obvious Quit selection. You can also quit using the upper right hand X. However, only the Quit button saves the current settings of GeomagInfo for next usage start-up.

    Decimals
    This menu has 5 selections which allow the selection of the number of decimal digits used to display all three results. The choices are: 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

    • Supplied Location Data

     geomag10.zip archive contains two Location Data CSV Files: NoAmerica.csv, and Europe.csv. The locations in these files have been collected from various sources. They are not very accurate and could even be incorrect, especially the time zone and daylight time settings.
    These files are text files and thus may be edited by with any text editor. You should edit these files into new one(s) containing your favorite locations. When doing so check for accuracy.

    The Location Data CSV Editor Application (LocEdit) is available at the Bray Mobile Applications page. LocEdit makes it easier to edit Location Data CSV files and more data is available. If you are intending to create your own personal Location Data CSV files it is recommended that you get LocEdit.

    About Geomagnetic Models

    GeomagInfo computes data about the Earth's magnetic field using models created by the U.S. Geological Survey. Depending on your desired locations you should select the most appropriate of the five supplied models.

    Supplied with this release are 5 geomagnetic models.
    Models WMM-2000.cof and IGRF-2000.cof are World Magnetic Models -- i.e. have reasonable accuracy world wide.
    Models US-2000.cof, AK-2000.cof and HI-2000.cof are Regional Models for the United States, Alaska, and Hawaii respectively.

    Getting Updated Geomagnetic Models

    The Geomagnetic Models are updated every 5 years, as explained in the next section. All available models at the date of this release are included.
    The next major release will be in 2005. (Probably late in 2004.) The URL to look for new or updated models is: http://geomag.usgs.gov. Also you can contact John M. Quinn, as discussed next.

    When they become available, they can also be found at: Bray Mobile Applications.

    About the Geomagnetic Field and Geomagnetic Models

    That portion of the geomagnetic field generated in the Earth's core is referred to as the Main magnetic field simply because it is the largest contributor to the total geomagnetic field. It ranges in magnitude between 20,000 nanoTeslas (nT) at the geomagnetic equator to about 65,000 nT at the magnetic poles.

    Magnetic models, charts and maps which are used in a wide range of commercial and military navigation and attitude/heading reference systems must be periodically updated.

    Typically, the Geological Survey predicts the magnetic field strength and direction, and the rates of change of these quantities, both on a regional basis and on a global basis, 5 years in advance, in accordance with international scientific recommendations set in the 1950's by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA). A continuous flow of new data involving millions of measurements, which must be reduced, extensively analyzed, corrected, culled, edited and prepared for modeling, is essential in order to make these predictions. The Geological Survey produces Regional Magnetic Models (RMM's) of the Main magnetic field and its corresponding Secular Variation for the 48 conterminous states, Hawaii, and Alaska, known collectively as the U. S. National models. The Geological Survey also generates World Magnetic Models (WMM's). These models in turn are used to generate regional, national, and global charts and maps for several Main and Secular Variation vector-magnetic-field components of the Earth.

    Digital information generated from the U. S. National Models, and the USGS and IGRF World Magnetic Models are available through the USGS/NGIC on-line and off-line information services.
    Send e-mail inquiries to John M. Quinn; or you may write, FAX, or phone him at:

    National Geomagnetic Information Center
    U.S. Geological Survey Box 25046 MS 968
    Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225-0046 USA
    TEL: +1 303 273-8475
    FAX: +1 303-273-8450

    The geomagnetic models supplied with GeomagInfo have been obtained from John M. Quinn.

    About the GeomagInfo Algorithm

    The algorithm used by the GeoMagenticInfo computation is derived from a public domain FORTRAN program by John M. Quinn and associates. The entire package of PC geomagnetic programs and models is available for download at: http://geomag.usgs.gov.

    Contact Information

     GeomagInfo was created by David W. Bray, Potsdam, NY;
    Copyright © 2004 David W. Bray, All Rights Reserved.
    The author may be contacted at: bray@davidbray.org.

    Registering

    GeomagInfo is freeware no registration is required. We hope you enjoy using it.
    It would be appreciated if you would send an email to bray@davidbray.org stating on what type computer(s) you have GeomagInfo installed. Thank you.

    This archive may be freely redistributed, provided it is made available only in its complete, unmodified form with no additional files and for noncommercial purposes only. Any other use must have prior written authorization from David W. Bray at bray@davidbray.org.

    Unauthorized commercial use includes, but is not limited to:

    Disclaimer

    This program is provided without warranty and the user accepts full responsibility for any damages, consequential or otherwise, resulting from its use.

    Foot Note

    ¹ Ewe is developed by Michael L Brereton. We are indebted to him for his outstanding software product and making it freely available. Thank you Michael!

    *Changes in Version 1.0

    GeomagInfo Version 1.0 Bld:418 is the original release. Bld:418 is the current release.

    To be sure that your version is up-to-date check the Bld: number in the current description of GeomagInfo at: http://davidbray.org/mobile/

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