Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) has launched a new DVD based mapping application which provides digital mapping, 3D terrain views and aerial photography of the Irish countryside.
The Trail Master series is aimed at hill-walkers, climbers, mountain bikers, tourists and other outdoor enthusiasts. Two titles have been launched initially - East covering Wicklow, Carlow and parts of Tipperary and South covering Cork and Kerry - with another three to follow next year.
Each DVD covers approximately 8,000 square kilometres of 1:50,000 mapping, aerial photography and digital terrain models as well as a 1:450,000 scale map of the entire country. Trail files with details of routes for Sunday walkers, hikers, mountain runners, hikers and canoeists are also included.
Users can insert waypoints and comments on the maps while planning their routes. Routes can then be downloaded to a GPS device or Pocket PC or simply printed out on paper.
Next month the OSI will launch a version of the product to assist in the teaching of geography in secondary schools.
The products are going to be marketed to outdoors enthusiasts in the UK, Europe and USA, initially through advertisements in the specialist press.
Speaking at the launch, Minster for the Environment Dick Roche proposed a novel use of the DVD - to ensure canvassers cover all the houses in the remote areas of his Wicklow constituency.
"This product will bring parts of Ireland that we are not familiar with closer to us and will encourage people to get out into the countryside," said Mr Roche.
Each DVD, which requires a Windows-based PC, is priced at €99 and details of stockists can be found on the OSI website.