hitch_mapper.py - simple script to create simple travel maps from bunch of .kmz files

Basic Google Earth and Google Maps setup is very powerful, but limits options for the visualisation of .kmz routes on the map.

hitch_mapper.py is simple script renders .kmz route files as a static .png images. You can export .kmz files containing routes and dots from Google My Maps.

This can be useful to hitchhikers or really anyone who wants to visualise their roadtrip this way.

Requirements

pip install contextily fiona geopandas matplotlib pandas

Usage

python hitch_mapper.py <directory> [--basemap STYLE] [--color COLOR] [--output FILE]

Argument	Default	Description
directory	(required)	Folder containing .kmz files
--basemap	satellite	Map background style (see below)
--color	style default	Hex or named colour for lines and points
--output	travel_map.png	Output PNG path

Examples

Default satellite background, default colour (contrasting with the basemap, for some other basemaps the defailt color is red):

python hitch_mapper.py ./trips

"relief" map, custom pink color for routes and dots, with output to ./maps/map1.png:

python hitch_mapper.py ./trips --basemap relief --color "#DF367C" --output ./maps/map1.png

Basemap options

Key	Style
satellite	Esri World Imagery
dark	CartoDB Dark Matter
voyager	CartoDB Voyager
topo	Esri World Topo Map
relief	Esri World Shaded Relief
osm	OpenStreetMap
natgeo	Esri National Geographic
gray	Esri World Gray Canvas
ocean	Esri Ocean Basemap

To alter dot and lines styling, DPI or image dimensions, change variables in hitch_mapper.py file.