ATAK (WinTAK) How to: Interior Building Maps Tutorial

ATAK (WinTAK) How to: Interior Building Maps

In this short ATAK (or more accurately, WinTAK) tutorial, we show how to create your own maps of building interiors by overlaying images as KMZs.

***UPDATE*** If you do not have the "imagery overlay" tab under your Overlay Manager menu, you might have to load in a georeferenced image first. Sometimes, if you don't have any image in WinTAK to begin with, the imagery overlay tab won't appear. Simply loading a single georeferenced image (like a KMZ of an image) will allow this menu to pop open for you. You can download the sample image used in this video from the link below:

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[robertwarner]

This is really helpful, much better and more practical than most of ATAK's ancient tutorials

[goatmoag]

That is a lot easier than some other programs I have used like global mapper and it is nice that it exports it as either georeferenced image or kml. The xml sources are nice too and hoping I can drop them into global mapper, as all the image / data sources included in it has dried up (no longer even supported, they sold it to ersi if I recall). Good stuff as always. Looking forward to more.

[SuburbanPrepper]

Great video.
There probably wasn't construction on the hotel, in the imagery there's roof overhangs and other external features that are not going to be on a fire exit map, so no need to stress about the map not matching with external features

[flusht]

UPDATE: Image overlay creation seems to have changed in ATAK v4.4. Instead of using the "Overlays" button, you'll have to click the "Creation" tab, then click the "Create KMZ from Image" button. The rest of the process seems the same though.

[FirearmsofAmerica]

Great tutorial! Also, if it helps anyone, a lot of times the websites of that public or commercial location will have a pdf or similar of their floor plan, which would be of a much better quality than the picture (and straight too). You can you Photoshop or a similar editing tool to completely (with a few clicks) cut out the white background and then paste in a very nice looking floor plan overlay into your TAK.

[davidreem]

How do these extra layers get shared with other team members? Is there a way to sync through atak or does each person need to import the image separately?

[JohnSmith-scvx]

Good stuff, can't wait for more!

[RoninTX]

Out of curiosity can this also be done with a PDF file of a floor plan? I was wondering as I have PDF floor plans of my work place to build an emergency response plan on ATAK.

[gravijta]

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, I really enjoy these videos, but the part about the shadows on the light poles was incorrect. The light from the sun is independent from the angle of the camera. You can, however, determine the time of day and even the time of year that the image was taken, like a pseudo-sundial. Ideally, you'd want to use isotropic images, as the top floor of a tall building will appear larger than the ground level, and may even overlap with the street below. Very interesting topic.

[northernwrx]

Great video. Would love to see one of 3D maps also

[TomahawksNShotShells]

So I gotta ask and forgive my ignorance to all who would just say "Google it yourself " but how and where do I get started in this kinda stuff? I see the world and though I have no delusions of me being some rambo home defense force I do understand and greatly value this information for my own preparedness. I see videos of guys running TAK servers, UAS kits, setting up mesh networks or LoRa, using radio to send info over atak and frankly I feel overwhelmed, more so then when I was learning Arabic lol where do I begin to even take a bite out of this elephant?

[firemanbif]

I’d like to know equipment setup. Specifically the thumbnail setup with the phone carrier and compass. How about it?

[nathanbieber]

Can i find one of those kit mounted phone holders for lg stylo 6? With the compass attachment?

[adamkiss]

After creating and importing a KMZ file, it doesn't show up on the map, and I can't find it anywhere.. what could be the solution?

[rickkephartactual]

You can also see if the local Fire Department has pre-fire plans that you get via FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act). Pre-2001 it was easy to do but not so much now. If they are done properly and you can get them they will provide you with a wealth of information.

[jasonperry]

Microsoft lense will square the map/image/document for you.

[trey]

I haven't looked into this, but would there be a way to use OSINT to find building plans with the local government?

[Jacob-oquv]

Is ATAK still android only for civilians??

[nathanbieber]

Also..where do i get winTAK and how to upload them on atak? Is there a full tutorial on all of atak? I want to learn the app inside out!

[darrensublett]

Can this spy on me and my team? We are a common defense unit of ex military types. Not a Militia! I am an older generation guy. (ETS 1992) so tech can be challenging to me. Not the basics but the spying shady crap that people do with tech. One team member (way younger than me) says this is a bad idea for Opsec but I can’t find any supporting data on his concerns.