OziMapConverter — How to use

Bring OziExplorer-calibrated maps into QGIS, already georeferenced. Point the plugin at a .map file and its image — it reads the calibration points, fits a world file, and loads the positioned raster straight into your project. No manual control-point picking in the Georeferencer.

This file is the source of truth — publish.sh renders it to https://qgis.ltapzmap.com/usage/OziMapConverter.html on every publish. Screenshots live in usage-images/ (prefixed ozi-); any not added yet show a "screenshot coming soon" placeholder.

What it's for

If you've already calibrated a scanned sectional, a competition map, or aerial imagery in OziExplorer, you have a .map file holding the calibration points. OziMapConverter reads that calibration and drops the image into QGIS in the right place automatically — so you don't re-pick control points in QGIS's Georeferencer.

1. Install the plugin

OziMapConverter comes from the same repository as LTA PZ Map.

  1. In QGIS, open Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins… → Settings.
  2. Under Plugin Repositories, click Add….
  3. Name it anything (e.g. LTA PzMap) and paste this URL:

https://qgis.ltapzmap.com/plugins.xml

  1. Click OK, switch to the All tab, search OziMapConverter,

and click Install Plugin.

Installing OziMapConverter from the plugin list
Installing OziMapConverter from the plugin list

(If you already added the repo for LTA PZ Map, just search and install.)

2. Open the converter

Go to Plugins → Ozi Map Converter. The Ozi Map Converter Loader window opens.

The Plugins menu with Ozi Map Converter
The Plugins menu with Ozi Map Converter

3. Choose the .map file

Click Browse next to the map field and select your OziExplorer .map calibration file (the file filter shows only *.map).

The loader dialog with a .map file selected
The loader dialog with a .map file selected

4. Confirm the image

When you pick a .map, the plugin looks for a matching image beside it and fills the image field automatically. If it can't find one — or you want a different image — click Browse next to the image field and pick it (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff, .bmp, or .gif).

5. Load it

Click Load. The plugin:

  1. Parses the calibration points from the .map file (MMPXY/MMPLL pairs

preferred, PointXX as a fallback).

  1. Fits an affine transform across all the points.
  2. Writes a world file beside your image (so the calibration sticks).
  3. Adds the georeferenced raster to your current project in EPSG:4326.
The georeferenced map loaded in QGIS
The georeferenced map loaded in QGIS

That's it — the image is now positioned correctly on the map and you can stack your LTA PZ Map layers (obstacles, airspace, zones) on top.

Tips & notes

the more calibration points your .map has, the better the affine fit.

next to the image, the image stays georeferenced even if you open it directly in another GIS tool later.

reprojects on the fly to whatever your project CRS is.

then pull obstacles / airspace / zones around it with LTA PZ Map.

Companion tools for ltapzmap.com. Built for the balloon community.