Tracing and Telling: From GPX Tracks to KML Stories
GPX shows where you went. KML explains what it means. With Komoot and AI, maps become not just navigation tools but narratives.
Most of my recent writing has been on the heavy side: regulation, AI strategy, the politics of data. This time, I wanted something lighter. For years I had a wish: to really understand the difference between GPX and KML. These formats have been around for decades, yet I never quite grasped how they complemented each other.
With ChatGPT, I finally sorted it out and it didn’t stop at theory. The model can also generate the files directly, so instead of just reading about it, I was able to make maps. And that turned out to be surprisingly fun and practical.
Quick takeaways
- GPX = the track: where you’ve been or want to go.
- Komoot = the practical layer: my go-to for planning and tracing routes, instead of a bike computer.
- KML = the meaning layer: adding stories, photos, and context.
- AI link: ChatGPT can generate both GPX and KML files, turning ideas into working maps.
- Concrete use: I built a bike route past all the big consultancy and accountancy firms in Amsterdam.
Reflection
The distinction is straightforward: GPX is the trace; KML is the enrichment. Komoot helps in between by making planning easy. But the real shift comes when you combine these with AI.
As an experiment, I asked ChatGPT to generate a KML file with the major consultancy and accountancy firms in Amsterdam. I loaded it into Google Maps, connected the dots, and created a route that linked them all.
From there, I exported the map as a KML, converted it to GPX using GPS Visualizer, and imported the GPX into Komoot. Suddenly, I didn’t just have an abstract map, I had a rideable route on my phone, ready to follow in real life.
Komoot kept me on track while riding, turning the experiment into a tangible experience. What started as a playful idea with AI-generated data became an actual cycling route through Amsterdam’s corporate landscape.
Closing
It’s oddly satisfying to see these long-standing technical formats turn into something concrete and functional in my own life. GPX gives the trace, Komoot helps me plan, and KML lets me build context.
With AI as a bridge, maps are no longer just navigational tools, they are becoming ways to explore, to teach, and to tell earth bound stories.
