[OSGeo Africa] Android based apps for navigation purposes

Sun Jan 6 23:06:29 PST 2013

Hi

On Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 8:59 AM, Wes Roberts <wes at biocarbonpartners.com>wrote:

> Hi Timm,****
>
> ** **
>
> Many thanks for the reply. I have actually installed GIS mobile onto my
> Galaxy Note but have not been able to get things running properly. I
> believe there was a problem with adding plugins to the app.
>

Right python plugins are not yet supported on Android (there is work in
progress to support it).

> As such I could not get the gps functionality to work.
>

For me it works 'out of the box' . Note I am referring to the GPS realtime
capture functionality, not the import / export plugin. You can find it by
going View -> Panels -> GPS Information. Make sure your device's GPS is
enabled and hit the connect - you should start seeing satellite signals in
the panel. In the options you can set the display to pan to your current
position automatically and you can capture data using GPS position too if
you like (just start editing a point or polygon layer, make it active and
then use the add feature / add point buttons).

> Installation was also a bit finiky, I seem to remember the download would
> bomb if the screen lock came on.
>

Yeah a known issue :-(

> ****
>
> ** **
>
> We will be rolling out our surveys using samsung xcovers so I think the
> QGIS mobile app would probably not be suitable right now. Will have to use
> our old Garmins for the navigation until a suitable alternative is
> available.
>

There is also a native port (i.e. with a swipe / touch interface) to
Android that was done as a Google Summer of Code project last year, but it
doesnt have GPS integration yet IIRC.

> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Do you know if the bug in the qgis mobile version has been fixed? Perhaps
> I should re-install and test on my next visit to the field.
>

Its probably worth updating to see if it is working better for you as Marco
(the Android dev) puts out regular updates.

Regards

Tim

> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Many thanks,****
>
> Wesley****
>
> ** **
>
> [image: BCP CLR LOGO-FINAL LoRes]****
>
> Wesley Roberts PhD****
>
> GIS and Remote Sensing Professional****
>
> BioCarbon Partners****
>
> Email:   *wes at biocarbonpartners.com* ****
>
> Tel:       +27 83 5355 646 (South Africa)****
>
> Skype: roberts-w****
>
> *www.biocarbonpartners.com*****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* Tim Sutton [mailto:tim at linfiniti.com]
> *Sent:* 05 January 2013 11:15 PM
> *To:* wes at biocarbonpartners.com; Africa local chapter discussions
> *Subject:* Re: [OSGeo Africa] Android based apps for navigation purposes**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> Hi****
>
> ** **
>
> On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 11:50 AM, Wes Roberts <wes at biocarbonpartners.com>
> wrote:****
>
> Dear Africa.osgeo****
>
>  ****
>
> We are in the process of piloting a digital data collection app for our
> biomass surveys. In the past we have used a handheld GPS with our plots
> loaded as waypoints. We are now moving over to Android based devices and
> would thus like to employ a suitable navigation app which allows us to
> upload points (biomass plots) as well as additional layers such as roads
> and boundaries and navigate to those points. In the past we have looked at
> GPS Essentials, Backcountry as well as a number of others.****
>
>  ****
>
> We are looking for suggestions for either free or paid apps that can be
> used for navigation and orientation. ****
>
>  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Shameless plug - there is a somewhat beta but probably usable port of QGIS
> to android with GPS support. You could simply create a QGIS project with
> your context info and then enable GPS tracking and you would be able to see
> when you get close to your plots etc. Note that it does not have any 'turn
> by turn' style navigation support and since it is a direct desktop port, it
> is more suitable for use on a tablet. Using an anti-glare screen overlay
> (those plastic film things you stick to the screen) may also be helpful.**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> http://hub.qgis.org/projects/android-qgis****
>
> ** **
>
> Installation can sometimes be a little finicky - write to the list if you
> need help.****
>
> ** **
>
> Regards****
>
> ** **
>
> Tim****
>
>  ****
>
> Many thanks and kind regards,****
>
> Wesley****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
> ****
>
> Wesley Roberts PhD****
>
> GIS and Remote Sensing Professional****
>
> BioCarbon Partners****
>
> Email:   *wes at biocarbonpartners.com* ****
>
> Tel:       +27 83 5355 646 (South Africa)****
>
> Skype: roberts-w****
>
> *www.biocarbonpartners.com*****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Africa mailing list
> Africa at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> --
> Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release  Manager)
> ==============================================
> Visit http://linfiniti.com to find out about:
>  * QGIS programming services
>  * Mapserver and PostGIS based hosting plans
>  * FOSS Consulting Services
> Skype: timlinux Irc: timlinux on #qgis at freenode.net
> ============================================== ****
>

-- 
Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release  Manager)
==============================================
Visit http://linfiniti.com to find out about:
 * QGIS programming services
 * Mapserver and PostGIS based hosting plans
 * FOSS Consulting Services
Skype: timlinux Irc: timlinux on #qgis at freenode.net
==============================================
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