[Qgis-user] GPS Live Tracking Problem

[Michael Harte]

Don,

It's been three years since I put this little primer together for some 
data collection we did for a field project.  We were collecting road 
data in lines and some other road infrastructure data with points.  I 
have copied the cheatsheet instructions we used for QGIS2.8 and 2.14 (I 
think/hope they should still generally work with QGIS 3.2.0)

I think what may be happening is that you have to click the "ADD POINT" 
(for waypoint recording) or "ADD LINE" (for line recording) button (see 
steps 9 and 10 below) on the edit toolbar.  This will bring up the 
attribute entry form.  Fill in whatever attributes you want and click 
"OK" (or whatever the button is in 3.2.0 to close the attribute form), 
then click the "SAVE" button on the edit toolbar.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to get in touch with any other questions.

Cheers,
Mike Harte


  *

    *DATA COLLECTION - **(in QGIS project with pre-assembled collection
    templates and background files)*

1. CONNECT GPS RECEIVER to Laptop/Tablet

          o

            (USB [preferable]/Bluetooth)

2. Activate GPS Tools Plugin

3. Activate "GPS Information" panel

          o

            (dock where you prefer)

4. CONNECT "GPS Information" panel to GPS Receiver

          o

            (Click "Connect" - Note "GREEN LIGHT")

5. GPS Information - "DIGITIZING GROUP"

          o

            X - Automatically save added feature

          o

            X - Automatically add points

6. Activate Line/Point file(s)

          o

            (highlight filename in TOC ala ArcView 3.x)

7. Make Line/Point file(s) EDITABLE

          o

            (click "PENCIL" icon on edit toolbar)

8. DRIVE/WALK to end of track/track segment or data collection point

9. To Collect POINT -

          o

            make POINT FILE ACTIVE

          o

            Click "ADD POINT" (GPS Information dialogue)

          o

            Fill in attributes

          o

            SAVE EDITS (disk icon on Edit toolbar)

10. To Collect LINE -

          o

            make LINE FILE ACTIVE

          o

            Click "ADD LINE" (GPS Information dialogue)

          o

            Fill in attributes

          o

            SAVE EDITS (disk icon on Edit toolbar)

11. REMEMBER - When finished collecting EACH feature -

          o

            Activate Line/Point Template (in TOC)

          o

            Click "SAVE LAYER EDITS" on edit toolbar

          o

            Click "SAVE PROJECT" on main toolbar

12. Repeat 8 - 11

*NOTE:*very handy to use a "Repeat previous attributes" function

In menu - "Settings... Options... Digitizing... Feature Creation...

X "Reuse last entered attribute values"

13. When finished collecting ALL features (for the day) -

          o

            Activate Line/Point Template (in TOC)

          o

            Click "SAVE LAYER EDITS" on edit toolbar (if active)

          o

            Toggle "EDITING" (PENCIL icon) off

          o

            Click "SAVE PROJECT" on main toolbar

14. Post processing - MAKE A COPY and clean up line files - as ever

15. Add Estate Name, Smart Cost Region, Environment and Terrain fields

          o

            (use Identity function in ArcMap or SAGA)

16. Generate lengths for each road segment in the SHAPE_Leng field

          o

            (calculate field geometry in table - metres)



Don Parks wrote:

Good Evening,
  
My name is Don Parks and I’m a new QGIS user and a novice at GIS.  I own a commercial farm and have used QGIS to develop a property map with layers containing roads, trails, fields, buildings, etc.  I would like to use my IPhone 8 as a GPS receiver to track movements live and have them appear digitized on a designated map layer and saved as a line feature on that layer.  I would also like to establish waypoints this way as well.  The documentation indicates that this is possible, but I’m having trouble and would be grateful for some help.
  
I’m using QGIS 3.2.0 Bonn.  I’m running Windows 10 Home, 64 bit, on a Dell Latitude E6520 with 8 GB of RAM.  Per recommendations I found in the QGIS documentation, I’m using GPS 2 IP installed on my phone to enable it to send GPS data to my QGIS software.  I’m using the “GPS Information” panel in QGIS as directed.
  
I have successfully established a connection between my phone and QGIS.  Per some instructions I found in the QGIS documentation regarding Live GPS Tracking, I created a new vector line layer (Shapefile type) and enabled editing for that layer and highlighted it in the Layers Panel.  I then traveled around the property and, as hoped, a line was created on the map live as I moved.  At the completion of the route I attempted to save changes.  However, this is where I encountered the problem.  What I noticed first was that the line created by the GPS track was not “attached” to any layer.  If I unchecked all layers, the line was still there on the white map canvas.  And I could not get rid of it unless I closed and re-opened QGIS…at which time it would go away.  On the other hand, I cannot save it either.  It does not appear to be attached to any layer nor can I save it the layer I created or any other layer.  I’ve tried deleting and creating a new vector layer, but I get the same results.  Everything seems to be working to get the track into QGIS, but I just can’t get it associated with and saved on a layer.
  
I’m very impressed with QGIS and our property map has already been a valuable tool for us.  This GPS tracking ability would be very useful and I would very much appreciate any help.  Thank you in advance for you willingness to help a beginner.
  
Sincerely,
  
Don Parks

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