Geolocation

What it does:

The Geolocation feature allows GSA 2.0 to display your live position directly on the map, similar to how a smartphone’s mapping app shows your location. This is especially useful if you’re out in the field with a GPS-enabled tablet or mobile device, letting you visualize your actual position relative to your planned drainage designs, elevation features, and other map layers.

How it works:

When activated, the geolocation function queries your device’s positioning system (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.) or, if unavailable, may rely on Wi-Fi and cell tower triangulation to estimate your location. The accuracy you experience depends on what location services are available to your device at the time:

• High Accuracy (GPS-Enabled Outdoors): If you’re outside and your device has a built-in GPS receiver, geolocation can be quite precise—often within a few meters. This level of accuracy is ideal for field scouting, validating design plans, or marking out potential drainage routes.
• Lower Accuracy (Indoors or Wi-Fi/Cell Tower Based): If you’re indoors, or your device’s settings only allow location from Wi-Fi and cell towers, your position may be approximate and less reliable. On some devices, particularly iOS devices, you may have limited control over these location settings. Position updates might show you as being near the farm rather than exactly on the field, reducing the feature’s usefulness for precision drainage work.

How to use it:

• Click the “Start Geolocation” button to activate geolocation.
• Your device will prompt for permission to share its location. Granting this is necessary for the feature to work.
• Once enabled, a marker representing your current position will appear on the map. As you move, it updates in real-time.
• Geolocation will remain active and your live position will continually update until you tap the button again to turn it off.
• You may find your battery drains faster when Geolocation is enabled for long periods.

Tips for Best Accuracy:

• Use a tablet or device with a dedicated GPS receiver, ideally outdoors, clear of tall buildings or obstacles.
• If you must rely on Wi-Fi or cell tower triangulation, understand that your displayed position may be off by tens or even hundreds of meters. Consider moving outdoors or adjusting your location settings for better results.

In Summary:

Geolocation can be a powerful tool in the field, but it’s as accurate as the device and environment allow. For serious drainage planning, rely on dedicated GPS hardware and settings that ensure maximum accuracy whenever possible.