Field Activity#5: Using a Bluetooth GPS with your IOS device

Introduction

This lab was concentrated on the pairing of Bad Elf GPS units and iOS devices via Bluetooth. Using these devices in junction with each other can be a different method to gathering Geographic Coordinate points. With the growing popularity of using phones as a navigational device pairing it with a GPS unit boost its GC accuracy. Also, since a GPS unit is being used WiFi isn't needed creating less battery drain on phones.

A few applications that Bad Elf has with compatibility with iOS are:

Collector for ArcGIS-Used for maps

-Download Offline maps

-Collect data

-Photo attachment to data collected (i.e. you can take a picture with each GCP gathered)

-Search for places and features within the maps

-Create track log of areas visited

-Compatibility with Navigator and Workforce for ArcGIS

Survey 123-Used for surveying

-Form centered data collection

-Allows for offline work

-Use with ArcGIS organizational account

GIS4Mobile-Used for synchronizing GIS data with collected field data

-Allows connection with GIS enterprise and fieldwork

-Allows inspections, documentation, collections and registration of data

-Data collection private storage

Theodolite HD- Used for hiking and off road traveling

-Geotag pictures

-Live map visual with roads, trails, contour lines, etc.

-Reference angle mode and navigation calculator

-Different grid reference systems available

Gaia GPS Classic- Used for hiking and off road traveling

-View online maps with topographic maps

-Track data 

-Geotag pictures

Galileo Offline Maps-Used for traveling with offline maps

-Offline Maps and search

-Geo data syncing

-GPS recording

-Geodata sharing

Fog of World-real life game

-removes fog from areas that have been logged

-analyzes statistics around the world that you have traveled

Methods

Using the Bad Elf GPS units paired with an iOS device via Bluetooth, Geographic Coordinate points were logged walking around the UWEC campus. Once the logging of GCP was finished the data was uploaded through the Bad Elf app on an iOS device. This data could then be shared by either a GPX or KML file for download. GPX is the universal GIS file and can be downloaded into ArcGIS Earth, as shown in Figure 1. A KML file can be used with Google Earth.

Figure 1. UWEC campus walk uploaded in ArcGIS Earth

Conclusion

With growing popularity of using a phone to get directions pairing it with a GPS unit is convenient if you are gathering data points or trying to create maps. This method could be used in hand when travelling overseas and not having to worry about paying for internet. It works in the same concept as downloading offline maps from Google. Other factors to think about are the availability of this technology and being able to create maps within a public domain. Gathering more data on the physical world around us and then uploading it to public server’s shares crowd sourcing with this technology.

Reference

https://bad-elf.com/pages/compatible-apps#gis