Fossickers / Prospectors - iPad / iPhone / Android App in development

Good luck with it Grant, I would just like a gps that does a decent job of logging.. finds, where you left the car, and how you get back..

Seriously, some of the mapping data your looking at is going to be a huge download especially if you go into all the states of our fair nation, adding geo layers etc will just make it bigger..

Great project and I hope it pays for you.

Cheers, Tone

Thanks Tone, I will add that to the list.

I have done mapping software before so I am familiar with whats involved in terms of the data.

Good luck gcause, like some people have mentioned a gps that has topographic maps with hiking and fire trails updated, a normal road map, geological maps and a mineral resources maps would be good.

First screenshots, just some basic stuff to start with

Showing a satellite map with an icon pinpointing a find. The red area is an overlay to specify a prospecting area.



Clicking on the icon shows the title of the find:



Clicking on the information circle beside the icon shows the details of the find:

Can you incorporate a nugget finder mate?

What can't you see the nugget on the screen right there in the app? I even showed you the spot where you can go find it!

gcause, this is just what I have been waiting for.
A phone with an app that incorporates the common GPS functions such as:
1. way points
2. show me where the car is
3. pin point an area of a nugget find
(the above are all closely related and as a nonGPS user they may be the same thing)
4. topo information
5. current mineral claims, with some related information
6. map and satellite vision
All the best with your project.
Cheers Max

No worries Max, Im on it.

This looks really good gcause! A big big effort to do all that people have asked for.

Thanks!

Im liking this!!
:lol:

Quick update everyone been busy getting everything setup for the app, my Apple Developer account expired two days after I posted about writing this app so I had to organise to renew that. :8

I have been reviewing the mapping tools to use. Its been a while since I last did a mapping app so I wanted to make sure I was up with the latest and greatest toolsets out there for this.

It comes down to a choice of two: Google Maps or Apple's MapKit

We could go with Google Maps which will give us topo maps by default and a lot of other functionality out of the box but it needs an internet connection to work. I suspect I could probably get it to work locally but it may be difficult. Further investigation is needed.

Or we could go with Apple's MapKit which allows you to load your own tile set and work offline. It also works if there is an internet connection.

There is also another open source copy of MapKit we could use under a different name but I cant see a benefit to its use over the real thing.

Google also places restrictions on the number of transactions you can do in a day and after that you have to pay a fee based on overall usage whereas Apple's is free to use.

I will have to check but I also think we may have to use the Google product under Android but will get back to you on that.

If we go with a tile set based approach we can load our own topo maps but we will need a tile server to provide these at least for the first download to the device. Its a fair bit more work on my side but thats ok, glutton for punishment There may also be some other online resources for tile servers we could take advantage of.

It would mean you would have to download the maps for the area you are interested in before you go out on your trip. How do people feel about doing that?

I suspect people would want to load their own layers for an area they have researched which is why the tile based method is appealing.

So right now I am leaning more towards Apples MapKit product. Thoughts?

Here is the current set of requirements, anyone got anything else to add to the list?

Please speak up now as I will be closing the scope of the product off at that for the 1st Release at the end of this week? There will be other releases so its not your last chance to have a say in its development if you miss out this round.

Requirements:

• maps that show national park boundaries relative to your GPS location[/*]
• GPS enabled maps so you can navigate to or around crown land features and the boundaries of existing EL's and ML's[/*]
• GPS enabled mapping on mineralogical and radiometric maps[/*]
• EL and ML data optional to turn on and off that tells you the expiry , holders name and mineral types[/*]
• Lists of fossicking areas across Australia[/*]
• A note pad style thing for putting info about your finds/where,pics,be able to pin the location on a map[/*]
• Instant messenger[/*]
• audio output mapping with gps coordinates, [1] so I don't walk over the same area twice [2] audio frequency mapping matrix to objects [3] review and be able to analyse data from the trip[4] sharing data optional with other prospectors to avoid trashed, overprospected areas.[/*]
• [5] GPS messenger , for emergency[/*]
• [6] alerts on old mines and shafts[/*]
• store the info locally on the device and then you could sync the data back to your PC at home to load it into your favourite mapping tool like Google Earth.[/*]
• layers mostly in vic geovic data I.e.e leads working detail etc. O e app I use allows me to import old maps and syc them with locatipns to give estimates of location.[/*]
• Adding waypoints with the ability to take a photo and link to the waypoint and snyc with cloud feature so o can show people where ive been and look at tgis on my pc as well.[/*]
• a GPS emergency locating signal would be handy [with a auto dialling signal][/*]
• a feature could be to detail what type of gold was found in each location eg: alluvial, reef, fine coarse or shotty etc. It might be a stretch but then people may be able to figure out if an area is worth doing their type of prospecting in, detecting or panning?[/*]
• Could you include UTM as well as Lat/Long, it's much easier to work in meters when transferring waypoints to and from paper maps and GPS, rather than juggling degrees minutes and seconds?[/*]
• an options setting so people can choose coordinate system i.e. UTM or Lat/Long, they want to use by default.[/*]
• a gps that does a decent job of logging.. finds, where you left the car, and how you get back.[/*]
• a gps that has topographic maps with hiking and fire trails updated, a normal road map, geological maps and a mineral resources maps would be good.[/*]
• a nugget finder (wishful thinking) [/*]

I am working on the base application at the moment. i.e. all the things that make it an app, menus, navigation, etc. so will provide a link to download once the basics are in place. Then we can start work on the actual features.

Cheers,

Grant

What is this app called?

My older brother was always telling me he was going to "make tracks" whenever he was going out somewhere or telling me "its time to make tracks" when he was in a hurry so I am calling it MakeTracks.

This sounds like a great idea!
Good on you.
Pretty well what the others said.
Layered mapping abilities (geo, historical, lease info etc. ).
I'd be interested to try it & spread the word once released etc.

With Google maps you can use them offline.

When you have an internet connection you zoom in or out to the area that you would like to use offline.

Then put into the maps search "ok maps" then click save and give the location a name. It will then download the area to your phone/tablet to use offline. Great when travelling overseas and you have limited internet connections.

Thanks for that fellas.

Wooly its the "go maps" bit that has to be programmed I think. Still investigating the options with Google Maps as it does give you a lot of functionality out of the box. Costs are a concern though with that option due to the limits and restrictions they place on developer accounts.

I currently use ozi both on pc and android, having a gps enabled laptop in the car as we explore, recording our waypoints. Unfortunately there is no ability to use overlays, and the developer has no intention of adding this feature. There is a huge gap between user friendly gis mapping apps for andoid and pc and apple. I would like to be able to easily overlay historical maps over topo with an overlay of mineral and geological mapping data, and be able to view a 3d version, if the height data is available, then be able to transfer the info required onto the tablet/ phone for field use. Diggerdude has played around with software availabke for ipad that uses layers. He may be able to add his knowledge and vast experience.

Hi Croc,

Adding to the list:

• Recording waypoints[/*]
• Ability to add overlays i.e. historical maps, mineral and geological[/*]
• User friendly GIS[/*]
• 3D views where height data is available[/*]
• Transfer data to tablet / phone for field use[/*]

Cheers,

Grant

Hi Highway1,

Adding to the list:

1. way points
2. show me where the car is
3. pin point an area of a nugget find
(the above are all closely related and as a nonGPS user they may be the same thing)
4. topo information
5. current mineral claims, with some related information
6. map and satellite vision

Apologies for missing your post earlier. :8

Cheers,

Grant

Hi Grant,
Checking in to see how the project is coming along, it appears as though you are going with an android type phone, is that correct? I would hate to think where to start with something you are trying to achieve.
Cheers Max