Map Navigation
Learn how to navigate and interact with maps in the TreeMapper mobile app.
Overview
The TreeMapper mobile app uses an interactive map as the primary interface for viewing and managing your restoration work. The map displays all your interventions, sites, and trees, allowing you to navigate to specific locations and record new data in the field.
Map Views
TreeMapper offers two map view options to suit different needs:
Standard Map View
The default map view shows roads, terrain, and landmarks. This view is useful for general navigation and understanding the landscape context of your restoration sites.
Satellite View
Toggle to satellite view for aerial imagery of your sites. This is particularly helpful for:
- Identifying vegetation cover and land use patterns
- Verifying site boundaries against actual terrain
- Planning new planting areas based on existing vegetation
- Assessing forest density and gaps
Tap the satellite icon in the map controls to switch between standard and satellite views.
Map Elements
Interventions
Interventions appear on the map as markers (for point interventions) or shaded areas (for polygon interventions). The map uses clustering to group nearby interventions when zoomed out, making it easier to see the overall distribution of your work.
- Clustered markers: When zoomed out, nearby interventions are grouped into clusters showing the count of interventions in that area
- Individual markers: Zoom in to see individual intervention markers
- Polygon shapes: Area-based interventions display as outlined polygons on the map
Sites
Project sites appear as polygon boundaries on the map, showing the defined areas where restoration activities take place. Sites help you understand the geographic scope of your project.
Sample Trees
When viewing a specific intervention, individual sample trees appear as markers within the intervention area. This allows you to see the distribution of planted trees and navigate to specific trees for remeasurement.
Interacting with the Map
Selecting Interventions
Tap on any intervention marker or polygon to select it. When selected, the intervention details appear in a carousel at the bottom of the screen, showing:
- Intervention type and date
- Number of trees planted
- Species information
- Sync status
Tap on the carousel card to open the full intervention details.
User Location
Your current location is shown on the map with a location marker. The app also displays GPS accuracy information, helping you understand the precision of your location data. For best results when recording interventions, wait for the GPS accuracy indicator to show high accuracy (under 10 meters).
Zoom and Pan
- Pinch to zoom: Use two fingers to zoom in and out
- Drag to pan: Slide one finger to move around the map
- Double-tap: Quickly zoom in on a location
- Zoom scale: A scale indicator shows the current zoom level for context
Filtering Interventions
The map includes powerful filtering options to help you find specific interventions:
Filter by Type
Show only specific intervention types such as planting, maintenance, or monitoring interventions.
Filter by Date
Set a date range to display interventions from a specific time period.
Filter by Status
Filter by completion status to find incomplete interventions that need attention.
Remeasurement Filter
Show only trees that are due for remeasurement. Trees requiring remeasurement appear in red on the map, making them easy to identify and navigate to.
GPS Accuracy
TreeMapper displays GPS accuracy information to help you collect precise location data. The accuracy indicator shows:
- High accuracy (green): Under 10 meters - ideal for recording interventions
- Medium accuracy (yellow): 10-25 meters - acceptable for most purposes
- Low accuracy (red): Over 25 meters - consider waiting for better signal
For best results, ensure you have a clear view of the sky and wait for the accuracy to improve before marking locations.
Tips for Effective Navigation
- Download offline maps: Before going to areas with poor connectivity, download offline maps to ensure you can navigate even without internet
- Use satellite view: Switch to satellite view to better identify terrain features and existing vegetation
- Check GPS accuracy: Always verify GPS accuracy before recording intervention locations
- Use filters: When working on specific tasks, use filters to reduce map clutter and focus on relevant interventions