TreeMapper Documentation

Overview

TreeMapper allows you to download map tiles for offline use, ensuring you can navigate and record data even in areas without internet connectivity. This is essential for fieldwork in remote restoration sites.

How Offline Maps Work

Offline maps use MapLibre's offline pack system to store map tiles directly on your device. When you download an area:

Map tiles for multiple zoom levels are saved to your device
The area name is determined automatically via reverse geocoding
Maps remain available until you delete them
You can have multiple offline maps for different regions

Downloading Offline Maps

Step 1: Select the Area

Navigate to the Offline Maps section and tap to add a new offline map. The map view opens where you can pan and zoom to select the area you want to download.

Step 2: Confirm Selection

Position the map view to show the area you need. The visible map bounds will determine what gets downloaded. Consider:

Include all your restoration sites within the view
Add some buffer around the edges for navigation
Larger areas require more storage space

Step 3: Download

Tap "Save Area" to begin the download. The app will show a progress indicator while downloading:

Download progress percentage
Estimated tile count
Download size

Step 4: Completion

When the download completes, the offline map is saved with metadata including the area name and file size. You'll see a confirmation notification and the map will appear in your offline maps list.

Download Specifications

TreeMapper downloads map tiles with the following specifications:

Setting	Value
Minimum Zoom Level	14
Maximum Zoom Level	20
Map Style	Configured via environment

The zoom levels ensure you have detailed maps for precise work while keeping download sizes manageable.

Managing Offline Maps

Viewing Downloaded Maps

Access your offline maps from the Offline Maps screen. Each map shows:

Map name: Auto-generated identifier with timestamp
Area name: Geographic location name from reverse geocoding
Size: Storage space used by the map tiles

Deleting Offline Maps

To free up device storage, you can delete offline maps you no longer need:

Open the Offline Maps screen
Find the map you want to delete
Tap the delete option
Confirm deletion in the modal

Deleted maps are completely removed from your device. You can re-download the area later if needed.

Using Offline Maps

Once downloaded, offline maps are automatically used when you're in the corresponding area without internet connectivity:

Map navigation: Browse and navigate the map as usual
Creating interventions: Mark locations on the offline map
Plot management: Create and view plots using offline tiles
Location tracking: GPS continues to work independently of map tiles

When online maps aren't available and you don't have offline maps for an area, you'll see a basic map or no map tiles at all. GPS functionality remains available.

Storage Considerations

Estimating Download Size

Offline map size depends on:

Area size: Larger areas require more tiles
Map detail: Areas with more features have larger tiles
Zoom levels: More zoom levels mean more tiles

A typical restoration site area might require 50-200 MB of storage, while larger regions could require several hundred MB.

Managing Device Storage

Download only the areas you need for upcoming fieldwork
Delete maps after completing work in an area
Monitor your device storage regularly
Keep some buffer storage for photos and intervention data

Best Practices

Before Fieldwork

Download in advance: Download maps while you have good WiFi connection
Verify coverage: Check that your downloaded area covers all planned work sites
Check storage: Ensure you have enough space for maps and new data

In the Field

Test before going remote: Verify offline maps work before losing connectivity
Use GPS wisely: GPS accuracy may vary; wait for good signal
Conserve battery: Offline map use consumes less battery than streaming tiles

Offline Maps