With the Mapscape tree survey software website going live on Monday 28th Sep 20; the purpose of this introductory blog and business development update, is primarily market testing opportunity and to thank you the viewer for the answers sent in via the Software Improvement Questionnaire this is very helpful to the Mapscape design team and the arboricultural results of this questionnaire will be referred to regularly on this news blog.
From of the received questionnaire the priority comments of: “When is this software be available?”
The behind the scenes answer to this question are, as soon as the Mapscape software has passed rigorous IT checks, final BS 5837, arboricultural and tree risk assessment tree survey field tests and using these results, to fine-tune the program. This work is progressing well.
In response to the questions received via the Software Improvement Questionnaire of how and: “Will the software plot tree positions”?
The is to this is Yes! Mapscape will enable the user to plot tree positions, by either using its inbuilt GPS function, or by simply tapping on screen, or by using the Sketch pad tools that allows the user to input a distance and an angle measurement. The tree position will then be clearly visible on the Mapscape interface as a positional circle with a cross hair to snap a tree survey data collection point to.
From the Mapscape website ‘Software Improvement Questionnaire’ feedback, the positional plotting of trees is read as of collective importance to potential software users.
This week, the GPS tree plotting function is being tested on site for accuracy, ease of use, and visibility via the on-screen layout. Please see below for a previous GPS test and methodology undertaken in April 2020
Project Geo-locating [April 2020]
There is a new tab added to the layer panel called ‘GPS Information’ – see below left. This new tab is pre-configured, so the only task the user needs to implement is to: > select the method of connection > click connect > then select layer > edit and >‘Add Point’ > See middle picture.
New GPS Docked Panel
GPS (Spanner) Settings
GPS (i) Information
When the user clicks the GPS Information tab, the Settings Panel (middle picture) appears, and you will see three small icons at the top left.
- The information button gives you your location data (Right map picture with the circle and cross hair).
- The graph icon when selected will show satellite acquisition. (The greater the number of satellites the greater the accuracy)
- The spanner (middle picture) contains the configuration settings, and at present the Mapscape design team is currently re-designed this interface, to make the GPS tree position connection process significantly easier to use.
The Mapscape design team looks forward to sharing the Oct 2020 onwards summary results with you, as soon as they become available.
In the meantime, and for a very useful free tool too. Place an x on the map where you know you are and run this app to see just how accurate your smartphone really is….
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
For the latest product updates, please revisit this Mapscape News page.
