Geological mapping involves the realization and recording of objective geological observations – in the field – for the production of a map that contains data related to the types of rocks present in a given area, the contacts between geological structures and lithologies, surface deposits and topographic and geomorphological features.
In this context, some applications can make day-to-day fieldwork easier through cell phones, with the possibility of organizing in a practical way the acquisition of descriptive and interpretative data collected in the field, description of the itinerary (vehicle mileage, starting point), acquisition of photographs and geographic coordinates (by GPS).
Available for Android or iPhone (iOS) devices, these tools integrate in a simplified, organized and logical way the information collected during fieldwork, before its transfer to the technical report and the final map.
With that in mind, Saga has prepared a list of four useful apps that you may not know about, but need to download on your device: Avenza Maps, GPS Polaris, Smart Geollogy and FieldMove Clino.
1- Avenza Maps
Avenza Maps is a fast and powerful offline map reader for mobile devices. With it, you can download and open maps, pan, zoom, use GPS to locate yourself on the map, drop markers, record GPS tracks, and measure areas and distances.
In this application, users can import any Geospatial map in PDF, GeoPDF, or GeoTIFF format. Maps are activated upon import for use in the application. For users on the free subscription tier, a maximum of three maps can be activated at any given time. Subsequent map imports require the previous maps to be deactivated and deleted before the new map can be activated for use.
In addition to importing, the Avenza Map Store contains high-quality maps from around the world, including USGS and Canadian topographic maps. The Map Store can be accessed directly through the app to find maps for hiking, recreation, and other activities. Maps from the Map Store can also be downloaded.
All maps can be used offline. Maps obtained from the Avenza Map Store or imported into the app can only be viewed in the app on an iOS or Android device and cannot be exported for viewing on a PC.
Maps downloaded from the Avenza Map Store do not count towards the app's import limit and you can download as many maps as you want, free or paid.
For users who need more than three maps active at the same time, a Plus subscription can be purchased to import and activate an unlimited number of your own maps.
2- FieldMove Clino
This geology app lets you use your phone as a traditional hand-held compass as well as a digital clinometer to measure and capture the orientation of linear and planar structures in the field. FieldMove Clino allows you to quickly take large amounts of measurements, making your dataset more statistically reliable. You can also capture and store geotagged digital photographs and text notes.
In addition to supporting online Google Maps, FieldMove Clino also supports offline maps, so you can import your own georeferenced basemaps and collect data while offline. Data can be exported as MOVE, CSV or KMZ files and then imported directly into FieldMove, Move or other applications such as Google Earth.
3- Polaris GPS
Polaris is an extremely accurate GPS navigation system that features worldwide maps and a variety of interesting features.
The app features location and tracking features such as a compass, odometer, altimeter, speedometer and even marine navigation instruments. The tool is ideal for any type of trip, and is especially useful on hiking trails. The system has interfaces in Portuguese, Spanish, English, Italian, French and German. The app is completely free and can be used on both tablets and smartphones.
4- Smart Geology
In this application you will find a complete Mineral Guide, containing a list of minerals with photos and descriptions, a very intuitive geological time scale, a dictionary with several important geological terms and some other features.
The application is entirely in English, so some knowledge of the language is required.
The platform features a handy mineral classification chart with groups and subgroups, as well as a dictionary of common geological terms and a basic geological time scale. It’s a great study tool for any Earth science student and a handy mobile reference guide.
Did you miss any app? Send us your suggestion: contato@sagaconsultoria.com