GPS metadata in Field Maps with iPhone

Question

Hello!

I'm finding that GPS metadata fields (PDOP, VDOP, Satellites, etc.) are not populated when the mobile device is an iPhone.  Is there something  that can be done to change this?  I presume it's a setting on the iPhone, but am not sure what.

Any help is much appreciated!

John

JohnLowry3 · Answer

Hi Cody,

Thank you very much for your help with this.  Those are both good ideas.  It seems like that would be the best alternative since iOS doesn't make the GPS metadata available.  Thanks again.

John

CodyPatterson · Answer

Hey @JohnLowry3

As ColinLawrence had mentioned, it ties into the OS of the iPhones that they unfortunately do not release this information. There is an alternative, maybe not as attractive, that I thought of last night, and it's to possibly utilize school funding to purchase a set of either cellular enabled android tables with this functionality, or WiFi enabled tables, with a hotspot being carried around while in the field. My college had done the former when we were first experimenting with GIS and we would travel the city utilizing these tables to record and take down information. Unfortunately this costs additional money, but the other option are the GNSS receivers, which could have very large upfront cost, and may result in it being more efficient to buy the tablets unless students are grouped together.

Cody

ColinLawrence · Answer

@JohnLowry3 most Android devices can receive and output nmea through the location manager which an app like Field Maps can consume. For some reason iOS standards do not support this which is the reason you will see limited metadata in Field Maps. To get additional GPS metadata on iOS device you would need to use an external device as another has pointed out. OS level location settings will not make a difference.