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MobileMap can also collect current GPS location at time of laser data capture and store it as an offset GPS coordinate point for later calculation of individual the target tree location. When using this functionality, it is recommended that a high quality, sub-meter GPS be connected to your MobileMap Android device to ensure that the tree location can be calculated accurately.Some laser rangefinders (e.g., Haglof Vertex Laser Geo) can connect directly to a sub-meter GPS and calculate the target tree coordinates directly. When using these devices, MobileMap can receive and store the tree coordinates at the same time as the tree height information
When a tree record is saved, if MobileMap finds offset coordinates, distance and azimuth and appropriate fields for storing tree coordinates, it will attempt to calculate and store the tree coordinates. If the Trees layer is a Point layer (rather than the typical non-spatial attribute table) it will also save the geometry for the record. These calculations do not happen when the
Some laser rangefinders (e.g., Haglof Vertex Laser Geo) can connect directly to a sub-meter GPS and calculate the target tree coordinates directly. When using these devices, MobileMap can receive and store the tree coordinates at the same time as the tree height information.
Note: maintaining the connection to a Bluetooth laser rangefinder prevents incremental backups of the database while in the Tree List. This means that if you have backups set to 20 trees, for example, and you collect the 21st tree on a plot, MobileMap will save the tree to the database, but will not run the scheduled incremental backup of the database. The backup will still run when the plot is closed, as MobileMap will close the Bluetooth connection at this time (and reopen it when the next plot is opened). If you are using a Bluetooth laser rangefinder and you are collecting a large number of trees per plot, you may want to close and reopen the tree list partway through the data collection to force MobileMap to make a database backup mid plot if you are concerned about not having frequent database backups.
Supported Devices
While most Bluetooth devices will pair with MobileMap android devices and communicate using the NMEA data specification, we have found that the exact messages sent vary by device manufacturer and model. The table below contains the laser rangefinders have been been integrated and tested to date. Similar devices by these manufacturers may work as well, but they have not yet been tested.
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Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
Tree Height 1 Field | Used to store incoming height data, in units selected on the laser rangefinder. Typically used to record total tree height, but if 2 heights are collected for each tree (e.g., merch height and total height) this should be set to the lower height to enable collection of tree from bottom to top. |
Tree Height 2 Field | Same as above, but if 2 heights are collected for each tree (e.g., merch height and total height) this should be set to the higher height to enable collection of tree from bottom to top. |
Tree Distance Field | Can be used to store incoming distance data, in units selected on the laser rangefinder. Typically used to record the distance of a tree from plot center or from a GPS measurement. |
Tree Azimuth Field | Can be used to store incoming azimuth data, in degrees. Typically used to record the azimuth of a tree from plot center or from a GPS measurement. |
Tree Longitude Field | Can be used to store the Latitude value for the target tree. Only possible when laser rangefinder includes an integrated or connected GPS and supports onboard calculation of target tree coordinates based on GPS location, distance and azimuth. |
Tree Latitude Field | Can be used to store the Latitude value for the target tree. Only possible when laser rangefinder includes an integrated or connected GPS and supports onboard calculation of target tree coordinates based on GPS location, distance and azimuth. |
Tree Offset Longitude Field | Can be used to store the Longitude value from the MobileMap device at time of laser rangefinder data capture. Typically used with Bluetooth sub-meter GPS connected directly to the MobileMap device. Used in post-processing to calculate the coordinates of the target tree. |
Tree Offset Latitude Field | Can be used to store the Latitudevalue Latitude value from the MobileMap device at time of laser rangefinder data capture. Typically used with Bluetooth sub-meter GPS connected directly to the MobileMap device. Used in post-processing to calculate the coordinates of the target tree. |
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