Mapitare

This blog goes over the basics on how to use a map app called Mapitare

What is Mapitare?

Mapitare is first app on a phone that stores maps on the phone offline. It´s designed for critical work and demanding work on land, sea and in the air. Also some tourism companies like Lapland safaris use it for tracking groups.

Your common users are hikers, hunters, adventurers, boaters and everyone else that moves outdoors. The map tracks your location realtime. Since the maps are downloaded on your phone poor connections and reception doesn´t affect your tracking.

How to install it (android) ?

Head to play store with your phone. Type Mapitare in the search par. Click on Mapitare Maasto- ja Merikartta. Hit install. Next press Open. Agree licence agreement. Select download Finish maps. Then select the map sections you want to download. After that you can use the app.

How to use it?

Top right from top to bottom:

• Location search
• Own location search
• Routing, points and lines markers
• Saving tracks

Bottom right:

• GPS

Top left:

• Locking the map, compass display

Bottom left:

• Settings

Further instructions

• You can use your finger to move the map around
• Two finger zoom in and out
• Touching map will give you coordinates (auto-copy to clipboard)
• When you wan’t to measure distance touch two different locations at the same time

Location search and own location search

• Search for a location, route or point you’ve saved. This can also be send to another person. Press on the item in the “my locations” list, and the app will show the gpx data if the recipents device supports the gpx data.
• You can also receive gpx data. Gpx data can be found in “My locations list”

How to send GPX data by e-mail:

1. Press “my locations” icon.
2. Press the location you want to send from the list.
3. Select “send by e-mail”, add the recipient and send

How to recieve GPX data:

1. Press the file you received via e-mail and save the file to mapitare app
2. The location info can be found in “My locations”

Marking points and lines; Creating routes

Upload routing data before using ( Settings -> upload -> routing)

Marking points/lines:

1. Press the icon creating route icon to activate..
2. Mark your desired location/area on the map. You can also save broken line.
3. Once you’ve marked point/area on the map, press and hold the marking point icon a while. A popup will appear you to name and place and save/delete it

Creating a route:

1. Press the marking point icon to activate (It will turn red) and on the map, mark first your starting point and then the destination. A blue line will appear between the two points on the map
2. When you press the blue, a popup will appear and it will ask you to choose the shortest route

Add a route by using location search:

1. Press the “routing icon” to activate.
   
2. Press the “location search” icon   and type the address you want. The address will appear on the map.
   
3. Afterwards type your destination address in the search field.
   
4. You’ll now see a blue line, and when you press it, a popup will appear on the screen asking you to select the shortest route.
   
5. Once the route you want appears on the map, press and hold the “Routing icon” a while and a popup will appear on the display that asks you to name the place and save /delete it.

Create a route directly from current position to destination searched (also own location):

1. Press the “Routing icon” to activate.
   
2. Afterwards, turn on GPS  and press and hold your own location on the map (blue circle) until a blue POI point appears.
   
3. Afterwards, press the icon for “Location search”  or “Search own location” and search for your destination address (point).
   
4. Press the blue line and select the shortest, fastest or direct route.

Creating a route from the current location to a destination on the map (dynamic):

1. Turn on the GPS  and draw a route with your finger
   
2. Choose the most suitable route.
   
3. The routing will show you the remaining trip and time. The programme will calculate a new route for you if you leave the route.
   
4. You can change the destination at any time by pressing and holding the destination on the map again.
   

Creating a route for ships and boats:

1. Select Mapitare Settings and select settings from there as well. Give the vessel’s information (depth and height).
   
2. Press the “Routing icon” to activate and on the map, mark first your starting point and then your destination. A blue line will appear between the points on the map.
   
3. When you press the blue line, a popup will appear on the screen; choose your fairway.
   

You can also create a route directly by searching for the harbour’s name.

Route creation is done using official fairways. However, you can plan a route, for example, from the shore of your own cottage or from your departure address to a boat fairway.

Removing saved points/routes from your “Own Locations” list: 

1. Select the “Own Location icon” .
   
2. Choose the route you wish to delete, press on the route and select “remove” from the popup that will appear on the screen.
   
3. The saved route will be removed when you turn off the application.

Saving tracks

1. Turn on GPS .
   
2. Then press the “Save Tracks icon”. The track already travelled will appear on the map and be saved continuously.
   
3. Save the route by pressing the “Saving tracks icon”, until a popup appears on the screen asking you to name the track.
   
4. Pause “Saving tracks icon”.

GPS

not active

active, not locked

active, locked

• The default display is your position centred in the middle of the screen. If you move the map yourself, the centring function is interrupted. If you want the centring function to remain on, press the GPS  icon again. Your position will be displayed on the map as a blue circle.
  
• If your location cannot immediately be determined, the text “waiting for GPS data” will appear in a dialogue box.
  
• The accuracy of the location is indicated with a light blue, half-opaque circle around the position circle.

Positioning:

1. The icon will turn blue once the positioning has determined your location. . The icon will turn blue once the positioning has determined your location.
   
2. To end your positioning, press the “GOS icon” and when it turns green, location determination will end. This will also save battery in your device.

Emergency positioning (only in Finland +358):

1. With this software, it is now possible to send location information to a PSAP. Go to your own phone’s settings and you will find “Emergency positioning (112)” by pressing the GPS button  when GPS is on.
   

Locking the map / Compass display

• The map’s locking function was developed for the sake of mobility. Locking prevents change of scale or interruption when a light bump or accidental touching occurs.
  
• In this setting you can study the contents of the map, but each time you stop moving the map, the programme will return to your own location.
  
• Map locking has two travel settings: Map to the north and compass display (the map rotates according to the direction).
  

Map to the north:

1. Turn on GPS  (turns to blue).
   
2. Press the lock icon once  (it will turn to red) and the map will be locked in the north position (the display will not turn).
   
3. To unlock: press the lock icon once (it will turn to green).
   
   

Compass display:

1. Turn on GPS (turns to blue).
   
2. Press the lock icon  twice and the compass display is locked. You will see the map rotate in the direction you are travelling. The function ensures that the symbols are readable and the text is turned in the right direction when the map rotates sufficiently.
   
3. To unlock: press the lock icon once  (it will turn green).

Electronic compass:

• When you stand still, the compass shows the direction you are facing.
  
• Remember that the functioning of a compass as well as its reliability vary greatly between different devices and manufacturers.
  
• While you are moving, the direction of the arrow is determined by the points you move past, which is a noticeably more reliable procedure in determining the direction you are moving in.

Settings

You can open up Mapitare’s settings by pressing the “Settings” button. In Settings you can find map resolution, style, transfer points and routes, load and instructions.

Final words

Mapitare is awesome app for anyone outdoorsy. All the maps are offline and up to date. It works with a very poor connection. Some of the bigger tourism companies like Lapland safaries is it daily for navigation and tracking groups.

Source:

https://www.mapitare.fi/