Don’t have an iPad, and my head is thoroughly into Android, so when I got a comment informing me about Corvallis Microtechnology’s new free iPad application iCMTGIS (iTunes link here), I almost ignored it. Big mistake – this looks like a pretty sweet field GIS data acquisition tool for the iPad!
- Point, line and area data acquisition, either by GPS, manual entry, or distance/angle value entry
- Full attribute entry capabilities, including setting up hierarchical data entry forms
- Attribute query on-screen
- Multiple data layers
- Measure/calculate distances and area
- Use aerial imagery as backgrounds
- Import shapefile data
- Export data in shapefile format, or PMP format for use with Corvallis Microtechnology’s own proprietary GIS programs
A few screen captures from their PDF brochure:
May not have all the features of an ArcPad or TerraSync, but this sure looks a hell of a lot easier to use! Almost makes me wish I had an iPad to try it out on; if you give it a spin, leave a note in the Comments section. I have to hope and believe that similar apps will make it on the Android platform in the not-too-distant future.
Hi
Just tried the app. It looks very promising but so far it is not very stable. When loading a Google map or satellite pic, the app stops working -> white screen. (I am used to blue screens -> Windows). I will continue testing it.
Cheers
Askan.
Thanks for the feedback, Askan. Do let us know if you have any additional thoughts.
Hi Leszek
I go following information from the Corvallis Microtechnology people:
Google maps take up much memory. For iOS 4.2, the application is still running in background mode when you press the “Home” button to close it. Please refer to the following website to close the unused applications and try iCMTGIS again:
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-stop-background-apps-on-an-iPhone-iPad-or-iPod-Touch-running-iOS
There will be an update to iCMTGIS version 1.2.4 to resolve the issue with low memory situation when a Google map is loaded. Please look for the update in a few days (waiting for Apple approval).
The iCMTGIS Operation Guide.pdf can be downloaded from:
ftp://cmtinc.com/technical_support/MANUALS
iPAD stores data files in the document list for each application.
Please start iTunes and select the iCMTGIS app.
Your exported shapefiles should be listed in the document files for the iCMTGIS.
End quote
Cheers
Askan.
iCMTGIS version 1.2.4 is now available for download. It is a version which has less problems with loading Google Maps in the background
Wow, I wasn’t going to get an IPad but this may just be what converts me, so so useful. Thanks for sharing!
I just installed this app. I wanted to add custom aerial, but it’s only letting me add it in the company’s proprietary pmp format! How can I get it to take tiffs or other formats? Or at least a free converter to pmp? I appended a pmp to my tiff but it didn’t work. Any suggestions?
Since I don’t own an iPad, I can’t really help you with this. Try the program author.