This site provides information about one of the projects of ZGUS: using map servers in the field. Currently navigation features are provided. Relevant overlays additional to information from a basemap is provided. Inclusion of data collection features is part of the development roadmap.
News
- 14 July 2019: Answers and Goals About the Portable Map Server Project
- Updated 30 July 2019: Wide Mobile Coverage SIMs in Australia, 4G, 3G, VoLTE, VoWifI, SMS, RCS, SIMs with mobile communication services in remote Australia
- Updated 28 May 2019: NQ maps information page /maps-nq. Updated GNSS/GPS section
- 24 May 2019: Basemap, Map Legend and other improvments for nq field test maps
- 9 May 2019: Image and details of portable map server used in field tests
- 2 May 2019: Anouncement of maps for an additional six selected areas in Northern Queensland for field testing purposes.
- 2 May 2019: All information about portable map server and maps moved. The moved location is maps.zgus.com or maps.zgus.lan if using a server in the field without Internet access.
- 6 Aug 2018, updated 30 November 2018: Use laptop or phone for map service or portable map server?
- Coober Pedy PPSF with NT Map
Map servers in the field
Site maps.zgus.com is an Internet site that simulates a portable map server in the field without Internet access
Site maps.zgus.lan is a map server site connected directly to a router as part of a LAN (local area network). The router includes a WiFi access point that can connect your phone, tablet or laptop to the same LAN as the map server by WiFi, even if there is no Internet access. Generally if your mobile phone has no Internet access neither will the router be able to access the Internet, but the router does not need to access the Internet to provide you with maps from the local map server on the LAN.
The default basemap is ‘Local with Web Server’ and looks for the basemap on the same site as the web server. Hence if web site is maps.zgus.com then this is the site used for basemaps. Likewise if web site is maps.zgus.lan then then this is the site used for basemaps.
The map server include a caching map server, generating the tiled maps as needed for the basemap, from Australian OSM data preloaded into a database.
With simulated local access by Internet some maps allow switching basemaps to outside the server for comparison purposes. See Coober Pedy /cp for example.
For field use lower power, smaller and lighter servers are preferable. There is a user convenience cost to this. Generating cacheable map tiles for basemaps is computationally expensive and the noticeable initial lag when moving into and zooming around an area which has not had its map tiles cached is considerably higher for lowest power local servers tested.
There is more information in section ‘How does this work?’ on /maps-nq.
Selected Map Areas
Established Opal Fields at Coober Pedy
Established Coober Pedy Opal Fields with various layers representing South Australia Mining, Native Title and other interests.
Six Selected Areas in North Queensland
A default field test area in Northern Queensland, which in the absence of further agreement, permissions or licensing consists of six state regulated areas set aside for recreational and tourist fossicking. A licence is required to fossick in these areas and can be purchased online.