Application Name: Survey Demo
Description: Data overlays useful to surveyors and map users.
Publisher’s website: Surveying.org
Cost: Free demo version; Standard ($4.95) and Pro ($9.95) versions add additional features.
Version/date reviewed: v.1.0 / 5-5-11
Phone/OS: Droid X / Android 2.2
Android Market (mobile app only)
Android Market (browser)
The Surveying.Org website offers a host of useful data layers for surveyors and cartographers, but all of the layers don’t work in the standard Android browser. The suite of Survey apps (Demo, Standard and Pro) offer these same data layers in stand-alone apps. Data layers viewed in a Google Maps interface, with standard Road/Aerial/Terrain views or the MyTopo USGS topographic maps view, include:
UTM zone overlays (tap on the map for the info popup for all layers)
State Plane Coordinate System boundaries
Principal Meridian boundaries and locations for the Public Land Survey System
All of the above can be viewed with the free Demo version. The Standard version of Survey ($4.95) adds two more data layers, and an additional function:
- National Geodetic Survey horizontal control benchmarks (with links to data sheets)
- National Geodetic Survey vertical control points.
- Measure distances and areas on the map.
The Pro version of Survey ($9.95) adds a few additional features:
- Built-in inclinometer
- Find the latitude/longitude for a point by tapping on it.
- Recording of points and tracks, export in KML format.
Other issues: I guess I have a number of concerns with the app:
- Data layers are fetched online as needed, but that means that if you’re offline, they’re not available – a big drawback
- The GPS stays on if you switch to a different app, rather than exiting the main app; forget about this, and you can quickly drain down the battery.
- The Standard version is a bit expensive ($4.95), but if you need that data handy, probably worth it. The current set of additional features with the Pro version doesn’t justify it’s $9.95 price, as you can duplicate the additional functionality with other apps, many of which are free. The author plans to add PLSS data and lat/long to State Plane Coordinate System coordinate conversion to a future version, which would make it more worthwhile, but still a bit expensive for what you get.
Final thoughts: All of the functionality of the Demo version can be gotten using the Surveying.org website in the standard Android browser, plus length and area measurement, but the interface is easier and faster in the app than the website. If you need a handy reference source in the field for nearby NGS benchmarks, the Standard version might be worth the high price, but if you can plan ahead, all the data is available for free at the Surveying.org website The Pro version is overpriced for what you currently get with it; until additional functionality is added, I’d pass on it for now