Previously on the blog, we’ve discussed the concept of field reports and groundtruthing on top of raster data (like satellite imagery), and the simplicity of accomplishing this in Fulcrum. Using Fulcrum’s native support for MBTiles-based map tile packs, any raster can be turned into a portable tilecache you can load onto mobile devices in Fulcrum, allowing you to annotate on top of the map using custom-designed forms.
NOAA charts for sailing
I’m a recreational sailor, and have recently worked with NOAA’s electronic charts to improve mobile mapping functionality. One common issue with navigation charts is outdated information, including missing depth measurements, absent markers, or incorrect feature markings. To address this, I built a Fulcrum app for reporting chart errors while navigating on the water.
While reading charts, I can tag and report locations where a channel marker is missing or a shallow area isn’t marked. Using my collected data and an offline chart, I created a quick map to demonstrate this capability. The mapped records highlight missing or incorrect chart details, allowing me to tag problem spots easily.
This capability has hundreds of potential applications for mapping and fieldwork in various industries. Users can load offline aerial imagery, review CAD site plans in the field, or annotate other critical geographic data. Since Fulcrum supports multiple mapping needs, my “Chart Errors” tool integrates seamlessly into a broader field data workflow.
If you have other ideas on where this might be useful, we’d love to chat.
