Power, Geo-spatial Learning with Maps and Apps

Many of us find it useful to create or have applications that help us manage our time, prepare for our day, keep organized, and help us be at the right place at the right time.

Though given that we are limited by battery life, things have much approved since the start of using maps on portable devices such as a smart phone. The path to where we get to go can become rather narrow, and applies to our everyday needs as well as our freedoms. So, the importance of having a reliable device with us is commonplace. Though this feeling of truly leaving the grid, is quite cumbersome as often times, even myself, feel that there is something missing now if I do not use my phone on a venture, trail hike, or walk.

Without a doubt, there are a lot individuals using smartphones to travel and camp,

"A new survey from KOA Campgrounds finds that a whopping 95% of us bring one or more gadgets when we go camping. Smartphones, unsurprisingly, are the most common devices brought on camping excursions, with 80% of campers bringing them."

Source: https://time.com/money/4707931/camping-products-gadgets-packing-list/

Since phones run on electricity we need a back up, so often the best option is portable solar device. Now these devices are not totally expensive, though you do get what you pay for with a wattage and the amount current (Amps) to charge a device. What is even better a lot of these devices come with USB port for charging as well.

Another option is to carry a portable battery with USB or Mini USB charging port, however, you cannot recharge these alone, so it might be advisable to carry a solar panel charger with you.

As mentioned earlier, prices do change based on wattage. Chargers also range from about 4000mAh to 10,000mAh, which seems like a good amount.

Below is a link on How To Geek, with some fancy chargers,

Guide to External Battery Packs 

They also provide a rather simple formula for helping choose external battery to help double the life of your devices.

(Total mAh) * (% battery life extension expressed in decimal format) = Pack Size

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/178374/the-htg-guide-to-external-battery-packs/

Lastly, there is some things to think about when search for these devices, though it's best not over complicate buying decisions, though to select the device that best fits your needs.

Also, a lot devices use some form of API to provide mapping and searches for local camps, parks, wildlife areas, and more. However, sophisticated they are, the user will need the extra battery life. There are myriad of apps available, such as Google Maps, location pinpointing, another suggestion is consider buying into a HotSpot service, so if a device is far from a cellphone antenna or tower. Other considerations is how your app retrieves Geo-spatial data, is it custom? Does it use an popular API?

Another avenue to take is using a weather app such as MyRadar, which allows you to look at different layers of the planet, wind currents, and airplane flight paths. What's great about an app like this is that also shows radar across the map, which may be more focused on larger areas, than simply searching on a weather site. Using something that is fully optimized and can work with limited amount of noise and enough bandwidth would be ideal.