GPS art locator on Android phone

[EspressoDude]

Any one have experience using the built in GPS in an android phone to locate art projects on the playa? There is a huge map in the Artery of placed projects, and I believe a list of their GPS coordinates, or at least Man GPS coord + clock and distance.

Realizing that there is no or limited cell service on the playa, such that applications like Google Maps will not work, I would like to access the 'raw' GPS lat/lon and possibly load a database of art projects. I would like to be able to find as an example 'Freddies Flaming Fountain' at W 44 37.123 / N 30 11.23 in the dark for a 10:00 burn, then go to Mollys Magic Mushroom at W 44 37.99 / N 30 12.23 for an 11:00 burn

[GreyCoyote]

This is an excellent idea IMHO. If I can add to it a bit:

1). Publish a "map" in center camp with index (ordinal) numbers next to exhibits. On either side of the map, have a listing for that exhibit (a couple of lines or so) with hours of operation (um... Yeah) and a QR code. The QR code contains the name, short description, and lat/lon coordinates.

2). Put the app into "shopping" mode. Scan the QR codes for the art you think is interesting. The app automatically pulls out the location and the description of the art from the QR code and puts it into a list on the phone. It builds a "shopping list" you can edit and allows you to select what you want to do, and in what order. Stuff you scan, but dont select as targets, is kept for possible later use.

3). Put the app into "go" mode and you get range and bearing to the first item on the list and a listing of what is around your immediate location.

4). Have the ability to acquire a QR code at the art installation itself. Info would include artist name, contact info, where they are camped, whatever. The idea is to have a way to get in touch later both in Defaultia and/or in BRC.

Unfortunately, all of my code runs on Windows desktops. I havent the foggiest idea how to develop apps for smartphones, or I would be on this today. Will have to leave this for greater minds.

[GreyCoyote]

Let me throw this out too, in case we have a developer who is interested but is shy of the math needed: i already have libraries and example code to do the spherical trig necessary to get range/bearing between two coordinate pairs and would be happy to share. Hit me up by PM if interested.

[EspressoDude]

to add, the book handed out at the gate has a map in the back with the 'spherical coordinates' i.e. Charcade 7:15 / 1500 which is on the 7:15 time axis (radial) at 1500 feet from the man. Since this is 2d and not 3d, radial coordinates is probably more correct lingo.

so easy to get lost out there in the day,,easier to get lost at night

[trilobyte]

I'm giving this a nudge over to Q&A, since I think it's a better fit as a general preparation discussion. I can't speak for Android, but there are a number of GPS apps out there that work with downloadable map data for those who prefer a radical reliance on technology. They're primarily targeted to people who go on mountain hikes, where a smartphone's GPS functionality may still work where cell phone service may not exist.

Placed art information is generally made available to the 3rd party app developers in a final 'data dump' they receive just prior to the start of the event. This may or may not include GPS data, you may want to check with the ARTery or Burning Man tech team. They in turn put out updates to their apps with all the latest camp, events calendar, dj schedules, and other data for those who's love/obsession of (or addiction to?) technology and organization prevents them from enjoying the random discovery and wanderlust of the playa. I admit that I'm biased - I place high value on getting lost, playadipity, and exploring the undiscovered country.

[GreyCoyote]

I place high value on getting lost, playadipity, and exploring the undiscovered country.

Yup. ++This.

But for those of us who are anal-retentive (hey, does that need a hyphen?), or who may need to find one of the medical outposts in the middle of a white-out while not doing so great, then these things are useful.

But yeah. Lost is a GOOD thing in my book. Neat things happen after the road ends...