🚲 Extended Description 🚲
Motivation
Reporting problems in the bicycle and footpath network requires more effort if the position has to be located manually on a map and an image downloaded from the mobile phone has to be uploaded via PC/laptip. This tool simplifies the procedure by using functions of a mobile phone in a browser.
The advantages are
- no installation of an app necessary, only geolocation enabled smartphone and newer browser
- the position determined by the mobile phone can be changed manually on the map
- the photo is automatically reduced in size by half, so low bandwidths and data credits are sufficient for sucessful reporting.
- all messages sent ín are visible immediately after sending
Use
With one click the current position is taken over, by clicking into the map the position can be adjusted. With a second click the internal camera of the mobile phone is started and a photo can be taken and selected for use. After entering a comment and a rating it, the form is sent and a list of located problem areas appears.
The tool can basically be used wherever mobile phones can determine a position.
New is the feedback after locating and sending, so it is clear that the click was accepted.
If you wish to see only the results, just click send without enetering data.
Technical implementation
The current position is determined via the Internet browser. It is therefore necessary for the browser to be able to retrieve the position data after confirmation. The system was tested with Android 4.2 and Firefox 4.4 and iOS 11 to 13, it will work on newer browser, except OperaMini. The name of the photo to be uploaded is not displayed in every browser after selection due to privacy concerns. With conventional browsers on a laptop or PC, an image that has already been taken must be selected. By the manual movement in the map, also pictures can be uploaded at home and made inputs be made after the ride. The map can be moved or zoomed. Please use areas outside the map for moving up and down in the page using touch. After sending, the system checks whether typical words from spam mails have been used. The image is reduced to half the size and compressed for display in the list. The inputted locations are displayed in OpenStreetMap in the following. The markers are differentiated by colour, according to the classification of the severity of the hazard.
Future functionality
When used by associations and authorities, the status of the reports may be changed and a completion note can be entered. In the case of an independent solution, the inputters receive a code with which subsequent changes can be made. If necessary, the code can also be sent to an e-mail. The tool can also be used for other messages and Citizen Science, ask here by mail.