Geofencing: Mobile App User Guide

This guide will walk you through how to use the geofencing feature in our mobile app. Geofencing allows you to sign in and out of sites automatically based on your location. This guide covers the initial setup, map navigation, and how to use the GPS

Initial App Setup and Permissions

• Push Notifications:

  • When you first open the app, you'll be prompted to enable push notifications. Select "Allow" or "Deny" based on your preference.

• Location Services Disclosure:

  • After handling push notifications, you'll see a disclosure explaining how geofencing uses your location. Read this carefully to understand how your location data is used and how to opt out if needed.

  • Key Information:

    • The app sends your device ID, site identifier (geofence identifier), latitude, and longitude to our API.

    • By using the app and enabling location services, you consent to this data collection.

• Location Usage Alert:

  • Next, you'll be prompted to allow the app to access your device's location.

  • Select "Always Allow" for optimal geofencing functionality. Other options ("Allow While Using App" or "Allow Once") will not allow geofencing to work correctly.

• Motion and Fitness Activity (or Physical Location Permissions):

  • You'll be asked to allow motion and fitness activity (or physical location permissions on Android).

  • Allowing this is recommended for battery optimization. The app intelligently turns location services on and off based on your device's movement.

  • If you deny this permission, geofencing will still work, but battery optimization will be less effective.

• Login:

  • Enter your username and password to log into your account.

Navigating the Map and Geofences

• Accessing the Map:

  • From the app's homepage, open the side menu in the top right corner of the app.

  • Tap "Map" to view the geofences.

• Understanding Geofences:

  • Geofences consist of two parts:

    • Polygon Geofence (Inner): This triggers sign-in events.

    • Circular Geofence (Outer): This triggers sign-out events. It's approximately 200 meters from the site's center to account for GPS drifting.

• Global Map Actions (Top Right Menu):

  • Tap the menu icon in the top right corner of the map screen.

  • You'll see the following options:

    • Refresh Geofences: Reloads the geofences from the API and hands them over to the Operating System (iOS or Android) for monitoring.

    • Open Native Settings: Opens your device's location settings, motion and fitness settings, background app refresh settings, and cellular data settings for the app.

• Global Map Display:

  • Your location is shown as a blue dot.

  • Geofence locations will appear as their defined shapes.

Using the Map Pin and GPS Sign-In Button

• Accessing the Site Notice Board:

  • From the homepage, tap the list of sites in the bottom tabs of the app.

  • Select a site to open its noticeboard.

• GPS Sign-In Button:

  • The site notice board now includes a GPS sign-in button.

  • Location Services Requirement: You must have location services enabled (any option) to use this button.

• How It Works:

  • When you tap the GPS sign-in button, your device ID, site identifier, latitude, and longitude are sent to the API.

  • The API calculates the distance between your location and the site's center.

  • Proximity Alert:

    • If you are within 1 kilometer of the site, you'll be signed in without any admin alerts.

    • If you are outside 1 kilometer, site admins will receive an alert.

• Map Pin on Notice Board:

  • Tapping the map pin icon on the notice board will open the map view, showing the geofence associated with that site.

  • If a site does not have a geofence, a marker will be shown based on the sites address.

  • Proximity alerts will still work for sites without geofences, based on the distance between the user's location and the site's address.

  • Single Site Map Menu Actions:

    • When the top right menu is opened on the map view the user will have access to the following actions.

      • Center on Address/Geofence: Centers the map on the selected geofence or address.

      • Center on Your Position: Centers the map on your location (blue dot).

      • Refresh On-Site Users: Updates the orange dots showing other users' locations.

      • Refresh Geofences: Reloads geofences from the API and hands them over to the Operating System (Android or iOS) for monitoring.

      • Open Native Settings: Opens your device's location settings, motion and fitness settings, background app refresh settings, and cellular data settings for the app.

      • Help: Provides information about the map's visual elements and data refresh intervals. You can tap the User Guide button to view the User Guide for the mobile app.

  • Single Site Map Display:

    • Your location is shown as a blue dot.

    • Site managers will see other users' locations as orange dots.

    • Geofence locations will appear as their defined shapes.

Help Section

• Accessing Help:

  • Tap "Help" in the map's top-right menu.

• Information Provided:

  • Explains the meaning of the blue and orange dots on the map.

  • Indicates that on-site user locations update every 30 seconds.

  • Provides a button to take the user to this user guide.

Key Reminders

• For optimal geofencing, always allow location services and motion/fitness activity.

• The circular geofence is for sign-out, and the polygon geofence is for sign-in.

• The help section of the app is available for quick reference.

• If you have any further questions, please contact our support team.