If you work in the environmental sector or need to monitor landslides, trails, or watercourses, you know how complicated it can be to perform accurate surveys in remote areas. Phone signal often doesn’t reach, the terrain is difficult to navigate, and traditional methods are no longer enough.
That’s why today specific tools are used for environmental GPS surveying, capable of recording points with centimeter accuracy even where there is no connection. We’ll explain in a simple way how environmental monitoring with GPS works, what the most common field difficulties are, and how to deal with them.
We’ll also look at how to use ProTRACK, a professional GPS designed specifically for those who work in nature, lightweight, durable, and capable of working even without a network thanks to the Base + Rover mode.
Whether you’re a technician, a hiker, or a civil protection operator, here you’ll find everything you need to work safely and without errors.
If you happen to work in the mountains, in a forest, or near a river to monitor landslides, trails, or erosion risk areas, you know how hard it can be to perform accurate surveys.
Phone signal often doesn’t reach, the terrain is uneven, and using complicated tools can only make things worse.
Luckily, there is a simple solution: it’s called ProTRACK, a small professional GPS that helps you work safely even without Internet.
In this article we’ll show you how environmental GPS surveying works, what challenges you may face in the field, and why ProTRACK is useful even if you’re not an expert technician.
What is GPS used for in natural environments
When you need to monitor a landslide, track changes along a trail, or observe soil erosion, it’s important to always return to the exact same point with precision.
With a professional GPS you can:
- Store the exact coordinates of a point;
- Compare data by returning after months or years;
- Understand if the terrain has moved and by how much.
This kind of survey is called environmental monitoring, and it’s increasingly used in parks, forests, or along rivers.
How environmental GPS surveying works
Using a GPS for this type of work is much easier than you might think.
Each time you record a point, the system saves latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. These data can be compared with those from past or future surveys.
This way you can:
- understand if a slope has shifted over time;
- check if a stream has changed its course;
- update a map with trail surveys done using GPS.
The process is simple: you walk through the area and capture the points you consider important. Once finished, the data can be downloaded and used in mapping software, GIS, or CAD or BIM.
And if you want to manage them online, you can import them into Analist CLOUD, a convenient and intuitive platform that lets you view surveys, maps, and 3D models from any device, without installing anything.
Among the available tools, one of the most convenient and versatile for this type of survey is ProTRACK, combining accuracy, simplicity, and portability in a single device.
What are the difficulties in the field
Doing GPS surveys in nature is not like working in a city. You may face difficult situations, for example:
- You’re in the mountains and there’s no cell coverage;
- The terrain is slippery or full of rocks, so you must move carefully.
In these cases, it’s essential to have a lightweight, easy-to-use tool that works offline.
Why you need a reliable GPS
When you’re in a landslide-prone area or a location used by hikers, you can’t afford mistakes. If your GPS fails, you lose data and have to do everything again.
An error could mean:
- Incorrect data, leading to wrong decisions;
- Surveys to repeat, wasting time and effort;
- Lack of safety, for you and for those passing through the area.
ProTRACK: the GPS that also works in forests
If you need to survey a landslide in the mountains or a trail in the woods, you probably already know that your phone often doesn’t have signal. That’s why you need a GPS that works even without Internet. One of them is ProTRACK.
It weighs only 850 grams, so you can easily carry it in your backpack. It’s also waterproof and shock-resistant.
The most useful feature? It operates in Base + Rover mode, meaning it creates its own local GPS network. This allows you to continue surveying with precision even where there’s no mobile signal.
With the mobile app you can:
- View points on a map;
- Follow a trail;
- Save data for use on a computer.
And what if there’s no Internet?
You don’t need it. ProTRACK is designed for those who work outside network coverage. Thanks to Base + Rover mode, you can work even in the mountains, the forest, or along a river.
This feature is ideal for:
- Landslide and mudslide surveys;
- Erosion control on coasts or riverbanks;
- Monitoring trails or protected areas.
Conclusion
If you work in environmental fields, surveying, or land operations, having a simple and precise tool can save you time and help avoid errors. ProTRACK is the ideal work companion for anyone who needs a GPS that always works, even offline.
And thanks to Analist CLOUD, you can store, manage, and share all collected information easily, integrating it into your CAD, GIS, or BIM projects.
Whether you need to map a trail, monitor a landslide, or survey a high-risk area, with ProTRACK you can do it easily and safely.
