For many, visually approximating locations by using landmarks and nearby plants provides sufficient accuracy for mapping their collections. Amn alternative is to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) found in most smartphones. While consumer-grade smartphone GPS works well in open areas, its accuracy quickly degrades near buildings, bridges, or dense vegetation—conditions frequently encountered in botanic gardens.
To improve positional accuracy, several users have opted for external high-precision GPS/GNSS receivers that connect to smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth. While this setup is slightly more complex, it offers greater flexibility: you can pair it with various mobile devices and upgrade components as needed. It's also a more future-proof solution for long-term use.
There are many external receiver models available, but we’ve received particularly positive feedback about the following:
- Trimble® Geospatial: R2 (Other Trimble R# products might also work well)
- Juniper Systems: Geode
Setting up Geode from Juniper Systems
The Geode by Juniper Systems is a sub-meter GNSS receiver that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth or USB.
Once your smartphone is properly configured, it will receive high-precision coordinates from the Geode, which can then be used seamlessly within Hortis.
To set up Geode on your device, please follow the instructions from Juniper Systems