GTS Tracker¶

The GTS Tracker is at the heart of the GTS service, it is installed on an Android device that field staff typically carry on their person when performing field activities. The GTS Tracker may be used for passive tracking, collecting only geospatial coordinates over time; or for active tracking that combines geospatial coordinates and contextual data collected using ODK forms in the embedded GTS collect application.

1. Starting the GST Tracker¶

The GTS Mobile application may be started either automatically, if the application was installed using the batch deployment tool, in which case the application starts logged in and tracking or waiting for field activity and/or team code details; the application may also be started conventionally by selecting the GTS Tracker icon from the Android screen

Automated GTS Tracker application launch:¶

If the GTS Tracker was installed using the Batch Deployment Tool, then the mobile application will start automatically logged in with the generic account
If the generic account is assigned to only one field activity that does not require nor prompt for a team code it will begin tracking immediately.

If the generic account is assigned to more than one field activity or to a field activity that prompts or requires a team code, the mobile application will open at the “Start tracking” form to permit selection of the field activity and team code if applicable. Team code may be free text or selected from a dropdown list depending on Field Activity configuration By default only the logged in user’s Organization and field activities are selected, a user may however collect tracks for other activities, but will not be able to upload the tracks until authorised.

Manually starting the GTS Tracker:¶

If the GTS Mobile application was installed following the user guide, or if the application has been logged out of, then it can be started from the Android screen.
Click on the GTS Tracker icon on the Android screen to start the mobile application

When opening the GTS mobile the application will check that all requirements are fulfilled, and that the latest version of the Mobile app is installed. Click on the links below the requirements designated with a red X to adjust their configuration Note: If all requirements are met, this screen will not appear

When all requirements have satisfied, the GTS Mobile application will display the login screen

2. Mobile application login options:¶

The GTS Mobile application, when started manually, can accommodate logins using:

The QR code on the user instructions
Google passthrough authentication
GTS username / password authentication
An anonymous login requiring neither username nor password

QR Code login:¶

No Internet connectivity is required to login using a QR code.

The simplest way to login to the GTS Mobile application is to scan the QR code found in the user instructions.
To login using a QR code, simply aim the camera of the mobile device at QR code that appears on the user instructions. Caution: The QR code acts as a login and password, ensure that it is securely stored and not shared with unauthorized individuals. The QR code should be treated with the same precautions as a login and password.

Google authentication:¶

The GTS Dashboard and Mobile app are configured to grant access using Google authentication, which is configured from the dashboard when creating or editing an Dashboard or Field Staff account. To use Google authentication ensure that the account has a Gmail address listed as username and email and that the browser used is logged in with the same account or that the account is included in the Android device’s list of accounts. Unlike a QR code login, Internet connectivity is required to login using Google authentication.

If no QR code is available, it is recommended to use Google authentication providing the login used is associated with a Gmail account
From the login window, click on “Do not have your QR Code?” to access the “Log In” form

Click on the “Google” button to use Google authentication

Select the Google account to use

GTS username / password authentication:¶

The GTS Dashboard and Mobile provide system specific authentication to be used when an account does not have a Gmail address, when Google authentication is not desired or when no email has been assigned to Dashboard User or Field Staff Login account. Unlike a QR code login, Internet connectivity is required to login using GTS authentication.

If neither QR code login nor Gmail authentication are available, it is possible to use GTS username / password authentication.
From the login window, click on “Do not have your QR Code?” to access the “Log In” form

Enter a valid Username or email and Password combination under “Log in with GTS” and click on

Anonymous Login:¶

In order to ensure that Field Staff are not impeeded from collecting tracks and/or contextual data when in the field, an option exists to collect tracks anaonymously. Field staff can select their organization and field activity and begin collecting tracks should they:

Not have access to the QR code

Not have Google nor GTS login information

Not haver Internet connectivity and no QR code

When logged in analymously tracks will be collected but cannot be uploaded to the Dashboard until a login is performed

If neither QR code login nor Gmail nor GTS authentication are available, it is possible to login anonymously.
From the login window, click on “Do not have your QR Code?” to access the “Log In” form

Click on “Cannot Connect” at the bottom right of the “Log In” form.

Enter a Username and click on the “Log In” button

3. Starting Tracking:¶

Following login, the GTS Mobile main page will be displayed
Press on the Play button to access the “Start tracking” form and begin tracking

On the “Start tracking” form, select the organization, field activity and team code if applicable.

Starting a field activity outside of working hours, if they have been defined, will provoke a screen that counts down to when the tracking for the field activity will begin

If logging in Anonymously default Organization and Field Activity will not be selected The Organization will need to be selected from all organizations contained in the instance of GTS

The mobile application will seek a GPS signal prior to tracking, it is best to be outside in an unobstructed area to receive a signal.

Upon reception of a GPS signal the tracking will start and continue uninterrupted.

It is possible to add or edit the Team Code while tracking by clicking on “>> set Team Code” or on the team code if one has been set and entering a new or editing an existing team code

The Tracking Interval is displayed in the GTS Mobile app while tracking, it cannot be edited from the mobile tracker. Editing intervals can only be performed from the Dashboard and should be avoided to prevent inconsistent data.

4. Opening GTS Collect:¶

Active tracking is possible in the GTS Mobile device by using the GTS Tracker that displays ODK forms to capture contextual data and adds geoloaction information for each from completed. By embedding the ODK forms they are easier to access and are able to capture GPS coordinates more quickly than if form were opened using another interface parralel to the GTS Mobile tracker.
Click on the “+” button to display ODK forms that are available for the tracking activity

By default the ODK forms available are filtered to those assigned at the field activity level, Click of the “Organization” and “GTS” filter buttons to view ODK forms assigned at those levels

Click on the form name to select a form to open and enter data depending on the form design.

5. Tracking Data Upload:¶

The GTS can be configured to upload tracking and contextual form data from the Android devise to the dashboard automatically or on demande, in order for the mobile application to upload data an Internet connection is required.

Automatic Upload:¶

Automatic, near realtime, data upload is configured when creating a new or editing an existing Field Activity in GTS Dashboard. To enable automatic uploading select the “Allow upload while tracking” feature and provide a value in seconds for the “Upload Interval” (the upload interval must be greater than the tracking interval). The mobile application will upload data at each upload interval providing there is an Internet connection available.

Warning

Automatic data upload requires Internet connectivity and may lead to Mobile Data charges when a wifi connection is unavaiable. The potential cost of communications must be considered when configuring automatic upload while tracking.

Automatically uploading data
The GTS mobile application indicates when automatic uploading is enabled by displaying and the upload interval as above the data upload status information. It is possible to upload manually by pressing the button while in automatic upload mode.

Manual Upload:¶

By default the field activities in the GTS are configured for manual upload with the “Allow upload while tracking” feature unselected and no Upload Interval defined. Manual uploads may only be performed when tracking has stopped.

Manually uploading data
Upload status information is not displayed during tracking of field activities configured for manual upload. To upload data, tracking of the field activity must first be stopped by swiping the control to the right

Upload status information is displayed once tracking has been stopped: The top line indicates if there is data on the phone that has yet to be uploaded or if all the data collected has been uploaded to the to the dashboard The middle line provides a link to view details of the most recent upload At the bottom of the Upload status information the button, appears when there is data to upload, click the button to move data from the Android device to the dashboard, an Internet connection is required to upload data.

Clicking on in the upload status information will open the Last Upload form displaying: The date and time of the most recent data upload The number of successful and failed dataset uploads A list of datasets uploaded

Clicking on button will open form listing datasets pending upload: Click on the “Upload” button at the bottom of the screen to upload all pending datasets Clicking on an individual item will open the Team Code form Tracks missing authentication will be highlighted in red (see “Blocking Tracks” below)

Click on an individual tracking dataset to open the Team Code Form A team code must be added prior to individual dataset upload Click the button to upload the individual dataset once a team code has been assigned

An upload summary is displayed following upload of all datasets, click on the “X” at the upper right to close the summary.

The GTS mobile application is designed to ensure that tracks and contextual data are preserved on the Android device until confirmation that they have been successfully upload to the dashboard is received. In the event of a communication outage during upload, an error message will be displayed and the opportunity to upload missed data provided. Click on the button to upload datasets that failed to upload correctly.

Blocking Tracks:¶

In order to ensure that field staff are never impeded from collecting tracks, it is possible to collect tracking information without being logged in or without having selected a field activity. Logging in anonymously or switching to a free text field activity, are scenarios which would result in such a situation raising blocking tracks that require authentication prior to upload.

Using the administartive menu
Uploading data may be stopped due to blocking tracks, high lighted in red. To upload blocked tracks, click on the track entry to autheticticate. Non blocking tracks may be uploaded indivdually by clicking on the individual tracking dataset to open the Team Code Form as described above.

Select the organization and field activity to which the tracks should be attributted and click on the button to upload the individual blocked dataset.

6. Stopping Tracking:¶

To avoid the unintentional stopping of tracking when manipulating the Android device, the GTS features a slider control that requires a deliberate swipe to the right to stop tracking. The continuation of tracking may be further preserved by assigning a four digit number as a code to stop tracking that may be assigned when creating a new or editing an existing field activity.

Stopping tracking
To stop the GTS mobile application from collecting geospatial coordinates at the end of a field activity session, simply swipe the control to the right.

If a code to stop tracking has be assigned, the “Stop Tracking” form will be displayed, enter the code and click on the OK button to stop collecting geospatial coordinates. The GTS Mobile applications features a functionality to switch field activities. This feature is designed to permit field staff to change the field activity that they are conducting while tracking continues. To swith field activities on the fly click on the link.

Clicking on the link open a form to select another field activity, only field activities to which the logged in field staff is assigned may be selected. Select the field activity and enter a team code if one is required click on the “Switch” button to attribute these tracks. If the field activity does not appear among the selections, check the box to enter free-text field activity and team codes.

Enter at least a field activity name (in free text) against which the current tracks will be attributed. Then click on the “Switch” button to attribute these tracks. This will result in blocked tracks that will need to be authenticated prior to upload

7. Admin menu:¶

The GTS mobile screen displayed when tracking has stopped contains an ellipsis menu at the extreem upper right, the menu provides access to adminstartive and trouble shooting features.

Using the administartive menu
Click on the ellipsis menu to show the drop down selection The “Admin” section is reserved for developers and requires a password

The “Logs” section displays the GTS lof file for troubleshooting

The “About” section displays indicates the Android, GTS Tracker, GTS Collect and Database vesions, and displays three buttons for troubleshooting Refresh Assets: To update field activity and feild staff configurations Send GTS Folder: Sends a copy of the local GTS folder to developers for troubleshooting Send Logcat: Send a log of system messages to developers for troubleshooting

8. Logging Off:¶

In a manner similar to how codes to stop tracking may be assigned to field activities, codes to allow logging off may be assigned to field staff, when creating a new or editing an existing field staff, to ensure that no tracks can be lost due to unintentional logoff events.

Logging off from the GTS Tracker
With tracking stopped, press the Logout control to close the GTS Tracker

If a logout code has been assigned to the field staff account, it must be enetered to close the GTS

9. Resetting a Password:¶

Field staff with email addresses assigned to their accounts, can change their passwords from the GTS Tracker using the “Forgot password” functionaity, an Internet connection is required to reset a password from the GTS Tracker.

Password reset from the GTS Tracker
Click on the link to reset a password.

Enter the username or email addresss of the account An email with a link to reset credentials will be forwarded to the user, the link expires after 5 minutes.

Click on the link to open a browser where the password may be reset

Enter and confirm the new password

A verification will be dispayed when the password has been changed