Mergin Maps Input - Tracking (#311)

* input tracking

* tracking plugin

* Update mobile versions

---------

Co-authored-by: Tomas Mizera <tomas.mizera@lutraconsulting.co.uk>

Author: alex-cit

src/.vuepress/sidebar/en.js

@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ module.exports = {
                 '/field/autosync/',
                 '/field/layers/',
                 '/field/input_features',
+                '/field/tracking/',
                 '/field/reuse-last-values/',
                 '/field/stake-out/',
                 '/field/broken-project/',

src/field/tracking/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# How to Use Tracking in Mergin Maps Input
+<SinceBadge type="App" version="2.3.0" />
+
+Position tracking is useful when you want to record your tracks during the field survey. This can help you know the extent of areas you have already surveyed in addition to the surveyed features.
+
+## Set up tracking in QGIS project
+Tracking needs to be enabled in QGIS when [preparing your <MainPlatformName /> project](../../gis/features/#tracking).
+
+1. Open your <MainPlatformName /> project in QGIS
+2. Navigate to **Project** > **Properties** 
+   ![QGIS Project Properties](../../gis/qgis-project-properties.jpg "QGIS Project Properties")
+
+3. In the <MainPlatformName /> tab, check the **Enable tracking** option.
+   ![Enable tracking in QGIS Mergin Maps project](../../gis/project-tracking.jpg "Enable tracking in QGIS Mergin Maps project")
+
+   You can also choose how often the position should be recorded. 
+   
+   This affects the accuracy of the tracking and it may affect the battery usage: for longer surveys that don't require high accuracy, you may want to choose the **Low** option. If you need to have more detailed tracking, choose **Best** available accuracy.
+
+4. Don't forget to save and synchronise your project!
+
+Enabled tracking means that a new line layer for tracking will be created in your <MainPlatformName /> project called `tracking_layer.gpkg`. This layer is created with a set of fields with set up [default values](../../layer/settingup_forms_settings/#default-values):
+
+
+| Field name               | Data Type      |  Default variable      | Description                          |
+|--------------------------|----------------|------------------------|--------------------------------------|
+| `tracking_start_time`    | DateTime       | `@tracking_start_time` | Date and time when tracking started  |
+| `tracking_end_time`      | DateTime       | `@tracking_end_time`   | Date and time when tracking ended    |
+| `total_distance`         | Real           | `$length`              | Tracked distance |
+| `tracked_by`             | String         | `@mergin_username`     | Name of the current <MainPlatformNameLink /> user |
+
+You can add new fields as needed, however, they should be set up with automatically generated [default values](../../layer/settingup_forms_settings/#default-values) as <MobileAppName /> will not open the form for manual inputs. You may use some of the QGIS functions, [extra position variables](../../layer/position_variables/) or [extra QGIS variables](../../layer/plugin-variables/).
+
+## Using tracking in Mergin Maps Input
+
+To use tracking in <MobileAppName />, make sure that you enabled tracking in the QGIS project's settings. 
+
+1. Tap **More** and select the **Position tracking** option.
+   ![Mergin Maps Input Position tracking](./input-position-tracking.jpg "Mergin Maps Input Position tracking")
+
+2. Tap **Start tracking**. You can capture and edit features in the usual way even during the tracking.
+   ![Start tracking in Mergin Maps Input](./input-start-tracking.jpg "Start tracking in Mergin Maps Input")
+   
+3. To stop tracking, go to **Position tracking** option and tap **Stop tracking**
+   ![Stop tracking in Mergin Maps Input](./input-stop-tracking.jpg "Stop tracking in Mergin Maps Input")  

src/field/tracking/input-position-tracking.jpg

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Names of the photos that are captured in the field using <MobileAppName /> can b
 ### Snapping
 <SinceBadge type="Plugin" version="2022.5" /><SinceBadge type="App" version="1.6.0" />
 If you want to use snapping in <MobileAppName /> during the field survey, you need to set it up in the **<MainPlatformName />** tab in **Project properties**.
+
 ![QGIS set snapping in Mergin Maps](./project_snapping.jpg "QGIS set snapping in Mergin Maps")
 
 The snapping options are:
@@ -80,6 +81,16 @@ The snapping options are:
 [How to Set Up Snapping for <MobileAppName />](./snapping/) contains detailed steps that may help you with the snapping setup.
 :::
 
+
+### Tracking
+<SinceBadge type="Plugin" version="2023.3" /><SinceBadge type="App" version="2.3.0" />
+
+Tracking your position when doing the field survey with <MobileAppName /> can be enabled in the **<MainPlatformName />** tab in **Project properties**.
+
+![Enable tracking in QGIS Mergin Maps project](./project-tracking.jpg "Enable tracking in QGIS Mergin Maps project")
+
+You can read more about this functionality in [How to Use Tracking in Mergin Maps Input](../field/tracking/).
+
 ### Map themes
 [Map Themes](./setup_themes/) make possible to switch between different background maps in <MobileAppName /> (e.g. cartography maps and aerial imagery)
 

src/field/tracking/input-position-tracking.xcf

@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ The ecosystem consist of various components:
 - [Synchronisation in <MobileAppName />](./field/autosync/)
 - [Layers in <MobileAppName />](./field/layers/)
 - [How to Add, Edit, Delete Features](./field/input_features/)
+- [How to Use Tracking](./field/tracking/)
 - [How to Reuse Last Entered Values](./field/reuse-last-values/)
 - [How to Stake Out Points](./field/stake-out/)
 - [How to Fix a Broken Project](./field/broken-project/)