GMDE Lite 6.9.0

GMDE Lite has been thoughtfully developed with an emphasis on small, phone-sized screens, while maintaining compatibility and functionality on larger devices such as iPads. Its performance is notably optimized for iPads paired with the Apple Pencil, enabling detailed digital sketching and annotations. The application synthesizes features from GMDE Mobile and Stereonet Mobile, presenting them within a streamlined, map-oriented interface designed for clarity and ease of use. It facilitates data exchange between GMDE Lite and desktop platforms, supports import from Stereonet Mobile and GIS applications, and allows for seamless data transfer to and from StraboSpot.

Key functionalities of GMDE Lite include:

• Ability to set a point of interest (POI) at the user's current location or any point on the map, automatically tagging it with timestamp and coordinates, along with options to attach photos and detailed descriptions. POIs can be shared via email, complete with images.
• Tools for annotating photos or creating digital sketches linked to POIs.
• Multiple methods for entering orientation data: (1) device-based orientation sensors, (2) triangulating by selecting three map points for device-calculated orientation, (3) sighting along contact planes in strike or dip directions, (4) fitting a plane to selected vertices along a path, or (5) manual input at a specified location. Temporary contact projections enable validation of orientations, which can then be converted into permanent contacts.
• Display of POIs, orientations, and contacts imported from Stereonet Mobile or GMDE Desktop, with compatibility for copy-and-paste sharing between devices using Apple’s Handoff technology.
• Options to create contacts by tracing paths on the map, recording GPS tracks, or projecting planar orientations across the terrain. Contacts can be edited through vertex manipulation or by selecting and deleting specific points—performance is enhanced when using an iPad with Apple Pencil.
• Utilization of the device camera and orientation sensors as a rangefinder to pinpoint locations of interest visually. The app provides rapid measurements of azimuth, inclination, slope, and horizontal/vertical distances to sighted points.
• Visualization tools for orientation data on an equal-area lower hemisphere projection. Filters allow selective display of specific data types. The interface supports analysis features such as mean vectors, best-fit cylindrical distributions, pole plots for planes, and rose diagrams.
• If internet access is available, GMDE Lite can display geospatial data directly on Apple Maps within the app and retrieve point elevation data from online servers.
• Customization options include diverse icons and color coding schemes for different data categories.
• Full integration with the device filesystem enables data management—uploading, downloading, and sharing via the Files app—as well as synchronization with StraboSpot. It also supports data transfer between GMDE Lite and Stereonet Mobile through copy-and-paste.

Operational Skills Recommended for Full Utilization

While GMDE Lite functions effectively in an online mode using standard satellite or road maps for immediate measurement tasks such as strike/dip plotting or contact tracing—requiring an active internet connection—users seeking full offline capabilities should be acquainted with the following skills:

• Creating custom base maps by generating MBTiles from sources such as existing geologic maps, USGS topographic maps, or LiDAR-derived hillshade images. This customization supports working independently from predefined online map options.
• Downloading and converting digital elevation models (DEMs) into compatible formats like GridFloat or BIL—critical for functions like accurate rangefinding or orientation calculations derived from three points.
• Managing file transfers between desktop computers and mobile devices to facilitate offline data processing and map management efficiently.