We’re excited to announce a major update to the EarthRanger Mobile app, bringing enhanced tracking capabilities to conservationists on the ground. EarthRanger Mobile now allows users to view the locations of important assets—including wildlife, field personnel, and vehicles—right in the palm of their hands, giving them critical real-time data without needing to rely on command centers or support teams back at headquarters. This release empowers users to stay informed about key locations in their area, enabling more effective, safety-conscious decisions in the field.
Track Subjects Directly on EarthRanger Mobile
EarthRanger Mobile’s ability to track wildlife is transforming how conservationists operate. With cellular connectivity, field teams can now see the locations of animals or other monitored subjects on their phones, allowing quick, data-informed responses. This capability is valuable for rangers managing human-wildlife conflict zones or conducting patrols in high-risk areas. By eliminating previous dependencies, EarthRanger Mobile’s ability to track subjects enhances responsiveness, helping protect both wildlife and nearby communities.
Additionally, having visibility into the locations of rangers through EarthRanger Mobile is an important step toward reducing “blue-on-blue” encounters – situations where multiple field teams might unknowingly cross paths, potentially leading to miscommunication or even accidental confrontations. In high-stakes environments, a clear understanding of team locations ensures personnel safety, avoids redundant efforts, and improves efficiency for those responding to emerging threats.
For teams working in areas with limited or no cellular coverage, EarthRanger’s offline mode ensures that the last known location of tracked entities is available, supporting teams even in the most remote locations.
Events: A Powerful Future Addition
Alongside these tracking capabilities, we are excited to share that a forthcoming feature will provide users with the ability to view Events in the app’s map view. This ability will deliver crucial context for those on the ground. Events cover a variety of alerts, such as proximity alerts, geofence crossings, sightings of carcasses, and immobility alerts. These can be automatically generated or manually recorded in EarthRanger through field observations. By bringing these event notifications onto the map, users can gain a quick, comprehensive view of conditions in their area.
For instance, a ranger responding to a wildfire event will see a red flame icon on the map, marking the fire’s location in real-time. Nearby, a purple elephant icon might indicate a recent sighting of an elephant herd. By layering the upcoming Event alerts with subject tracking, EarthRanger Mobile will provide a more complete, dynamic picture of field activities, allowing teams to prioritize tasks and respond effectively.
Additional Features Coming Soon
We’re also continually working to enhance EarthRanger Mobile’s functionality. The upcoming “Go-To” feature will allow users to navigate directly to tracked entities with live distance updates based on their location. This feature will be particularly effective for pilots and vehicle operators, enabling them to reach a target location as quickly as possible. By providing real-time distance information, pilots can head straight to animals, patrol points, or areas of interest without needing multiple course adjustments. This precision helps ensure resources, like fuel, are used efficiently and that response times are minimized, crucial in time-sensitive field operations.
Empowering Field Teams
Together, subject tracking and the addition of the forthcoming Events will make EarthRanger Mobile an invaluable resource for conservation teams. With immediate access to crucial location data and situational alerts, rangers can quickly locate animals and personnel and act on essential information when it matters most. EarthRanger’s mobile updates enhance situational awareness, enabling conservationists to respond faster and work more effectively as they protect the world’s most vulnerable species and habitats.
Ready to use EarthRanger Mobile? Download EarthRanger Mobile today on the Apple App Store or Google Play, and bring real-time data and improved coordination tools right to your team’s fingertips.