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EarthRanger Quick Start Guide

website·Indexed 30 days ago

https://er-quick-start-guide.vercel.app

Practical guides for setting up and using EarthRanger, including ER Mobile for field event recording and patrol tracking, ER Admin for user management and map styling, and Ecoscope Web for configuring workflow dashboards.

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What's inside EarthRanger

  1. Overview of Ecoscope Workflow types

    Ecoscope Workflows transform EarthRanger data into dashboards containing maps, charts, tables, and summary metrics. There are four primary workflow types based on the data being analyzed:

    • Events Workflow: Analyzes EarthRanger event records to determine where, when, and how often selected events occurred. Outputs include event maps, density maps, and time series charts.
    • Patrols Workflow: Analyzes patrol routes and related events to determine patrol movement, effort, and encounters. Outputs include patrol tracks, coverage maps, and distance metrics.
    • Event Details: Numeric Field Workflow: Analyzes numeric values within a specific event type to determine intensity or frequency of reported values. Outputs include numeric summaries and value-based maps.
    • Subject Tracking Workflow: Analyzes GPS locations from tracked subjects to determine movement over time. Outputs include trajectory maps, home range maps, and movement metrics.

  2. Understand EarthRanger map feature organization

    EarthRanger organizes geographic data using a two-level hierarchy found under Map Layers in the Admin and Operator interfaces:

    1. Display Categories: Top-level groupings used to organize related layers (e.g., Hydrography, Boundaries).
    2. Feature Types: Nested under Display Categories; these represent specific layers (e.g., Primary Rivers, Park Zones) and control the visual styling (color, opacity, icons) and the attribute column used for labeling.

  3. Perform common EarthRanger mobile field actions

    Use the following navigation paths to perform key tasks within the EarthRanger mobile application:
    ActionNavigation Path
    Download custom map layers (offline use)Settings → Display → Map Feature Layers
    Manually trigger sync (shared events/locations)Settings → Sync
    Start / stop trackingMap screen → Tracking (bottom pane)
    Start / end a patrolMap screen → Patrol (bottom pane) OR Patrols tab → Start Patrol
    Add an eventMap view OR Events tab → Blue + button
    Check pending sync count (tracks)Patrols tab → Tracks
    Check sync status of eventsEvents tab (status shown next to each event in the feed)

  4. Install the EarthRanger Mobile app

    Download the EarthRanger Mobile app from the official app stores. It is recommended to enable auto-updates to ensure the latest version is installed and common issues are resolved.

    Android: Google Play Store iOS: Apple App Store

  5. Get started with EarthRanger Mobile

    EarthRanger Mobile (v3.3.0+) allows field teams to collect data and track locations on Android and iOS. Key setup tasks include configuring device permissions for accurate background tracking and managing offline data collection.

  6. Analyze the Event Details: Numeric Field Dashboard

    Focus on the numeric value rather than the event count. For example, 10 elephant sighting events may represent 200 elephants depending on the group size field.

    Analysis Steps:

    1. Summary Table: Review sum, minimum, maximum, median, and mean.
    2. Bar Chart: Observe how total values change over time.
    3. Category Comparison: If a category field is used, analyze how each category contributes to the total.
    4. Value-based Map: Identify where high values are concentrated.

    Key Questions to Ask:

    • What is the total value for the period?
    • Are a few records driving most of the total?
    • Where are the highest values located?
    • Are there outliers that need verification against original EarthRanger records?

  7. Record movement using Tracking in ER Mobile

    Use the Tracking feature when you only need a GPS trail of your route. Location updates continuously, but no formal patrol record is created and events are not linked to the movement. To start, tap Tracking at the bottom of the map screen.

    Status Indicators:

    • Tracking Live: Online; location data is uploading in real time.
    • Tracking On: Offline; data is saved locally and will sync upon reconnection.

  8. Create a new user account in EarthRanger

    Follow these steps to create a new user. When setting up passwords, using an email address is preferred as it allows the user to set their own password via an automated reset link. If no email is provided, the administrator must manually assign a password.
    1. Click Add User (top right) on the Users page.
    2. Enter the user's Name (label for EarthRanger Mobile) and Username (login ID).
    3. Set the password:
      • With email: Enter the email address; a reset link is sent automatically.
      • Without email: Manually enter a password in the Password field.

  9. Connect an EarthRanger site as a data source

    To analyze data in Ecoscope, you must connect an EarthRanger site. This process requires authentication using your EarthRanger-specific credentials.

    Prerequisites:

    • A valid Ecoscope account.
    • The EarthRanger site URL/domain.
    • EarthRanger username and password.
    • Valid access permissions for the target EarthRanger instance.
    1. Select Data Sources in the top navigation bar.
    2. Select Connect Data Source.
    3. Fill in the required fields (see 'Configure EarthRanger data source fields').
    4. Select Save or Connect.
    5. Wait for validation and storage of the connection.

  10. Start and manage a structured Patrol in ER Mobile

    Use the Patrol feature to create a formal record of a mission, including start/end times and locations. All events created during an active patrol are automatically linked to that patrol record.

    To start a patrol:

    1. Tap Patrol.
    2. Select a Patrol Type.
    3. (Optional) Enter a Patrol Title.
    4. Tap Start Patrol.

    While active, the bottom pane displays the distance travelled and duration. Note that once a patrol is stopped, it cannot be restarted.

  11. Use Group Data for Comparative Analysis

    Group Data creates separate dashboard views from a single workflow to enable comparisons. Use it sparingly, as additional groupings increase processing time and complexity.

    Suggested Grouping Strategies:

    • Event trends over time: Group by Month or Year/Month.
    • Different event types: Group by Event type.
    • Patrol performance: Group by Patrol type, status, or patrol subject.
    • Tracked animals: Group by Subject name.
    • Spatial coverage: Group by Spatial regions (where supported).

  12. Run an Ecoscope workflow dashboard

    Follow these steps to create and run any Ecoscope workflow:

    1. Navigate to Workflow Templates.
    2. Select the template matching your data type.
    3. Select the relevant EarthRanger data source.
    4. Provide a clear workflow name and description (e.g., Foot Patrols Jan-Mar 2026).
    5. Set the desired time range for the data.
    6. Configure the workflow-specific fields.
    7. Submit the workflow.
    8. Wait for the status to become Ready, then select Run.
    9. Once the status changes to Success, open the dashboard to review maps, charts, and tables.
    10. Export widgets as PNG files for reporting if necessary.