The core tool for processing, integrating, and maintaining the project’s foundational Geospatial and Trail Data.
Method: ArcGIS
- Data Aggregation: sorting trail shape files and park boundaries from various sources (OpenDataPhilly)
- Proximity Analysis: Calculating the exact walking distance and path from a SEPTA stop (a point) to the closest trailhead.
- Data Validation: Cleaning up errors, standardizing coordinate systems, and preparing the definitive map layers for the app.
User Generated Content systems: I Naturalist, E Bird
-pull localized data on flora and fauna sightings, allowing the user to view and contribute to a regional ecological knowledge base.
Method: Libraries like Mapbox GL or Leaflet
- Render Custom Tiles: Display the cleaned trail, park, and amenity data on top of standard base maps with custom styling (using different colors/line weights for paved vs. dirt trails).
- Enable Filtering: Quickly redraw the map based on user-applied filters (hiding all non-accessible trails) without relying solely on the device’s native map application.