Gaia is already my favourite GPS app, one so good I haven’t owned a standalone GPS machine in years. I’ve bought a cellphone with me anyway for images, the app works superbly and reliably when monitoring my location and plotting routes and the cellphone’s display is so superior to that of a typical GPS unit that there’s no motive to purchase a GPS. Properly, and Gaia prices solely 10 bucks per yr for the common model and 40 bucks for premium. So, there’s the huge price financial savings too.
So it’s a very good app, is what I’m saying.
And so they’ve simply unveiled a reasonably cool new characteristic that I’ll completely use with regards to planning my subsequent backcountry journey—a map that reveals mild air pollution.
Gaia gathered NASA information from 2012 by 2016 by the International Imagery Browse Companies (GIBS) and turned this information into an overlay that drops proper over no matter topo you may have loaded into your cellphone. There’s a slider that allows you to darken the display to simulate evening circumstances, however which nonetheless allows you to learn the map information beneath the overlay. Clearly, the intense areas signify mild air pollution and, presumably, areas you’ll wish to keep away from when choosing a campsite.
It’s a wise instrument for backcountry exploration. Topo maps will present roads and developed areas, nevertheless it’s unimaginable to inform how a lot mild these areas can provide off, a possible buzzkill when planning some critical stargazing. Possibly there’s slightly city you hadn’t observed on the map simply over an increase you had been going to camp subsequent to. An everyday map wouldn’t present it, however drop this overlay into your Gaia map, and voilá.
You do want a premium Gaia subscription to entry the sunshine air pollution map, however that already comes with a lot additional information and maps, together with searching maps that present public land boundaries, European maps, Nat Geo illustrated maps, and many others., and for the $40 per yr it prices, it’s a wealth of knowledge.
In the event you’re already a Gaia premium member, you’ll be able to entry the sunshine air pollution map within the climate/options overlay tab. Android telephones conceal it within the Premium Overlay tab within the map part.
In the event you don’t have Gaia but, give it a spin. It’s one of the crucial helpful out of doors apps yow will discover.
