Image provided by Takor Group.

Australian spatial startup Takor Group has released Mappt Elements, a free, iOS-based app that allows users to add their own data to a provided stash of global spatial datasets.

Mappt Elements joins the original, fully featured Android-based Mappt app as Takor’s attempt to break into the iOS market while offering a free and flexible base product that can be upgraded with in-app purchases for required additional features.

Mappt Elements allows users to access live weather feeds, a wide selection of maps including public transport, geology, vegetation and aerial imagery, of which the data available will continue to increase as users grow, including the entire USGS NationalMaps database with over 330,000 high resolution topographical maps covering the entire United States of America.

“Takor’s product expansion changes the game for people who need instant access to high resolution satellite imagery, live weather feeds, topographical maps or people who simply want to access their own data on their mobile phone.” said Amir Farhand, Takor CEO and founder.

Image credit: Takor Group.

The Mappt Elements iPhone app also enables users to load their own data sets including imagery, vector data, GeoPDFs, or any other geographic data, as well as create fully customizable data collection forms and projects.

GeoPDF is a common format for raster (graphic) maps. They are widely used because of how easy they are view, find and share – anyone can open a PDF, and they can be easily printed. Although there are other apps that offer GeoPDF support, they behave more like a PDF viewer, whereas Mappt Elements places the GeoPDF on a fully interactive map.

The app allows users to stack additional data, such as shapefiles, on top of the GeoPDF layer, creating a fully customisable map. Mappt Elements essentially enables the user to stand inside their map or GeoPDF and collect data on top of it. Because the file is downloaded onto a user’s device, the GeoPDF is also fully available offline.