BenchMap

In-app purchases
4.3
164 reviews
10K+
Downloads
Content rating
Everyone
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About this app

BenchMap allows searching and viewing of National Geodetic Survey (NGS) survey stations on an interactive map. The map will allow you to quickly determine if the control station is usable, and whether the chances that it still exists. Once a station is selected, you can view its datasheet - both in the app and through your web browser. You can also pull up the Geocaching page, in case there may be useful notes that aren't on the NGS's site.

Tools for submitting a recovery to the NGS inslude allowing you to take pictures of the station (using the recommended naming format), and record notes. (At this time, submission of recoveries is not possible in the app - but may be available in the future!)

Filtering allows you view just the types of stations to display that you want - like certain stabilities, horizontal/vertical orders, and destroyed/non-publishable status. You can also directly search for a PID and have the map take you to the location of the station.

Made for the professional surveyor and the hobbyist out there in the wild.

Note that the application will only display NGS survey marks. At this time, certain agencies' stations will not appear in the app, unless their survey controls were submitted to the NGS. These agencies include:
- United States Geological Survey (USGS) - they will never digitize their station database.
- Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) - they have an online database, but at this time no API to pull data from.
- Department of Interior (DOI) - Stations for the DOI that don't fall under the ones above at this time have no API.

If any of these open up an API to pull survey marks from, they will be included.
Updated on
Jan 31, 2021

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
No data shared with third parties
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No data collected
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Ratings and reviews

4.3
161 reviews
A Google user
May 17, 2019
5-17-19: NGS notified me that the Control Locator datasheet problem had been resolved and I just successfully loaded two random sheets in mid-Florida, so great ! Back to 5 stars. 4-26-19 update: Still can't load any datasheets. NGS says they had problems with "systems" in March, but here we are in late April and still no datasheets... ORIGINAL: In years past, this was a useful app for Android, but it fails to call up any data for any benchmarks any more. I've seen the developer's remarks about NGS slowness. I've written NGS to see if they are aware of any Android apps that they might play nice with, and so far, they don't seem to accept responsibility for any problems we're having with no datasheets in BenchMap. I give it three stars for at least showing the locations, although I am having trouble with the app crashing since last Android update more often on my S-7.
5 people found this review helpful
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A Google user
July 20, 2019
Great app! I'm a land surveyor and need to be able to find benchmarks within a particular area, this app is perfect for that. You can search your proximity or specify another location to easily see what benchmarks are nearby. Then touch on the one you want to bring up the NGS datasheet with the description and published data on it. Fantastic field tool for surveyors!
9 people found this review helpful
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A Google user
March 12, 2019
this app needs an update. I'm having a lot of issues trying to load the data sheet for any benchmarks. I worked in west palm beach Florida last week and could only get 1 out of 13 to load the data sheet. today I'm in lake Mary Florida and I can't get any of the 4 near me to load. The data sheet is constantly timing out.
7 people found this review helpful
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TSQMadness
March 12, 2019
Unfortunately, this is because of the NGS Servers. They are taking too long to report data, and the Android OS is timing out (giving up) before allowing it to complete. Am in discussion with NGS folks for a remedy at this time.

What's new

Includes small fixes:
- Less battery usage when app is not in foreground.
- Fix to some user's 'My Location' dot not showing up.
- Adds bearing arrow to dot when moving.
- Updated linked libraries.