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Augmented reality view

Benchmrk includes an augmented reality (AR) feature that displays geo-anchored overlays of survey marks through your device camera. This helps you visually locate marks in the field by seeing their position relative to your surroundings.

AR view

Requirements​

  • iOS 14.0 or later — AR features require iOS 14.0+
  • Camera permission — the app needs access to your device camera
  • Physical device — AR is not available in the iOS Simulator
  • Compatible device — most iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards support AR features
  • Location services — the AR view requires location services to be enabled and may not be available in all regions
warning

AR geo-tracking is not available in all locations. If geo-tracking is unavailable in your area, the app will display an alert and return to the map view.

Opening the AR view​

  1. From the map screen, tap the AR button.
  2. Grant camera permission if prompted.
  3. The AR view launches, showing your camera feed with a mini-map in the corner.

Alternatively, you can open the AR view from a mark's details panel.

How it works​

The AR view places geo-anchored markers in 3D space through your camera:

  • Geo-anchored overlays — survey mark icons are placed at their real-world geographic coordinates.
  • Compass view — a compass footer shows the direction and distance to the selected mark.
  • Mini-map — a small map view in the corner shows your position and the mark location.

The AR overlay uses the same jurisdiction-specific marker icons as the map view, so you can identify mark types at a glance.

Using AR in the field​

  1. Open the AR view when you are within a few hundred metres of the target mark.
  2. Hold your device up and slowly pan around to let the AR session calibrate.
  3. The coaching overlay will guide you through the calibration process.
  4. Once calibrated, the mark icon appears in the camera view at its geographic position.
  5. Walk towards the icon to approach the physical mark.
tip

AR works best outdoors with a clear view of the sky. The geo-tracking system uses visual positioning and GPS to place anchors accurately.

Closing the AR view​

Tap the Close button (X) in the top corner to dismiss the AR view and return to the map screen.

Troubleshooting AR​

  • "Geotracking unavailable" alert — geo-tracking is not supported in your current location. Try moving to an area with better coverage.
  • Markers not appearing — ensure the AR session has fully calibrated. Follow the coaching overlay instructions.
  • Inaccurate placement — AR anchor accuracy depends on GPS quality and visual positioning. Move to an area with better GPS reception and clear visual features.
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