Hot take: those free site survey apps are way more accurate than I thought

Last month at a dig near Santa Fe, our total station died on day two. We had to finish mapping a whole pueblo site with just my phone and a free app called SiteMapper. I was sure the GPS would be off by like 10 feet, but when we got the data back and overlaid it with old survey maps from the 80s, it was within a half meter. Now I'm wondering if I actually need to ever rent a total station again. Has anyone else tried relying on just phone GPS for site mapping?

3 comments

3 Comments

scott.jana15d ago

Honestly, that's a solid field test and half a meter is way tighter than most people would expect. Ngl, I've been skeptical about phone GPS for real archaeology work, but your results are pretty convincing. Tbh, the tech has come a long way just in the last few years. For smaller sites or quick surveys, I bet it's totally fine now.

williams.jenny15d ago

You hit it though, "the tech has come a long way just in the last few years" is exactly what I see everywhere now. My dad's old surveying gear from the 90s is basically a brick compared to what a phone can do in the field today. It's wild how much everyday tech has quietly caught up to professional tools without most people even noticing.

carter.laura14d ago

Oh, does anyone else remember that time someone tried to use a phone app to map out a burial mound and ended up marking a port-a-potty as a significant feature? (I swear I'm not making that up, it was in a local archaeology group I follow.) It was hilarious at the time, but honestly, it shows how far we've come. I mean, half a meter is basically right on the money for a phone, which is crazy impressive for something you keep in your pocket. For quick site checks or just getting a general layout, it's way better than hauling out a total station every time.