Expedition America City Discoverer

Comprehensive User Guide

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App Overview

Expedition America City Discoverer is your ultimate travel companion for exploring the United States. It automatically recognizes cities and states as you travel, creating a personalized discovery map that showcases your journey across America.

The app features:

  • Automatic City Detection: Identifies when you enter a new city or state
  • Interactive USA Map: Visual representation of states you've visited
  • Travel Statistics: Track states and cities you've explored
  • Travel Guides: Access information about the places you discover
  • State Badges: Collect badges for each state you visit
  • Notes & Photos: Document your experiences with notes and photos
  • Low Power Mode: Optimized to preserve battery life
  • Offline Capabilities: Record travels even without constant internet

Getting Started

Start Your Expedition

To begin tracking your travels:

  1. Look for the green circular button on the lower right of your screen
  2. Tap it to start your expedition (it will turn red when active)
  3. Grant location permissions when prompted (required for city detection)
  4. The app will now begin tracking your journey as you travel
Tip: For the best experience, keep the app running in the foreground when traveling through new areas.
Initial Setup

For optimal performance:

  • Enable precise location in your device settings
  • Allow background location access for continuous tracking
  • Consider adding the app to your home screen for quick access

Tracking Modes & Controls

Understanding Tracking Modes

The app uses three distinct tracking states:

Inactive (Green)

Tracking is paused or stopped

Active Expedition (Red)

Actively tracking your journey

Stationary (Yellow)

Detected no movement

Mode Transitions:

  • Active → Stationary: Happens after 2 minutes without significant movement
  • Stationary → Inactive: Automatically transitions after 5 minutes of no movement to save battery
  • Any Mode → Active: Tap the button to resume active tracking immediately
Note: To prevent battery drain, the app will automatically pause tracking if you remain stationary for an extended period.

Interactive Map Features

Map Views & Layers

The interactive map offers multiple viewing options:

Base Maps
  • Street View: Detailed road maps (default)
  • Satellite: Aerial imagery
  • Hybrid: Satellite imagery with road overlays

To change map type, tap the layer control button in the top right corner of the map.

Points of Interest (POI)

Toggle various POI categories on/off using the controls at the top of the map:

  • Attractions: Notable tourist destinations
  • Food & Dining: Restaurants and eateries
  • Accommodations: Hotels and lodging
  • Services: Gas stations, rest areas, etc.
Map Controls

Additional controls available on the map:

  • Zoom In/Out: Use the +/- buttons or pinch to zoom
  • Center on Location: Tap the crosshair icon to center on your current position
  • State Information: Tap on any state to view information about it
State Coloring & Badges

As you travel, the map visually represents your progress:

  • Unvisited States: Shown in light gray
  • Visited States: Highlighted in blue
  • Current State: Outlined with a pulsing effect

State Badges:

Each state you visit awards you a unique badge that appears in the badge collection section. Badges display the state's outline, abbreviation, and the date you first entered it.

City Discovery & Recording

How City Detection Works

Expedition America automatically detects when you enter a new city:

  • The app uses your GPS coordinates to determine your current city
  • A new discovery is recorded when you cross a city boundary
  • Each discovery includes the city name, state, timestamp, and coordinates
  • Detection requires a minimum movement threshold (approx. 1 mile) from previous locations
Tip: For the most accurate city detection, ensure your device has good GPS signal reception.
Recently Discovered Cities

Your discoveries are recorded in the "Recently Discovered Cities" section:

  • Shows a chronological list of cities you've discovered
  • Each entry displays the city name, state, and timestamp
  • Tap on any city to view more details or add notes
  • The list can be collapsed or expanded by tapping the header
Travel Statistics

Keep track of your exploration progress:

  • States Count: Number of unique states visited
  • Cities Count: Total cities discovered
  • To Explore: States remaining to be visited

Tap on any of these statistics to see more detailed information.

Travel Guides & Nearby Attractions

Travel Guide Content

Explore comprehensive information about each place you discover:

  • City Guides: Overview, history, and key information
  • Weather: Current conditions and forecast
  • Attractions: Notable places to visit nearby
  • Events: Current and upcoming local events

Access guides by:

  1. Tapping on a city in your discovery list
  2. Using the search bar in the Travel Guides section
  3. Selecting "View Guide" when a new city is discovered
Finding Nearby Points of Interest

Discover attractions and amenities near your location:

  • Select the "Attractions" tab in the Travel Guides section
  • Use the category filters to narrow down results
  • Results are sorted by distance and rating
  • Tap on any item to view details, photos, and directions
Tip: Use the "Use Current Location" button to quickly find attractions near your present position.

Notes & Photo Capture

Adding Notes to Discoveries

Document your experiences in each city:

  1. In the "Recently Discovered Cities" list, tap on a city
  2. Select the "Notes" tab
  3. Enter your thoughts, experiences, or tips
  4. Tap "Save" to store your notes with that location

You can also view and edit all your notes from the "Notes" tab in the Travel Guides section.

Taking and Managing Photos

Capture memories from your journey:

  1. Tap the camera button to activate the camera
  2. Take a photo using the capture button
  3. Add a caption and associate it with your current location
  4. Photos are stored in your trip gallery and linked to the specific city
Tip: You can switch between front and rear cameras by tapping the switch camera button.

Managing Your Photos:

  • Access all your trip photos from the Photos section
  • Filter photos by state or city
  • Photos can be downloaded individually or as part of your trip export

Exporting & Managing Your Data

Downloading Your Travel History

Export your travel data in multiple formats:

  1. Go to the footer section of the app
  2. Tap "Download History" under Expedition Data Management
  3. Choose your preferred format:
    • PDF Report: Formatted travel journal with maps and statistics
    • JSON Data: Raw data for technical users
    • CSV Format: Spreadsheet-compatible format
  4. The file will be generated and downloaded to your device
Your travel data is stored locally on your device. Regular exports serve as backups of your discovery history.
Data Management Options

Manage your expedition data:

  • Clean Coordinates: Removes redundant location data to optimize storage (doesn't affect city records)
  • Reset All Data: Clears your entire travel history and starts fresh (use with caution!)
Warning: Resetting all data cannot be undone. Export your data before performing a reset if you want to keep a backup.

Setting Your Preferences

Display & Theme Options

Customize your app experience:

  • Map Type: Choose between Street, Satellite, or Hybrid (your choice is saved)
  • Dark Mode: Toggle between light and dark app themes
  • Layout Preferences: Expand/collapse sections based on your preferences

To access display settings:

  1. Look for the settings icon in the upper right section of the app
  2. Toggle options according to your preference
  3. Changes apply immediately and are saved for future sessions
Notification Settings

Control app notifications:

  • City Discoveries: Get alerts when you enter a new city
  • State Crossings: Be notified when you cross state lines
  • Tracking Status: Receive updates about tracking mode changes
  • Weather Alerts: Get important weather condition notifications

Access notification preferences from the Settings menu.

Power & Performance

Optimize battery usage and performance:

  • Tracking Interval: Adjust how frequently the app updates your location
  • Low Power Mode: Enable to extend battery life (reduces tracking frequency)
  • Background Activity: Control whether tracking continues when the app is minimized
Tip: For most users, the default settings provide a good balance between accuracy and battery life.

Offline Mode

Using the App Without Internet

Expedition America works even without a constant internet connection:

  • GPS Tracking: Continues to work offline to record your movement
  • City Detection: Uses cached data to identify cities when possible
  • Map Viewing: Previously loaded map areas remain available
  • Data Storage: All discoveries are saved locally on your device

Limitations in Offline Mode:

  • Travel guides and POI information require an internet connection
  • Weather data won't update until connectivity is restored
  • Some new cities might be recorded with partial information
Tip: When you return to network coverage, the app will automatically sync and complete any partial information from your offline discoveries.

Battery Optimization

Extending Battery Life

Expedition America is designed to minimize battery consumption:

  • Automatic Pausing: Tracking pauses after 2 minutes of inactivity
  • Sleep Detection: The app recognizes when your device is not moving for extended periods
  • Variable GPS Polling: Adjusts location check frequency based on your movement patterns
  • Background Optimization: Reduces activity when the app is not in focus

For Maximum Battery Efficiency:

  • Manually pause tracking when you're not traveling
  • Use Low Power Mode in the settings
  • Close other battery-intensive apps
  • Reduce screen brightness when using the app

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my location data shared with anyone?

No. Your travel data is stored locally on your device. The app only uses your location to identify cities and states for your personal tracking and does not share this information with third parties.

How accurate is the city detection?

City detection is generally very accurate but depends on GPS signal quality. In densely populated areas with many small municipalities, the app may occasionally misidentify boundaries. For best results, ensure your device has good GPS reception.

Will the app drain my battery?

The app is designed to minimize battery usage with automatic pausing and sleep detection. However, continuous GPS tracking does use more battery than regular app usage. For long trips, consider connecting to a power source if available.

Can I use the app outside the United States?

The app is specifically designed for the United States. While it will function internationally, city detection and mapping features are optimized for the US. When outside the US, the app will display "International Location" and center the map on the United States.

How do I back up my travel history?

Use the "Download History" button in the footer section to export your data. This creates a backup file that can be stored off-device. We recommend doing this periodically to ensure your discovery history is preserved.

What if I accidentally reset my data?

Unfortunately, once data is reset, it cannot be recovered unless you've previously exported a backup. Always export your data before attempting any reset operations.

Can I manually add cities I've visited in the past?

Currently, the app focuses on real-time discovery. Manual addition of past visits is a feature under consideration for future updates.

How much storage space does the app use?

The app itself is lightweight. Storage usage increases with your travel history and saved photos. A typical user traveling through all 50 states might use less than 100MB for data (excluding photos).

Why is the tracking button changing colors?

The button color indicates the current tracking state: Green (inactive), Red (active tracking), or Yellow (stationary). This visual feedback helps you understand the current mode at a glance.

Support & Contact

Need additional help or have suggestions? Contact our support team:

Email Support

We value your feedback and are continuously working to improve Expedition America City Discoverer.