It’s relative

Sometimes GPS doesn’t do it …

In enclosed spaces, indoors, or near buildings, GPS may not be the answer. In the latest iPhone and Android versions of Behayve, we offer an additional way of determining the target’s location in two or three dimensions: relative positioning.

For each fix, Behayve now uses the compass bearing, zenith angle and range to compute the target’s position in relation to the observer, in the form of (east, north, height) coordinates. If the observer records all fixes from a single location, this gives a picture of the locations of different animals in relation to each other, easily graphed in a spreadsheet; GPS coordinates may be disregarded. Calculating the distance between animals is simply a matter of Pythagoras’ theorem.

Other recent additions to Behayve are below. Almost all were suggested by users: we’re so grateful. Please keep the suggestions coming!

• Behaviour buttons may be color-coded

• Groups may be cloned

• Whole studies may be cloned

• Speed-recording mode may now be either universal or per-behavior

• Areas (to which behaviors may be assigned) can now be either polygonal or simply notional

• State behaviors unterminated by the user are automatically terminated at the end of sampling, and their durations recorded

• An additional kind of data item, PerEndSampling, allows subject data to be entered at leisure following an intensive and necessarily short sampling period (say 15 seconds)

• Timestamps optionally can be in UTC instead of local time

• Battery usage is dramatically reduced

• Subjects, behaviors and other configuration items may be hidden for sampling and export purposes, when no longer required