Mapeo Support Materials
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  • Introduction
  • Overview
    • About Mapeo
      • Mapeo tools
      • Peer-to-peer & Mapeo sync
      • How Mapeo is being used
    • Is Mapeo right for me?
    • FAQs
  • Quick start guide
    • Getting started
    • Mapeo Mobile
    • Mapeo Desktop
  • Complete Reference guide
    • Welcome – Introduction
    • 🗒️Essentials for a successful Mapeo project
      • Planning a Mapeo project
        • What is the project goal?
        • What outputs do you want?
        • What information to collect?
          • Data types within Mapeo
        • Who should be involved and how?
        • What are the parameters?
      • Security & risk assessment
      • Creating user protocols
    • ✔️Will Mapeo work out-of-the-box for me?
      • Default configuration
      • Default background map
    • ⚙️Customization options
      • Translating Mapeo & default configurations
      • Custom configurations
        • Creating custom configurations
          • Planning configuration & data structure
            • Categories
            • Icons
            • Details fields
          • Coding configuration
            • Adding icon files
              • Creating and exporting SVG files using Adobe Illustrator
              • Creating and exporting SVG files using Inkscape
            • Creating details fields
            • Creating categories
            • Defining geometry defaults
            • Adding a project key
            • Adding project name and version
            • Building configuration file
              • Via the command line
              • Using GitHub Actions
          • Testing and iterating
      • Custom background maps
        • Creating custom background maps
          • Generating map files in .mbtiles format for the experimental Background Maps feature
    • 📱Mapeo Mobile installation & setup
      • Installing Mapeo Mobile
      • Choosing Mapeo Mobile settings
      • Experiments: Turning on experimental features
        • Directional Arrow
        • P2P (peer-to-peer) App Updates
        • Background Maps
        • Security
          • App Passcode
          • Obscure Passcode
      • Importing configurations into Mapeo Mobile
      • Adding custom background maps to Mapeo Mobile
      • Updating Mapeo Mobile
    • 📱Mapeo Mobile use
      • Activating GPS and viewing current location
      • Creating observations
      • Viewing observations
      • Editing and deleting observations
      • Sharing data externally
      • Syncing data via Wi-Fi
    • 💻Mapeo Desktop installation & setup
      • Installing Mapeo Desktop
      • Choosing Mapeo Desktop language
      • Importing configurations to Mapeo Desktop
      • Adding custom background maps to Mapeo Desktop
      • Updating Mapeo Desktop
    • 💻Mapeo Desktop use
      • Mapeo Desktop for managing Mapeo Mobile data (Observations mode)
        • Synchronizing data
          • Synchronizing via Wi-Fi
          • Synchronizing with a file
        • Viewing observations
        • Editing and deleting observations
        • Exporting data & sharing externally
      • Mapeo Desktop for creating territory data (Territory mode)
        • Navigating around the map
        • Creating and editing territory data
        • Changing background maps in Territory mode
        • Importing and using external geospatial data
        • Exporting and syncing data
      • Synchronizing data with Mapeo Desktop
    • 💡Mapeo trainings
      • Defining goals and format
      • Structuring a training
        • Best practices for planning a training
        • Structuring the agenda, content and activities
          • Suggestions for the different sections of a training event
          • Tips and suggested activities for training key features of Mapeo
          • Materials and resources available for the training event
      • Preparing equipment and supplies for a training
        • Recommended equipment and supplies
        • Tech preparation before doing in-person training
    • 🔧Troubleshooting
      • I can't start Mapeo
      • Mapeo closes automatically
      • I have problems with the GPS in Mapeo
        • GPS is not activated in Mapeo
        • My GPS signal is very weak
      • I have problems with the camera in Mapeo
        • I get a black screen when using the camera
      • I want to update Mapeo Mobile permissions
      • I have sync issues
        • I want to connect to Wi-Fi
        • I want to create local Wi-Fi networks
          • With a portable router
          • With a smartphone
        • The device I want to sync with does not show up on my Synchronize screen
        • I get an error when I try to sync with another device
        • I can't sync with the sync file
        • The person I want to sync with has deleted valuable data
      • Sharing files between devices
      • Saving and printing Mapeo reference materials
      • How do I back up Mapeo Desktop data?
    • Glossary & quick reference sheets
      • Glossary of Mapeo related terms
      • Overview of Mapeo Desktop Territory mode screen
  • For developers
    • Mapeo architecture overview
    • Mapeo repositories
    • Localization
  • Support
  • Additional references
  • Digital Democracy website
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  • Mapeo's peer-to-peer database
  • Main characteristics:
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  1. Overview
  2. About Mapeo

Peer-to-peer & Mapeo sync

PreviousMapeo toolsNextHow Mapeo is being used

Last updated 3 years ago

Mapeo's peer-to-peer database

Unlike traditional apps where all the data is stored on a central server (in the cloud or in an office), the Mapeo database is integrated into the application on your device, and every device (smartphone or computer) participating in your project can have a copy of all the data. This is called a peer-to-peer database. We made this choice so that Mapeo can work entirely offline and does not require the user to set up any database or machine for storing data.

This peer-to-peer database allows users to transfer data to other users in the field without internet, and several users with computers or smartphones can all work on the same dataset and share edits.

Main characteristics:

  • Data ownership and control Data collected with Mapeo is stored directly on the devices used for data collection and can be shared with other smartphones or computers that participate in the same project. This way, the information does not exist solely on one device. No one else, not even us, has access to this data. Mapeo users are the owners of the information collected and have total control over it. In other words, your data stays in your team, in your community. To learn more about the embedded database Mapeo is built on, see the section.

  • Peer-to-peer data sharing All devices connected to a peer-to-peer network can have the same hierarchical position within the network. Information is shared directly between different devices using a synchronization process in which each device receives and shares data. Two Mapeo devices can sync with each other at a time, and devices must be part of the same project (ie. using same ) to sync with one another. All devices that synchronize end up having the same information, and changes made on one device will be reflected on the other devices after syncing.

  • Offline synchronization Through synchronization, users can transfer data to a computer or smartphone in the field completely offline, and several users with computers and smartphones can all work on the same dataset and share edits. Offline synchronization between smartphones and computers is currently done via Wi-Fi. You can create a Wi-Fi network in the field using a cheap ($25) mobile router or a third device capable of serving as an offline hotspot. The Wi-Fi network does not need to have to have an internet connection. Mapeo computers can also synchronize offline using a generated sync file.

  • Requires a sync protocol We strongly encourage having a methodical for devices within your project to guarantee that all data is included in the shared database and no data is lost along the way. For all the information collected in a project to be present on the different devices, it is essential to plan how, when, and where the synchronization process between devices will occur. This is especially important in projects where participants work in distant places and do not coincide with other members of their team on a regular basis.

  • Data back-up By synchronizing systematically and on a regular basis with other devices, you ensure that there is a back-up copy of all data. If a device in your project is lost, you can synchronize a new device with another device in the project to restore the data. Any data that has not been synchronized with other devices will not have a backup.

synchronization protocol
Mapeo Core
configuration