Geo-Explo — mapping platform for the forum

bastien

Geo-Explo is a mapping module integrated into the forum, designed specifically for off-road and heavy-vehicle travelers. It lets you share GPS tracks, bivouacs, points of interest and geolocated photos directly in your posts.

The module is active in every forum of the Travels category. In other categories, posts remain unchanged.

What it enables

  • Share GPS tracks (.gpx files) with automatic statistics (distance, positive elevation, min/max altitude, point count)
  • Add geolocated spots: bivouacs, water points, trail alerts, viewpoints, rest areas
  • Place your photos on the map using GPS EXIF data
  • Edit your tracks: crop, cut, merge, rename segments
  • Explore all forum tracks on the global interactive map
  • Save favorite tracks, define private zones, declare your vehicle

Viewing a track in a post

When a Travels-category post contains a GPS track, the interactive Leaflet map and the cover image appear automatically above the post body. Click on the track: a popup shows distance, elevation gain, min/max altitude.

Interactive Leaflet map with colored GPX track and open popup
The interactive Leaflet map appears above the text with the colored track and a popup summarizing distance, elevation gain and min/max altitude.

If the track has altitude data, an elevation profile appears below the map, with synchronized hover (a red dot tracks the cursor position on the chart).

Elevation profile below the map with altitude/distance/time tooltip
Synchronized elevation profile: the red dot moves on the map in real time as you hover the chart.

Photos with EXIF coordinates appear as 📷 icons (circular markers) on the map. Below the map, two actions: Download GPX (raw file) and View on the global map (opens the explorer centered on the track).

Geolocated photos as 📷 icons on the map
Photos with EXIF GPS appear as markers; a click opens the thumbnail with a link to the full-size version.

Creating a geo post

Below the text editor, a Geo-Explo panel offers 4 independent and combinable functions.

Geo-Explo panel under the editor with 4 checkboxes
The Geo-Explo panel opens below the editor: 4 independent functions (GPX track, spot, geolocate, image) that can be freely combined.
  1. Add a GPX track — drag-and-drop or file picker. Automatic preview with stats. Douglas-Peucker simplification for display, full original data kept for download
  2. Add a spot — title, category (Bivouac, Refueling, Trail, Viewpoint…), tags, coordinates (map click or input), description, suitable vehicle types
  3. Geolocate the post — attach a geographic area to the post itself for explorer filters. Country and region auto-detected
  4. Cover image — designate one attachment to be shown in track previews
GPX track section expanded with map preview and stats
GPX drop zone with track thumbnail preview, name and vehicle fields, distance/elevation statistics computed automatically.
Spot form with interactive map and orange marker
Creating a spot: title, category, tags, coordinates (click the small map), description, validated vehicle types.

Auto-saving drafts

While composing, Geo-Explo saves the draft on the server (text + geo data + files) every 30 seconds and 5 seconds after you stop typing. Structuring geo events (placing a point, enabling a track) trigger an immediate save. The draft is tied to the account: you can resume from another machine. On reopen, a “Draft from…” banner offers to restore.

GPX track editor

Dedicated editor to process tracks before publishing: load multiple files, segment list, crop start/end, cut a segment, merge two segments, manage junctions, elevation profile, global statistics, timeline, edit on OpenStreetMap, undo/redo, export and send directly to the post form. Keyboard shortcuts available.

GPX editor overview with map, segment list and profile
The GPX editor combines the segment map, editable list and statistics in a single view.
Crop tool to trim the start/end of a track
Trim tool: drag two handles on the elevation chart to remove the start and end of a track.
Detailed elevation profile in the editor
Detailed elevation profile with per-segment statistics and synchronized map/chart hover.

Map explorer

Global map gathering every forum track and spot. Filters by country, category, vehicle. Chronological browse to follow the evolution over time.

Global explorer of every forum track
The global explorer gathers every track published on the forum, with country/category/vehicle filters and chronological browse.

Member geo profile

The user profile includes a map showing the member’s entire journey, with chronological browse.

Member profile with map of all journeys
Geo view of a member's profile: all their tracks and spots gathered on a single map.

My account

Personal space: favorites (tracks and spots), private zones (map areas where your tracks are only visible to you or a group), home base, current vehicle. Note: the explorer and certain precise data are only visible above a configurable post-count threshold (set by the administrator).

Private zones configuration in the UCP
UCP "Private zones" page: draw a zone on the map, choose who can see tracks crossing it.

Full documentation

The detailed manual with all 27 screenshots is available on the forum: forum.debucquoi.com/app.php/geoexplo/aide.

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