Overview

Metermap is a React Native mobile application designed to help field technicians efficiently navigate to meter locations. The app solves the challenge of planning optimal routes through dozens or hundreds of meter locations scattered across a service area.

The Problem

Utility companies and contractors need to read hundreds of meters spread across large service areas. Without route optimization, technicians waste significant time backtracking and navigating inefficiently. Existing solutions are either too expensive for small operations or require manual route planning that takes hours.

The Solution

Metermap automates the entire workflow from data import to navigation. Technicians upload an Excel spreadsheet exported from their billing system, and the app automatically converts UTM coordinates to latitude/longitude, groups meters by location, calculates the optimal visiting order, and displays the route on a satellite map. The satellite view helps locate meters in areas where street addresses are unreliable.

How It Works

Key Features

• Excel import with UTM to latitude/longitude coordinate conversion using Proj4
• Intelligent route optimization using clustering and nearest-neighbor algorithms
• Real-time location tracking with route visualization on satellite maps
• Satellite map view for easy location identification in the field
• Progress tracking to mark meters as completed during rounds
• Automatic grouping of multiple meters at the same address
• Manual coordinate entry for meters missing location data via direct input or MyLand URL
• Firebase Firestore for data persistence and session management

Technology Stack

Customization & Extensibility

The app is built with a modular architecture that makes it adaptable for various field service industries. The coordinate conversion system uses Proj4 to support multiple UTM zones and can be extended for other coordinate systems. The routing algorithm parameters can be tuned for different optimization priorities like shortest distance versus fastest time. The Firebase backend can be replaced with any REST API, and the Excel parser can be configured to match different column formats from various billing systems.

Results

Field technicians using Metermap report completing their rounds significantly faster by eliminating backtracking and reducing time spent searching for meters. The satellite view and coordinate conversion handle the common problem of inaccurate or missing address data. Progress tracking prevents missed meters and provides supervisors with visibility into field operations.

Future Improvements

Planned enhancements for upcoming releases:

• Turn-by-turn voice navigation for smoother hands-free field work
• Firebase-based meter location correction system for misclassified coordinates
• Offline mode with local caching for areas with poor connectivity
• Photo capture for meter readings with automatic OCR
• Integration with billing systems for automatic data sync