Introducing RouteShoot for Windows Phone - Version 1.1.0.5

Until this month, the RouteShoot smartphone app was only available to download on iOS and Android devices. 

Today, we’re excited to bring you RouteShoot for Windows Phone.

When RouteShoot for Android was launched in May of 2013, the RouteShoot community was over 7 thousand strong and growing fast. The RouteShoot community now reaches every corner of the globe with more than 17 thousand users.

In that past year, however, RouteShoot isn't all that’s grown. We've also seen the rise of a new mobile platform as tens of millions of people around the world have taken to Windows Phones. Our mission is to give everyone the ability to capture and share the moments around them, so our team has been working hard to bring RouteShoot to Windows Phone users everywhere.

We wanted to make RouteShoot available to people with Windows Phones as quickly as possible, so we focused on creating an awesome experience with RouteShoot's 'core' features. We’re not finished, and our team will continue developing the Windows Phone app to keep releasing features and bringing you the best app possible.

Learn more about RouteShoot for Windows phone and download it today from the Windows Phone Store!

World Bank Update - Visit to Philippines

Last week a couple of our team went out to visit the guys in the Philippines who are using RouteShoot to record road construction and reconstruction projects that are being supported by funding from the World Bank. Please see our blog post from 29th April 2014 for more details.

Gary, Ben and our World Bank hosts

Since our last update about this project, the scope of works being monitored using the RouteShoot app has expanded to include not only the Tourism Roads, but also "Farm to Market" routes.

This is the first time MD Gary Wilson has been to the Philippines and it was pretty clear why RouteShoot was chosen in preference to some of the high-tech video systems we see here, whizzing along motorways in the UK. 

There was no way some of these roads could possibly be driven safely in a big vehicle and there would be significant risks of damaging expensive equipment.

Sometimes the only way to trace out these routes was on foot... and occasionally a machete was an essential part of the surveyor's kit!


We were also interested to note some of the more innovative site protection techniques employed. In the absence of road cones, local construction teams would use whatever was at hand to protect new running surfaces.

Thanks to all, over in the Philippines, for looking after us on our stay.

Just a final note to say that it isn't all glamorous here at RouteShoot. While Gary was in Manila, fellow directors Andy and Adam were out visiting prospective customers in Wales. Spot the difference...

Slightly different weather on the M4 in Wales

Q&A Session with RouteShoot FD Adam May

Financial Director Adam May took to the hot seat this week and was able to answer a few pressing questions for us surrounding RouteShoot. With over 30 years’ experience and degrees in both economics and highways maintenance, RouteShoot FD Adam has become one of the country’s leading experts in developing whole-life asset management solutions for highways networks and really does feel this innovative product is fit for purpose. 

How would you define the space RouteShoot works in?

RouteShoot is currently working to gain business in the highways and utilities infrastructure industries (maintenance and management). Basically Geo-referenced video can help companies that look after assets that are 1 – outside and 2 – spread over a wide area; so roads, pipelines, waterways etc. can all benefit from something like RouteShoot.

Why did you start a company, or build a product, in this space? What need or gap do you aim to address?.

Well, we were aware that companies were already using video in the highways sector, but this usually involved either buying expensive equipment or hiring in subcontractors. When smartphone technology moved on to the point where HD video and GPS could both be collected from a mobile phone, we knew we could make this sort of technology available to a much wider audience at a greatly reduced cost.

Why will your product/service work? What makes your approach to this issue different from what others are doing?

Our product works because it has been developed by in-house professionals that are familiar with both the technology and its application. By buying this type of application from us, asset management companies can be confident that we understand their business needs and are not just trying to sell them the latest fancy bit of kit with no idea of any end purpose. There are similar products available I guess, but these are usually either “proof of concept” tools or sports-focused apps. I believe we are the only company truly focused on our customers’ particular needs and demands.

Could you tell us about other startups or product builds that you have been a part of.

In 2006, the team that founded RouteShoot Limited set up a civil engineering consultancy company called Wilson Pym May. That company has been responsible for developing a range of asset management software including drainage databases, highways inspection systems and a portable video capture solution called GeoVideo. RouteShoot is, in fact, a logical progression of GeoVideo. Wilson Pym May remains in business today and is still working on major projects within the highways industry.

Please tell us more about your product stage and what we should expect to see from your company in the next 12 months.

The basic RouteShoot product is up, running and stable on both iPhone and Android. In the next 12 months we are looking to roll out an app for Windows devices and are working on a couple of tweaks to enable live streaming. Other than that we are concentrating on meeting a few customer-led development ideas, as we are always keen to work with our customers first to improve our products rather than coming up with new ideas which ultimately no one might want.

New Year, New Features!

January saw the release of our 'Multiple Bookmark' feature.

Currently only available on Android devices, the new feature allows you to bookmark up to 3 different types of 'Point' and 'Linear' points of interest. 

Fully customisable you can also change the colours of the features you wish to collect. Cool eh?

''That's great but enough jargon - What is Point and Linear Referencing?''

A Point Feature represents a geographic location of interest. It is normally identified on a map by a point symbol, and has associated with it coordinates that specify its location on the map. Additionally, it may have attribute information stored along with the position information.

Some point referencing examples include:

• Road Signs
• Lamp Posts
• Bus Stops

Linear referencing allows you to identify the locations of features using a continuous measurement. Normally identified on a map by a line with a start and end point.

Some examples of linear items include:

• Highway Drainage
• Safety Fence 
• Road Markings

Point and Linear items can also be used to record Road Maintenance Operations, for example; pothole repairs or lengths of resurfacing. 

Cloud Computing for Dummies

Many of us already use the Cloud every day when doing tasks like checking our emails, sharing files and storing contacts - by 2017 the Global Cloud Computing Services Market is to Reach US$127 Billion.

With the world going mad for cloud computing are you keeping up with the jargon? 

At RouteShoot HQ there's a few of us who don't "speak tech" and that's why, with the help of our techno-geniuses we've put together this quick guide to explain what Cloud Computing is.

Cloud computing is a way of accessing your information through a complex network involving the internet. Instead of just accessing your data from the box in the corner, you now access your data via an internet connection. Historically, most data and information that business' have has been held on a computer in the corner of the office. Sound familiar? We all feel comfortable with our data held in this way, somewhere you know, with the people you trust. 

But what happens if:

• There is a fire at your premises damaging your computers
• You're the unfortunate victims of the most recent spate of PC burglaries 
• The computer you hold your data on has a melt down
• or even just that the office is closed because of snow

Cloud Computing experts would argue that in the above instances your data is better off with them.

At RouteShoot our Cloud hosted data is stored in highly secure data centres all over the world. By storing our data in this way we make use of an economy of scale and can directly benefit from the data protection team at the data centre whose sole job is to protect our important information. Not only does this reduce liability for us but it also provides peace of mind because we know that our information is protected with cutting edge data security tools and a dedicated team. This isn't something that ourselves or our customers have the resources to achieve in their own offices.

So if the data is actually in a data centre then where does the cloud come in?

Cloud computing is a way of accessing your information through a complex network involving the internet. Instead of just accessing your data from the box in the corner, you now access your data via an internet connection.

So now you know what all the fuss is about...

RouteShoot Recommended by Stuff (again!)

Following our "App of the Week" review by Stuff.tv back in April, we are really happy to let you know that they have been singing our praises again.

According to Stuff there are now more than 927,000 free Android apps available in the Google Play store - and they have chosen us as one of 30 "cracker" apps to look out for.

Please read their article here. We are listed number 30, but we don't think the list is in any particular order.

Nice to think that out of all the apps on the store we are included in a select 0.01% that they have picked out for a specific mention. Our thanks, once again, to the Stuff team for appreciating our work.

About Stuff.tv: Stuff is the world’s biggest-selling gadget magazine, and Stuff.tv is the online bit of that magazine (if that makes any sense). It’s where you can find tech news that’s wry but not dry, the world’s most trusted gadget tests and exclusive previews of the latest phones, computers, tablets, games, apps, TVs, hi-fi, headphones, cameras, consoles, and media players.

Occasional Update

Once again hi.

It is that time again when we feel we should spread a little bit of RouteShoot news and observation, so here we go...

RouteShoot New Recruit - (nearly a tongue twister, but not quite)

Down at RouteShoot HQ in Exeter, our team continue to go from strength to strength. We are very pleased this week to be able to introduce our newest team member Stacey. Despite a busy first week for Stacey, getting settled into her new Business Development role, she was able to give us the following statement:

"I’m delighted to join the RouteShoot team, especially in such an exciting stage of growth. I will be involved in improving the organisation’s market position and also exploring new opportunities for expansion and development. I hope to draw upon my previous experience for this varied role whilst adapting and learning new skills on the job." 

If you are on our existing customer list, or sit within our target markets for the commercial version of RouteShoot, we hope that you will be hearing from Stacey soon.

Industry Update - Street Works

For those of you in the highways maintenance or utilities sectors, you will probably be aware that the new Code of Practice for Safety at Street Works and Road Works has come into force this month. Compliance with this code is mandatory, and the Code warns that failure to comply is "evidence of failing to fulfil the legal requirements to sign, light and guard works".

We believe that RouteShoot would be an ideal way for companies to prove that they have complied with this Code. Date and time-stamped, geo-located video could provide an unequivocal record that your company has set out and inspected its street works in line with your obligations. These records could be of vital importance should a company find itself having to defend future claims against it.

For a free, no obligation trial of RouteShoot please visit our main website by clicking here. 

The Benefits of Cloud Computing

For those of you that don't know, RouteShoot makes use of "the cloud" for storing the video and route files created by our smartphone apps. Cloud computing has really been a key factor in delivering the RouteShoot product.

In August this year our FD, Adam, was interviewed by Deloitte and, as one of around 35 companies, RouteShoot's experience with cloud computing was used as input to a report commissioned by Google. Whilst RouteShoot is not directly credited, the report, "Small business, big technology: How the cloud enables rapid growth in SMBs", can be viewed by clicking here.

You can also link to Google's own "Google for Work" Blog by clicking here. 

And Finally

And finally, we have to say that this report from the BBC website made us smile. Scientist have discovered the brain's GPS!

Now, if only we could get that information out as NMEA strings.