FAQ About Location Sharing and Safety Tracking
This page collects short questions about location sharing. If you want the full picture of the Safety Tracking feature or participant guidance, see Safety Tracking. If you want the operational thinking for event-day management and overdue-return response, see Operations Guide - Safety checks and return confirmation.
How accurate is the location?
In a standard event
During play, GPS accuracy is adjusted automatically according to the distance from nearby spots.
| Distance from the nearest spot | GPS accuracy |
|---|---|
| Under 200m | Highest accuracy, around 10m |
| 200m to 500m | Around 50m |
| 500m to 1,000m | Around 100m |
| Over 1,000m | Around 100m with reduced update frequency for battery saving |
Location is recorded only when horizontal accuracy is within 40m. If accuracy is poor, the data may be discarded and the route may show jumps.
In a Safety Tracking Event
Accuracy changes depending on the Tracking Interval (1 / 3 / 5 minutes) set by the organizer.
| Interval | GPS accuracy | Distance filter (iOS) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 seconds (1 min) | Around 10m | 50m |
| 180 seconds (3 min, default) | Around 100m | 100m |
| 300 seconds (5 min) | Around 100m | 200m |
The distance filter is iOS behavior. On Android, location is acquired and sent based on time intervals (the transmission interval and a shortest interval of about 1/4 of it), not on distance moved.
Location with horizontal accuracy worse than 100m is not sent (this prevents misleading display from inaccurate location data). Location data that has jumped unnaturally from the previous position (where the travel speed exceeds about 80 km/h) is also automatically excluded.
I am worried about battery use
We recommend carrying a portable battery. In Safety Tracking Events, the longer the location sending interval set by the organizer, the lower the consumption. The app saves power as follows.
NaviTabi reduces battery consumption in the following ways.
Battery saving mechanisms
- Distance filter (iOS): GPS is not updated until the device moves a certain distance, between 50m and 200m depending on the interval. On Android, location is acquired based on time intervals
- Adaptive accuracy: when the user is far from spots, GPS accuracy is reduced to save power
- Adjustable transmission interval: in Safety Tracking Events, the organizer can set the Tracking Interval (1 / 3 / 5 minutes). Longer intervals use less battery
Tips for making the battery last longer
- For long events, carry a mobile battery
- Close other apps that are not in use
- Lower screen brightness
- In Safety Tracking Events, tap Stop Location Sharing as soon as the event ends
In Safety Tracking Events, the participant's battery level is automatically shown on the organizer monitoring screen.
Can it be used outside mobile coverage?
Yes. Basic competition functions work even without coverage.
Behavior when offline
- GPS Punch and Camera Punch: these work with the device GPS, so they can be used even outside coverage
- Play area and restricted area alerts: Evaluated by local device GPS, so vibration, sound, notifications, and return navigation operate normally even out of coverage
- Map display: tiles that were cached in advance can still be shown. It is recommended to open the event map in advance and load it
- Data recording: location and punch data are stored automatically on the device
For what happens in detail when you lose coverage during play (photos, the unsynced notice, what does and does not work), see Playing an event - What happens where there is no signal.
When the device comes back online
- Locally stored data is automatically synchronized with the server
- Until synchronization finishes, results and rankings may take some time to reflect
In a Safety Tracking Event
Network state is shown by status icons.
| Status | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Location Sharing | Green | Location is being sent normally |
| Connecting… | Yellow | Reconnecting to the server |
| Offline | Gray | No network connection |
In out-of-coverage areas, location does not reach the organizer in real time. An SOS also does not reach the organizer immediately, but the SOS action itself can be performed even outside coverage, and it is sent automatically as soon as a signal becomes available (no need to repeat the action). For events with many no-coverage areas, prepare another communication method such as radios.
For how to think about event design that includes no-coverage areas, also see Operations Guide - Preparation Before the Event.
How is location data handled in events with a play area or restricted areas?
In events where the organizer has configured a play area or restricted areas, certain behaviors differ from standard events to ensure participant safety monitoring and prevent boundary excursions.
- Mandatory location sharing (Live Tracking): Live tracking cannot be turned off at start and is automatically enabled.
- Required permissions: "Precise Location" must be enabled in the device's location permission settings.
- Shorter update interval in Safety Tracking Events: In Safety Tracking Events, high-frequency positioning activates within 100 m of boundaries, and the location transmission interval drops to 30 seconds or less while outside the area or in restricted areas regardless of the regular setting.
For details, see Organizer Guide — Play Area and Restricted Areas and Participating in an Event — Play area and restricted area alerts.
Can I see a record of my movement afterwards?
Yes. After you finish location sharing, you can review your own track on a map. The review screen opens right after you stop, and you can also open it later from History in the app or My Records on the event screen. This works even in events where the organizer has chosen not to show the map.
- Only your own record is shown. Other participants' locations are not
- You can also check the distance, time, average speed, and elevation gain, as well as records of SOS and area violations
- You can export your track as a GPX file
- When the track is drawn from the locations sent to the organizer every few minutes, it looks straighter than the route you actually took (a note is shown on the screen)
For details, see Join a Safety Tracking Event — Review your record after sharing ends.
How is location data protected?
NaviTabi takes the following measures to protect participant privacy.
Control of who can see location
- Organizers can turn off Allow everyone to view live map. In that case, participants and viewers cannot see the live map, and only organizers can view all participant locations
- In standard events, the current location of a participant who started with Live Tracking turned off is not shown on the live map. The track of the route they took is still saved as part of the play record even when it is off
- The review screen shown after you finish location sharing in a Safety Tracking Event shows only your own record. Other participants' records are not shown on this screen
When an account is deleted
Deleting the account also removes:
- Email address
- Display name
- Device information
- Membership information
- Group participation information
- Play statistics
Permission requirements
- iOS: when using the Safety Tracking feature, location permission must be Always Allow. If permission is only while using the app, background transmission cannot work correctly
- Android: background location access permission is required
Time limit for location sharing
Safety Tracking location sharing stops automatically after up to 24 hours. This prevents location transmission from continuing indefinitely if the user forgets to stop it.