Android: Simple way to make a geofence?

thedeepfield picture thedeepfield · Aug 19, 2012 · Viewed 14.9k times · Source

I'm new to Android development and am creating an app that allows a User to create a Geo fence around a specific location for reminders. For example: Making a geofence around a grocery store to remind the user as he enters to pick up Orange Juice.

Does anyone know of a tutorial that could help in developing something like this?

Answer

Ginger McMurray picture Ginger McMurray · Sep 17, 2012

AFAIK there are no tutorials for geofencing, but it's pretty simple (assuming you want a circular fence).

  • This tutorial will tell you how to get the user's location
  • Any of these links will show you how to calculate the distance between their current location and the centerpoint for their fence
  • Calculate their distance from the center at regular intervals. I'd let them set the interval through a settings screen and start with a default around five minutes because anything more than that is a hefty battery drain. Store that distance every time you get it.
  • If their last distance compared to their new distance crosses the boundary, perform your action. For instance, I worked on an app that would alert a parent if the child left a friend's house or arrived at school.