Stay inside
The alarm triggers when the confirmed position leaves the permitted area. This is useful for a designated area or a route corridor.
Area monitoring
Configure object alarms correctly
Receive an alert when you leave or enter a defined area. MapTools accounts for object type, GPS accuracy and the limits of battery-efficient background monitoring.
Basic principle
Stay inside or stay outside
An object alarm links an existing project object to a spatial condition. A red bell indicates that its alarm is active.
Stay outside
The alarm triggers when the confirmed position enters the defined area. This can be used as an approach or exclusion zone.
Four object types
Markers, circles, areas and routes can be monitored. Spatial evaluation follows the actual geometry of the object.
Visible status
Active alarms use a red bell in the object information sheet, object browser and on the object in Google Maps and VTM.
Operation
From an object to an active alarm
Settings live directly on the object. This keeps the monitored geometry clear and makes the alarm easy to change or remove later.
- Open the objectOpen a marker, circle, area or route in the object information sheet and tap the bell.
- Choose the conditionSelect Stay inside or Stay outside and set the alarm distance or corridor.
- Choose signallingSelect sound and vibration, vibration only or silent, plus vibration pattern, tone and relative volume.
- Test the signalListen to or feel the chosen signalling before saving it.
- Enable the alarmSave and verify the red bell on the object, map and in the object browser.
Accuracy
How MapTools evaluates a boundary crossing
One drifting GPS fix should not cause an unnecessary alarm. MapTools therefore combines geometry, reported accuracy and confirmation over time.
Marker
Distance is calculated from the marker position. The selected alarm radius defines the monitored area.
Circle and area
A circle uses its circular geometry; an area uses its polygon boundary and interior.
Route
MapTools uses the nearest point on the complete route geometry. The selected distance forms a corridor along the route.
Confirmed states
Fix age, GPS accuracy, several confirming fixes over at least eight seconds and hysteresis reduce false alarms near a drifting boundary.
Background
Battery-efficient system geofences with clear limits
Full-geometry evaluation runs while the app is visible. Marker and circle alarms can additionally use Android system geofences after explicit background opt-in.
Visible app
Markers, circles, areas and routes are evaluated through the shared location stream and their complete geometry.
App in the background or closed
After explicit permission, markers and circles can continue through Android system geofences. Areas and routes remain limited to the visible app.
Restart and force stop
Enabled system geofences can be registered again after a device restart. After Android Force stop, monitoring resumes only when MapTools is opened again.
Battery and delay
System geofences save battery but are not second-accurate. Small radii, poor reception, Doze and manufacturer battery rules may delay an alert.
Not for safety-critical boundaries
A smartphone alarm does not replace supervision, barriers, incident command or safety-critical navigation. Allow practical tolerance, particularly for radii below 100 metres.
Notification
Choose a signal and respond directly
Audible and haptic output can be adapted to the environment and task. MapTools does not silently change the device system volume.
Sound and vibration
Choose a system tone or readable local audio file, a vibration pattern and relative volume within the appropriate audio channel.
Vibration only or silent
Both choices are available in the compact selector and can be tested before saving.
Notification actions
A triggered alarm can be snoozed for ten minutes, changed to quieter signalling or stopped completely.
Alarm filter
The bell in the object browser shows only objects with active alarms. Text, category and visibility filters continue to apply as well.
Data and portability
What is stored and what remains local
Alarm definitions and device settings are kept separate so that importing or restoring a project cannot unexpectedly start background monitoring.
Project and backup
The alarm definition attached to an object can remain in .asmaps and app backups. Object IDs are remapped safely during project import.
This device only
Background opt-in, selected audio URI and snooze state remain local device settings and are not included in portable projects or backups.
Location processing
MapTools processes location for the enabled alarm and does not send alarm locations to a MapTools-operated server.
Permissions
Foreground location, notifications and optional background location are explained and requested separately in the actual alarm workflow.
Free and Pro
Free can have one active object alarm. Pro supports up to 50 active object alarms. Android and device limitations apply to both editions.
Technical background
Two evaluation paths, one alarm model
MapTools does not run two competing geofencing systems at the same time. The appropriate path takes over according to the app state.
MapTools in the foreground
The app evaluates its existing location stream. This supports markers, circles, areas and full route corridors with reported accuracy, hysteresis and time-based confirmation.
App in the background or process absent
For approved markers and circles, MapTools registers a circular system geofence through Google Play services. Android can monitor it efficiently and wake the local receiver after a boundary transition.
Local and independent of the map
The alarm definition remains in MapTools on the device. MapTools does not upload alarm locations to its own server. VTM only renders the map, and Google Maps is not the geofence engine. Optional Google Location Accuracy follows device settings.
Accuracy versus battery use
System geofences batch location checks and avoid a permanently running MapTools GPS stream. This saves battery but is not second-accurate. Reception, radius, Doze and manufacturer rules can affect timing and accuracy.
Restart and Force stop
After a device restart, MapTools registers approved system geofences again. After Android Force stop, they stay inactive until MapTools is opened. Without Google Play services, only visible-app monitoring is available.
Enable and use
From the bell icon to the alarm notification
Monitoring is deliberately configured per object. Background access is optional and is explained and requested only in the alarm workflow.
- Open the objectOpen the information sheet for a marker, circle, area or route and tap the bell.
- Configure the alarmSelect condition, distance and signalling. For markers and circles, optionally enable monitoring after leaving MapTools, then grant the location and notification permissions requested by Android.
- Respond to the alertAfter a confirmed boundary crossing, MapTools shows the object name, condition and distance. You can open the object, snooze, use quieter signalling or stop the alarm.
App visible
MapTools evaluates markers, circles, areas and route corridors itself, preserving the actual object geometry.
App in the background or closed
Android monitors only explicitly enabled markers and circles as circular system geofences. Areas and routes are no longer evaluated in this state.
Why no permanent foreground service?
A continuously running MapTools GPS service would consume more battery. Google Play also states that, from 26 August 2026, geofencing is no longer an allowed location foreground-service use case and directs apps to the Geofencing API.
Local, but not instant
Rules remain on the device and do not require a MapTools server. Android batches location checks to save power, so reception, Doze and manufacturer policies can delay an alert.
Detailed guides
Actions after an object alarm
The alert shows the condition, distance or boundary violation and GPS accuracy before you choose the next action.
Respond
Show the object on the map, open settings, snooze for 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes, change the signal, acknowledge the current alert or stop monitoring.
Acknowledge versus stop
Closing the alert ends only the current signal. Monitoring remains active and can trigger again after the position first returns to the permitted side. Notification shortcuts provide 10-minute snooze, Quieter and Stop.