Integrating Maps in Mobile Applications

📘 Chapter 4: Real-Time Location, Geofencing, and Tracking

🔍 Overview

Modern mobile applications thrive on real-time, location-aware features—from live driver tracking in ride-hailing apps to personalized alerts when users enter or leave specific zones. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Access and update the user’s real-time location
• Implement live tracking with map animation
• Set up geofencing for event-based location triggers
• Handle location updates efficiently to optimize battery life
• Use platform-native and cross-platform tools for tracking

You’ll also see code examples for Android (Google Maps + FusedLocationProvider), iOS (Core Location + MapKit), and notes for Flutter and React Native.

📍 1. Accessing Real-Time Location

✅ Android – Using FusedLocationProviderClient

The Fused Location Provider is the most accurate and battery-efficient method on Android.

kotlin

val fusedLocationClient = LocationServices.getFusedLocationProviderClient(this)

fusedLocationClient.lastLocation.addOnSuccessListener { location ->

    val latLng = LatLng(location.latitude, location.longitude)

    mMap.moveCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLngZoom(latLng, 16f))

}

To receive ongoing updates:

kotlin

val locationRequest = LocationRequest.create().apply {

    interval = 5000

    fastestInterval = 2000

    priority = Priority.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY

}

✅ iOS – Using CLLocationManager

swift

class LocationManager: NSObject, CLLocationManagerDelegate {

    let manager = CLLocationManager()

    override init() {

        super.init()

        manager.delegate = self

        manager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()

        manager.desiredAccuracy = kCLLocationAccuracyBest

        manager.startUpdatingLocation()

    }

    func locationManager(_ manager: CLLocationManager, didUpdateLocations locations: [CLLocation]) {

        guard let location = locations.first else { return }

        let region = MKCoordinateRegion(center: location.coordinate,

            span: MKCoordinateSpan(latitudeDelta: 0.01, longitudeDelta: 0.01))

        mapView.setRegion(region, animated: true)

    }

}

⚠️ Permissions Required

🧭 2. Continuous Location Tracking

✅ Android - Location Callback Example

kotlin

val locationCallback = object : LocationCallback() {

    override fun onLocationResult(result: LocationResult) {

        val location = result.lastLocation

        val currentLatLng = LatLng(location.latitude, location.longitude)

        // Move marker or camera here

    }

}

fusedLocationClient.requestLocationUpdates(locationRequest, locationCallback, Looper.getMainLooper())

✅ iOS - Continuous Updates

Make sure allowsBackgroundLocationUpdates is enabled if using background tracking:

swift

manager.allowsBackgroundLocationUpdates = true

manager.pausesLocationUpdatesAutomatically = false

⚠️ Apple is very strict with background tracking. Ensure your use case justifies it and you declare it in Info.plist.

📡 3. Implementing Geofencing

Geofencing lets you define virtual boundaries and trigger events when users enter/exit them.

✅ Android - Using GeofencingClient

Add dependency:

gradle

implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:21.0.1'

Create a geofence:

kotlin

val geofence = Geofence.Builder()

    .setRequestId("home")

    .setCircularRegion(37.4219999, -122.0840575, 200f)

    .setExpirationDuration(Geofence.NEVER_EXPIRE)

    .setTransitionTypes(Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_ENTER or Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_EXIT)

    .build()

Register with:

kotlin

val geofencingRequest = GeofencingRequest.Builder()

    .setInitialTrigger(GeofencingRequest.INITIAL_TRIGGER_ENTER)

    .addGeofence(geofence)

    .build()

val geofencingClient = LocationServices.getGeofencingClient(this)

geofencingClient.addGeofences(geofencingRequest, geofencePendingIntent)

✅ iOS - Region Monitoring

swift

let region = CLCircularRegion(center: CLLocationCoordinate2D(latitude: 37.7749, longitude: -122.4194),

                              radius: 100,

                              identifier: "WorkZone")

region.notifyOnEntry = true

region.notifyOnExit = true

manager.startMonitoring(for: region)

📌 Use Cases for Geofencing

🔄 4. Animating Marker on Movement

Smooth transitions improve UX in apps like ride-hailing or logistics.

✅ Android

Use ValueAnimator to animate marker:

kotlin

val animator = ValueAnimator.ofFloat(0f, 1f)

animator.duration = 1000

animator.addUpdateListener {

    val v = it.animatedFraction

    val lat = start.latitude + (end.latitude - start.latitude) * v

    val lng = start.longitude + (end.longitude - start.longitude) * v

    marker.position = LatLng(lat, lng)

}

animator.start()

✅ iOS

Use UIView animation:

swift

UIView.animate(withDuration: 0.5) {

    annotation.coordinate = newCoordinate

}

⚙️ 5. Optimizing for Battery & Performance

📋 Summary Table: Real-Time Tracking APIs

📌 Conclusion

Location data brings life to mobile applications—but with power comes responsibility. Whether you're creating a courier app with real-time driver location or a social app with place-based discovery, managing live updates and geofencing well will define your success.

In the next chapter, we’ll explore Offline Maps, Performance, and Customization so your map features remain robust, even without an internet connection.