The Forest Preserve District wanted to provide its patrons with a smartphone application for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry to deliver information on its many facilities, assets, and events using an interactive location-based map.

Great Arc developed and implemented a smartphone application for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices which provides users with interactive access to Forest Preserve maps, locations, activities, photos, and events. The application utilizes GPS functionality to provide dynamic, location-based maps and information, including driving directions and real-time distance from the user’s current location.

Users can access Forest Preserve information in a number of ways, including by region, by activity area, through a search, by event, and by selecting on the interactive map. Information for each region and activity area is provided on a detail screen, which includes basic description and contact information, as well as driving directions and events and photos. The application’s user-friendly search function allows patrons to locate particular areas of interest via Region and Activity search. The map display is an interactive map in which the user can pan and zoom to navigate to a desired area and can obtain more information about Forest Preserve locations by selecting push pin icons throughout the County. Great Arc also provided a web-based administrator application which allows District staff to manage and maintain system data, including descriptions, events, and photos.