6.2 KiB
DeFlock
A comprehensive Flutter app for mapping public surveillance infrastructure with OpenStreetMap. Includes offline capabilities, editing ability, and an intuitive interface.
DeFlock is a privacy-focused initiative to document the rapid expansion of ALPRs, AI surveillance cameras, and other public surveillance infrastructure. This app aims to be the go-to tool for contributors to map surveillance devices in their communities and upload the data to OpenStreetMap, making surveillance infrastructure visible and searchable.
For complete documentation, tutorials, and community info, visit deflock.me
What This App Does
- Map surveillance infrastructure including cameras, ALPRs, gunshot detectors, and more with precise location, direction, and manufacturer details
- Upload to OpenStreetMap with OAuth2 integration (live or sandbox modes)
- Work completely offline with downloadable map areas and device data, plus upload queue
- Multiple map types including satellite imagery from USGS, Esri, Mapbox, and topographic maps from OpenTopoMap, plus custom map tile provider support
- Editing Ability to update existing device locations and properties
- Built-in device profiles for Flock Safety, Motorola, Genetec, Leonardo, and other major manufacturers, plus custom profiles for more specific tag sets
Key Features
Map & Navigation
- Multi-source tiles: Switch between OpenStreetMap, USGS imagery, Esri imagery, Mapbox, OpenTopoMap, and any custom providers
- Offline-first design: Download a region for complete offline operation
- Smooth UX: Intuitive controls, follow-me mode with GPS rotation, and gesture-friendly interactions
- Device visualization: Color-coded markers showing real devices (blue), pending uploads (purple), pending edits (grey), devices being edited (orange), and pending deletions (red)
Device Management
- Comprehensive profiles: Built-in profiles for major manufacturers (Flock Safety, Motorola/Vigilant, Genetec, Leonardo/ELSAG, Neology) plus custom profile creation
- Full CRUD operations: Create, edit, and delete surveillance devices
- Direction visualization: Interactive field-of-view cones showing camera viewing angles
- Bulk operations: Tag multiple devices efficiently with profile-based workflow
Professional Upload & Sync
- OpenStreetMap integration: Direct upload with full OAuth2 authentication
- Upload modes: Production OSM, testing sandbox, or simulate-only mode
- Queue management: Review, edit, retry, or cancel pending uploads
- Changeset tracking: Automatic grouping and commenting for organized contributions
Offline Operations
- Smart area downloads: Automatically calculate tile counts and storage requirements
- Device caching: Offline areas include surveillance device data for complete functionality without network
- Global base map: Permanent worldwide coverage at low zoom levels
- Robust downloads: Exponential backoff, retry logic, and progress tracking for reliable area downloads
Quick Start
- Install the app on iOS or Android
- Enable location permissions
- Log into OpenStreetMap: Choose upload mode and get OAuth2 credentials
- Add your first device: Tap the "New Node" button, position the pin, set direction, select a profile, and tap submit
- Edit or delete devices: Tap any device marker to view details, then use Edit or Delete buttons
New to OpenStreetMap? Visit deflock.me for complete setup instructions and community guidelines.
For Developers
See DEVELOPER.md for comprehensive technical documentation including:
- Architecture overview and design decisions
- Development setup and build instructions
- Code organization and contribution guidelines
- Debugging tips and troubleshooting
Quick setup:
flutter pub get
cp lib/keys.dart.example lib/keys.dart
# Add OAuth2 client IDs, then: flutter run
Roadmap
Needed Bugfixes
- Are offline areas really working? Are they preferred for fast loading even when online? Check working.
Current Development
- Swap in alprwatch.org/directions avoidance routing API
- Help button with links to email, discord, and website
- Clean cache when nodes have disappeared / been deleted by others / queue item was deleted
- Improve offline area node refresh live display
- Add default operator profiles (Lowe’s etc)
Future Features & Wishlist
- Update offline area nodes while browsing?
- Suspected locations toggle (alprwatch.com/flock/utilities)
- Offline navigation
Maybes
- Yellow ring for devices missing specific tag details?
- "Cache accumulating" offline area?
- "Offline areas" as tile provider?
- Optional custom icons for camera profiles?
- Upgrade device marker design? (considering nullplate's svg)
- Custom device providers and OSM/Overpass alternatives?
- More map data providers: https://gis.sanramon.ca.gov/arcgis_js_api/sdk/jsapi/esri.basemaps-amd.html#osm https://www.icgc.cat/en/Geoinformation-and-Maps/Base-Map-Service https://github.com/CartoDB/basemap-styles https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/perspective-map-theming-internet-tile-server-options/40164 https://github.com/roblabs/xyz-raster-sources https://github.com/geopandas/xyzservices/blob/main/provider_sources/xyzservices-providers.json https://medium.com/@go2garret/free-basemap-tiles-for-maplibre-18374fab60cb
Contributing & Community
This app is part of the larger DeFlock initiative. Join the community:
- Documentation & Guides: deflock.me
- Community Discussion: deflock.me
- Issues & Feature Requests: GitHub Issues
- Development: See developer setup above
Privacy & Ethics
This project helps make existing public surveillance infrastructure transparent and searchable. We only document surveillance devices that are already installed and visible in public spaces.
No user information is ever collected, and no data leaves your device except submissions to OSM and whatever data your tile provider can glean from your requests.
License
This project is open source. See LICENSE for details.