Building RouteKeep Cam — iPhone Video and GPS Route Recorder
RouteKeep Cam is an iOS application I developed to record video clips together with GPS route tracks.
The app turns an iPhone into a practical local video and GPS recorder for driving, motorcycle rides, cycling, travel, field work, inspection routes, and route documentation. It can record video segments, save GPS track files, and let the user review saved trips later with a built-in video player and route map viewer.
The goal of this project was to build a reliable mobile recording tool that keeps a clear local archive of where a user traveled, when the route was recorded, and what happened along the way.
Project Details
Role: Owner / iOS Developer
Platform: iOS / iPadOS
App Type: Video Recorder, GPS Route Logger, Field Documentation Tool
Technologies: SwiftUI, AVFoundation, CoreLocation, MapKit, local file storage, Keychain, AdMob
Focus: Video segments, GPS CSV tracks, local archive, route map viewer, export, optional cloud transfer
Status: Published on the App Store
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/en/app/routekeep-cam/id6764856847
What I Developed
I designed and developed RouteKeep Cam as a native iOS application for recording and reviewing route-based video documentation.
The app supports three recording modes: Video + GPS, Video only, and GPS only. This allows the user to choose the most appropriate mode depending on the situation. For example, a driver may want both video and GPS, while a field worker may only need a GPS track, and another user may want to record video without location access.
The application saves recordings locally on the device and gives the user tools to review, export, share, or delete saved files.
Recording Modes
RouteKeep Cam supports flexible recording modes:
- Video + GPS: records MOV video clips and matching GPS CSV tracks
- Video only: records video clips without requiring location permission
- GPS only: records GPS CSV tracks without requiring camera permission
This structure makes the app more privacy-friendly and more practical. The user does not need to grant permissions that are not required for the selected mode.
Video Recording
The app records video in automatic segments.
Segmented recording is useful for long routes because it keeps files manageable, easier to browse, and easier to export. Instead of creating one very large recording, RouteKeep Cam can save a trip as multiple clips.
The app also supports front and back camera selection. The back camera is useful for dashcam-style recording, while the front camera can be used when the user needs to record the cabin, themselves, or another internal view.
GPS Route Tracking
When GPS recording is enabled, RouteKeep Cam saves route data as CSV track files.
These GPS files can be reviewed later in the app using the built-in route viewer. The route viewer displays the recorded track on a map, including the route line, recorded track points, and start and finish markers.
This makes the app useful not only for video recording, but also for route documentation and field reporting.
Saved Recordings Browser
I implemented a saved recordings browser where users can manage their local archive.
Users can open saved videos in the built-in video player, review GPS tracks on the map, export files to the Files app, share recordings, or delete old files when they are no longer needed.
This local-first workflow is important because the app does not require an account, login, subscription, or cloud service for its core functionality.
Local-First Privacy Design
RouteKeep Cam was designed around local storage.
Recordings are stored on the user’s device. The app can be used without a cloud account, and local recording, playback, GPS route preview, export, settings, and cleanup remain available without signing in.
This makes the app suitable for users who want direct control over their recordings and do not want to depend on a remote service for basic functionality.
Optional RouteKeep Cloud Transfer
In addition to the local workflow, I also implemented optional RouteKeep Cloud transfer support.
Users can connect the app to a RouteKeep Cloud account by saving an upload API key. The API key is stored securely in the iOS Keychain. After configuration, users can manually upload completed recordings or enable optional automatic transfer for newly completed segments.
Cloud transfer supports the same modes as local recording:
- Video + GPS
- Video only
- GPS only
The app can also optionally delete local files only after the cloud server confirms a successful upload.
This creates a flexible workflow: the app remains fully useful as a local recorder, but can also become part of a larger RouteKeep Cloud system for remote storage and review.
Settings and Automation
RouteKeep Cam includes several practical settings for real recording scenarios:
- Clip duration selection
- Recording mode selection
- Front or back camera selection
- Optional auto-start recording
- Optional auto-start when returning to the app
- Optional screen-awake mode while active
- Optional local recording stop notifications
- RouteKeep Cloud server and API key settings
- Manual and automatic cloud transfer options
- Delete-after-successful-upload option
These settings make the app adaptable to different use cases, from short personal route recordings to longer field documentation sessions.
Technical Implementation
The project combines several iOS development areas:
- SwiftUI application interface
- Video capture and recording
- Camera permission handling
- Location permission handling
- GPS CSV file generation
- Local file management
- Built-in video playback
- Built-in route map viewer
- File export and sharing
- Keychain storage for cloud API keys
- Optional cloud upload client
- Auto-transfer workflow
- AdMob monetization with recording-safe placement rules
One important engineering decision was making sure ads are not shown while recording is active. Recording tools must not interrupt the user during critical capture sessions, so monetization was designed around conservative timing and non-recording transitions.
Another important part was separating recording modes so camera and location permissions are only needed when the selected workflow actually requires them.
Possible Use Cases
RouteKeep Cam can be useful for many real-world scenarios:
- Car dashcam-style recording
- Motorcycle ride recording
- Bicycle route tracking
- Travel and expedition documentation
- Field work route reports
- Site access documentation
- Inspection route logs
- Personal route archives with video and coordinates
The app is especially useful when the user wants a local record of movement, location, and visual context.
Safety Note
RouteKeep Cam is designed as a recording and documentation tool. For safe use, the iPhone should be mounted securely before recording, and the app should only be operated when it is safe to do so.
Result
RouteKeep Cam became a complete published iOS recording application that combines video capture, GPS tracking, local file storage, map-based route review, video playback, export tools, settings automation, optional cloud transfer, and privacy-conscious local-first design.
This project demonstrates my experience in iOS development, media recording, GPS tracking, file management, cloud upload workflows, mobile UX, privacy-aware architecture, and building practical tools for real-world route documentation.
View on App Store: https://apps.apple.com/en/app/routekeep-cam/id6764856847