Feature: add an accuracy radius to map for geolocated user location

[fancyham]

Dependency

• Add missing 'use my current location'/GPS button on mobile screen #2187

Display a radius on the map to reflect location accuracy as provided by user’s device. This will help users have more confidence in the map and our results, because currently, we may geolocate them to the 'wrong' address (though that is because their self-provided GPS location has not fully resolved)

Context

We will soon be using a blue dot to indicate the user's GPS location (if users chooses to use the GPS/"my location" button option) in 2024.

Sometimes the gps location returned by the user’s browser is not exact, and their web brower can tell us what its estimated accuracy radius will be.

This can be seen on Apple and Google Maps as a light blue circle around the central blue dot. This indicates the region in which the user is located but the phone or computer is unable to be more accurate than this.

We should show this radius on our map as well so it’s obvious to the user that we’re using an approximate location.

How is it now?

Our map shows GPS as an exact point even when the user’s web client tells us that the location is approximate. This can lead to user confusion and frustration.

Proposed new feature

Discussion

What are some other possible solutions?
What are some challenges?

References:

HTML Docs - see coords.accuracy value

https://www.w3schools.com/html/html5_geolocation.asp

This is how Google maps does it. Note they also have a “you’re facing this way” indicator. We don’t / won’t have that.

[fancyham]

Dependency has been resolved — ready for review again