Coaster Logger Help & Support

What is Coaster Logger?

Coaster Logger is an app that allows you to record, analyse, catalogue and relive your roller coaster adventures. The app consists of five sections, which can be accessed along the bottom tab bar.

  • Track Screen: This is where you can start and stop a recording session on a roller coaster.
  • Coasters Screen: This is where you can view all your recordings, upload them for analysis and browse the results. This is also where you can download coaster samples to explore.
  • Collections Screen: This is where you can create personalised lists, and catalogue your rides into collections.
  • Achievements Screen: This is where you can find statistics and badges that you have earned as you ride more and more coasters with Coaster Logger.
  • Settings Screen: This is where you can adjust settings such as units, usernames and theme colours. You can also restore previously uploaded analysis, get help and support and find Coaster Logger’s privacy policy here.

How to Use Coaster Logger?

Coaster Logger uses sensors on your phone to track your rides and statistics — it does not use any online databases — so each track is unique to your experience. The typical usage involves:

  1. Start tracking from the Track Screen, and place your phone securely inside a pocket, preferably zipped.
  2. Enjoy the roller coaster ride as usual — the most important step!
  3. Stop tracking as soon as you disembark. Adjust the coaster name and park name as needed.
  4. Upload your recording from the Coasters Screen for analysis.
  5. Once the analysis is done, you can explore your roller coaster ride in full detail
  6. As you track more and more rides, you can:
    1. Organise them into Collections in the Collections Screen.
    2. Start to earn achievements and badges in the Achievements Screen automatically.

Tracking a Roller Coaster

To get started, open Sensor Logger and navigate to the Track Screen. In the centre of the screen, you can scroll horizontally to review important instructions and safety information. If you’re connected to the internet, your current location and weather information will appear at the top of the screen. To customize the name displayed on this screen, visit the Settings menu.

If Coaster Logger is ready, tap Start Tracking and you are good to go! The Start Tracking button may not be tappable if Coaster Logger is not ready:

  • Your phone could be missing essential sensors. Unfortunately, you will not be able to track coasters on this phone — see below for sensor requirements.
  • You may not have granted the relevant background sensor permissions. Grant the relevant permissions to continue.
  • You have hit the limit of 20 stored roller coaster if you are on the free tier — upgrade or delete existing stored coasters to continue.

Sensor Requirements

Your smartphone must have the following sensors:

  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Barometer
  • Location information, with background access

These are optional, but will greatly enhanced the quality of analysis:

  • GPS (Especially important!)
  • Magnetomer
  • Microphone
  • Heart rate (From paired Apple Watch)

Three Ways to Track

There are three ways to track coasters:

  1. Just phone (highest quality)
    1. Tap start on the phone after granting relevant permissions.
  2. Phone and watch (highest quality and greatest control)
    1. Grant relevant permissions on the phone.
    2. Start and stop the recording from your watch.
    3. Note that sensors on the phone are used for this type of recording, but additional sensor information, such as your heart rate, is merged in.
  3. Just Watch (lower quality, but may be necessary due safety)
    1. Grant relevant permissions on the watch.
    2. Start and stop the recording from your watch.
    3. Data is transferred to the phone aftrewards.

Granting Sensor Permissions

You will also find a list of sensors required for tracking. Some of these are available automatically, but some require you to grant explicit permissions for use with Coaster Logger. You can see what has been granted by checking the green / red tick marks against each sensor. You can learn more details about why each sensor is useful and Coaster Loggers data privacy policy by tapping “How Are These Sensors Used”.

In particular, you must grant Coaster Logger Always Location permission, so that the app can collect data reliably when the phone is in your pocket, even with screen off. Note that even though Always permission is granted, Coaster Logger never collect any data outside of a recording session.

Your phone might lack certain essential sensors, such as a gyroscope or barometer. If so, tracking roller coasters with this device won’t be possible. However, you can still download and explore tracks created by others—see the details below.

Once all the necessary sensor permissions have been granted, you can tap Start Tracking. For the best tracking quality, you should only start tracking when you are nearing the embarkation of the ride. ****

Placing Your Phone During the Ride

When using the Coaster Logger app to track your roller coaster rides, safety must be your top priority.

  • Use Zipped or Buttoned Pockets: If you have pockets with zippers or buttons, like those found on cargo shorts or jackets, use them to secure your phone safely.
  • Prefer Front Pockets When Seated: For seated roller coasters, the best option is to use a front pocket. Phones are less likely to slide out when held snugly between your body and the seat or lap bar.
  • Back Pocket as an Option: In seats without back holes, securing your phone in a deep back pocket is also a good option, provided the pocket is secure enough to hold the phone firmly in place. However, this is rarely a good idea for most modern coasters with open-style seating, especially flying coasters or coasters with vertical lifthills.
  • Control with Apple Watch: If you own an Apple Watch, you can start and stop the Coaster Logger app remotely from your watch, allowing you to secure your phone and still track your ride without needing to access your phone during the ride.
  • Inside Your Shoe: As a last resort, place the phone between your foot and your shoe. Ensure it is tightly positioned and that your shoe is secure to prevent the phone from moving during the ride.
  • Fanny Pack: A fanny pack (or waist pack) is an excellent option for securing your phone. Make sure the pack is fastened tightly around your waist and sits snugly against your body to prevent movement during the ride.
  • Sports Armband: A sports armband is one of the safest alternatives, keeping the phone securely attached to your arm and out of the way during the ride.

For best results, keep your phone snug against your body. The phone should stay firmly pressed against your body or tightly secured to reduce movement and ensure the app captures accurate data. Once the phone is secured, avoid shifting or adjusting it during the ride. Keep it in place until the ride has come to a complete stop.

Follow Ride Operator Instructions

  • Respect All Safety Rules: Always follow the safety guidelines provided by ride operators. These rules exist to keep everyone safe, and if they instruct you not to bring loose items (including phones) on the ride, you must adhere to their instructions.
  • No Loose Items: Never take loose items on a ride if it is prohibited. Loose objects like phones can become dangerous projectiles, potentially injuring other riders or people nearby.
  • Ask for Advice: If you’re unsure whether it's safe to bring your phone on the ride, ask the ride operator. They can advise you on the best way to secure your device.

Start Tracking from Your Apple Watch

Coaster Logger has a free, companion Apple Watch app. There are two ways to use the watch app — with and without the phone nearby.

Phone & Watch: Use this to start your recording session for better convenience. First, ensure Coaster Logger is running on your phone. You can then place your phone in your pocket without starting a recording session. Once your are properly secured on the roller coaster, just before dispatch, tap Start Recording on your paired Watch. If you see Seconds Elapsed has started counting up, then you are good to go! If the watch is unable to reach the phone app for whatever reason, then it will say “App Disconnected”. In this case, it is likely that Coaster Logger is not running properly on the phone or that the necessary sensor permissions have not been granted.

Just Watch: Use this if it is prohibited to bring phones on rides. Swipe right on the watch app and tap Start Recording. Keep your wrist still throughout the ride — for example, hold onto the lap bar. Once finished, the recording will be transferred to your phone the next time it is nearby. From thereon, you can upload the recording for analysis just like those recorded on the phone. Note that tracks recorded this will will have higher uncertainty due to sensor sampling limitations on the watch.

Ending a Ride

As soon as you have disembarked, tap Stop Tracking. You should do this as soon as the ride ends, but not before the ride comes to a complete stop. Ending the ride too early or too late will severe hinder the quality of the analysis. If you have an Apple Watch, you can more precisely end a recording.

Once stopped, you will have the option to name your ride and park name. These can be edited and changed later. If you have already named a nearby ride or if you have internet connection, smart suggestions are available based on the first GPS coordinate, if any, of your track. If you want to adopt any of the suggestions, simply tap on it. Tap Save once you are done, and you edits will be saved.

It is suggested you name your rides as you ride for easier organisation. Note that the coaster and park names you enter have no bearing on the analysis or statistics, as those are solely based on sensor measurements. However, they will help you better organise your recordings and, in some cases, calculate credits.

Viewing All Rides & Recordings

Navigate to the Coasters screen to view all rides and recordings. This is the list of all coaster recordings you have made — analysed or not. By default, they are sorted in reverse chronological order based on recording start time. Tap on each item to view it in more detail.

Sorting & Filtering Rides

Along the top bar of the Coasters Screen, you will see options to customise the view. Tap Filter to open the side drawer. Here you can select filter By Seasons, which is based on the recording year, or filter By Park, which is based on the park names you have entered. If you have not entered any park name for a ride, it i grouped as Unknown Park. Select All Coasters to reset any filter you may have applied.

Tap on Sort to change the way coasters are sorted.

  • To sort based on recording time, use Newest (default) or Oldest
  • To sort based on coaster name, use A-Z or Z-A — any unnamed coaster will be treated as Untitled Coaster.
  • To sort by statistics, select one of the relevant properties. Any recording yet to be analysed or has a failed analysis state will not have any associated statistics — in this case, they will be pushed to the bottom of the list.

Customising Thumbnails

Thumbnails are icons displayed to the left of the Coaster List. By default, it shows:

  • A balloon for any pending recordings requiring an upload.
  • An hourglass for recording that is being analysed,.
  • Error if the analysis is errored.
  • For recordings that have been successfully analysed, the 2D birds-eye view of the track is displayed. You can customise this by tapping Thumbnails along the top bar — you may have to scroll horizontally to reveal this option if you have a narrow smartphone screen. You can select:
    • Track (default), which is the 2D birds-eye view of the coaster layout.
    • Profile, which is a radar plot of the key coaster statistics.
    • Rank, which is the number ranking of the current sorting order.
    • Various height, speed, airtime, force, length and inversion statistics.

Downloading Sample Coasters

You can download some pre-analysed roller coaster recordings other Coaster Logger users have submitted, so you can start exploring the analyses even at the comfort of your phone. You can download these samples by tapping on Sample Gallery along the top bar of the Coasters screen — you may have to scroll horizontally to reveal this option if you have a narrow smartphone screen.

Ensure you are connected to the internet, and a list of randomised sample coasters will be displayed. Tap on any, or multiple, to download. Note that some samples can be large, so it is best to do this on a WiFi connection.

Once downloaded, samples show up on the Coasters Screen, like any other recordings you have made yourself, except that it will have a Sample tag. You can view, browse and share them as any other coaster. The only exception is that sample coasters do not contribute to your achievements and badges.

Analysing a Ride

Tap on a roller coaster that has yet to be analysed in the Coasters Screen — they should have a balloon thumbnail and a To Upload tag. Then tap Upload for Analysis. You will need an internet connection to upload a recording for analysis. Typically, raw recordings are a few megabytes, so depending on your network condition — especially in a theme park — it may take a while. Note that you can toggle “Warn Large Uploads” in the Settings screen to remind you before commencing a large data upload.

Please keep Coaster Logger in the foreground during the upload. Once uploaded, you can leave the app. Coaster Logger will check for updates every now and then, until the analysis is complete. The analysis should only take a few minutes, but could be longer depending on the usage of the server.

If the analysis is taking unexpectedly a very long time, please check our server status at https://stats.uptimerobot.com/tA1F7mCPao

Viewing an Analysis

Once the analysis completes, the upload page will be replaced by the full analysis, on this page you will find:

  • Coaster name, location and time and date of recording.
  • An interactive 3D model, which you can zoom and rotate. The 3D model is also animated — by default 10x the real speed. You can select one of Speed, Force and Height for the colour scale.
  • Beneath the mode selector, you will find a series of action buttons:
    • Dispatch resets the animation
    • The speedometer controls the animation playback
    • Explore in AR launches an augmented reality page where you can explore the coaster model in more detail.
    • Share takes a static screenshot of the current 3D model — zoom and pan to your desired angle before tapping share.
    • Export Model is available for paid subscribers — this exports the coaster model in OBJ format.
    • Export Animation is not currently available.
  • A grid of highlight statistics, which you can tap to explore more. Each detail page includes additional plots, explanations and statistics. The availability of statistics depends on what sensors you have enabled whilst recording the ride:
    • Track length
    • Ride duration
    • G-force (Acceleration)
    • Speed
    • Drop
    • Height
    • Inersions
    • Air Time
    • Screams, if microphone is enabled
    • Smoothness
    • Heart Rate, if recorded with companion watch app.
  • Ride profile, including:
    • Thrill profile
    • Balance profile
    • Full profile with six key metrics
  • Element sequence diagram, which may include:
    • Start and end of the ride
    • Lift Hill
    • Launches
    • Brakes
    • Inversions
  • Map of the location of the coaster, if GPS location is available.
  • Other coaster metadata, such as recording location, country, timezone, continent and device name.

Viewing Coaster in Augmented Reality

To view any coaster model in augmented reality (AR), tap the “Explore in AR” button below the 3D model on a coaster analysis page. This will open your device’s AR viewer, allowing you to explore the model in your space. Please note that the coaster model is static and does not feature animations in AR mode.

Managing Rides

Changing Ride / Park Name

Tap on the gear icon when viewing a ride, and then tap Rename. Tap on any suggestions or enter your own name for the park / ride.

Deleting a Ride

Tap on the gear icon when viewing a ride, and then tap Delete.

Bulk Deleting Rides

In the Coasters tab, tap Select at the upper right hand corner. Tap on all the coasters you wish to delete, then tap Delete along the bottom. Once deleted, your data cannot be recovered, as this deletes both the raw data and analysed data, if any.

Exporting a Ride

Raw Data

You can always export the raw measurements you collected on the ride. The format of this is always a zipped file containing individual CSVs, containing measurements from sensors like the accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS, magnetometer, microphone, barometer and a few more.

To export, tap on the gear icon when viewing a coaster on the upper right hand corner, then tap “Export Raw Data”. You can also bulk export raw data for multiple rides by tapping Select on the upper right hand corner on the Coasters screen.

Troubleshooting an Analysis

If the analysis results are poor, make sure your phone is securely placed and remains stable throughout the ride, as excessive movement can affect data quality. Additionally, check the Analysis Log at the bottom of any roller coaster analysis page for error messages, such as missing sensors or a low sampling rate. These messages can provide valuable insights into potential issues and help you improve future recordings.

Re-Upload for Analysis

Find the problematic roller coaster and tap on the gear icon on the upper right when viewing it. Then tap Re-Upload for Analysis.

Provide Feedback

You can always reach out if there are issues for an analysis. If you do so, please include the Upload ID in your email. You can find this by tapping the gear icon when viewing a coaster on the upper right hand corner, then tap Copy Upload ID. Alternatively, find the “Provide Feedback on Analysis” button at the bottom of each roller coaster analysis page.

Collections

Collections are ordered lists that you can create to curate your coaster adventures. You can add any analysed recording to any collection. Any single coaster can be added to multiple collections.

Creating a Collection

Tap Create on the Collection Screen. Then give your Collection a title, description and Emoji. Need inspiration? Just tap on the dice icon. Finally, select a thumbnail. For ranking lists, it is suggested that you should select Rank. Once you’re happy, tap Create Collection.

Adding & Removing Coasters

Tap on a Collection and then tap Add & Remove. Select as many coasters as you want. Note that you can only add analysed coasters.

Ordering Coasters

Tap on a Collection and then tap Reorder. Drag and move coasters around. Once you are done, tap Done Ordering.

Editing Collections

Tap on a Collection and then tap Configure.

Ordering Collections

Collections can be ordered by tapping and holding on any Collection on the Collections Screen, then drag to reorder.

Achievements

Analyzed recordings will be added to your achievements. However, you must first upload your recording and wait for the analysis to be processed before the ride is included. You can access all your achievements under the Achievements screen, which includes:

  • Current Level – Your level is determined based on the total number of badges earned. Badges take into account various factors, including the number of roller coasters ridden, cumulative ride time, inversion count, track length, variety of countries, theme park chains, continents visited, and more.
  • Coaster Map – View a map of all the coasters you’ve logged. Tap the map to open an interactive version, where you can pan, zoom, and select pins to view details about each coaster.
  • Badges Earned – Coaster Logger offers a variety of badges you can earn. Tap on each badge to learn how to unlock it. Tap "All Badges" to browse the full collection. Earned badges will appear in color, and your total badge count will be displayed on the page.
  • Lifetime Trends – A schematic calendar highlights all the days (in UTC) when you’ve ridden a coaster. Tap "All Trends" to explore detailed statistics on your coaster history, including the number of rides, cumulative ride time, and total track length covered.
  • Record-Breaking Rides – View details about your most extreme rides, including the fastest, tallest, highest, most forceful, and longest coaster in your collection. Tap on any to explore further.

Fixing Incorrect Badges or Achievements

Achievements and highlights may contain errors due to analysis issues. To identify and exclude a problematic ride, go to the Coasters screen and locate the ride in question. When viewing the coaster, tap the gear icon in the upper right corner, then select Exclude from Achievements.

Customisation

Customising Units

Tap on the Units on the Settings page, then select your preferred units for speed, distance, acceleration and temperature. Changing these units will affect how all measurements are displayed, but will not affect the underlying data or achievement calculations.

Customising Credit Definition

A credit is how coaster enthusiasts tally their coaster count. Different enthusiasts have different rules for what counts as a credit. You can adjust your credit definition by tapping on Credits under the Settings screen. This affects the counts displayed in the Achievements tab and how many badges you earn. You have two options:

  1. By Count: Each new track counts as a credit, even for repeated rides on the same coaster.
  2. By Unique Coaster: Tracks of the same ride name and park name only count once. Note that this relies on you accurately naming your rides and parks.

Personalising Coaster Logger

There are a couple of ways you can personalise the Coaster Logger app. You can change your name under the Settings Screen. Simply tap on the Username. Note that this name is only used for on-device user interfaces. For privacy reasons, it is neither sent server-side nor is it associated with any ride / recording.

You can also adjust the theme colour of Coaster Logger. Tap on the coloured circles on the Settings Screen to switch. The colour palette is inspired by some of the best roller coaster track colours around the world. Some colour themes are free, and some are perks of upgrading to any of the paid tiers of Coaster Logger. See below.

Backup & Restore

For Raw Data

For privacy reasons, you are responsible for backing up your Raw Data. You can export and back them up yourself.

For Analysed Data

Analysed data is tied to your App Store accounts. If you want to restore analysed data on another phone, make sure your are logged in with the same app store account on your phone. Then you can tap “Restore From Server” on the Settings screen. This will scan for any analysed track associated with your app store account.

Upgrading Coaster Logger

Coaster Logger is free to use — you can analyse as many rides, and get the complete analysis without paying. However, you can only store up to 20 coasters at a time — if you want to track more, you have to delete some existing rides. Even on the free tier, Coaster Logger is still ad-free.

If you wish to support the Coaster Logger and the research and development of the associated algorithm (Coaster Fusion), do consider upgrading to one of the paid tiers.

Free Tier

  • Unlimited analysis with all statistics, plots and 3D models.
  • Store up to 20 coasters at a time — delete previous ones to analyse more.
  • Export raw data — you always own the data you collect!
  • Earn achievements and badges.
  • Create unlimited number of Collections to organise your rides.
  • Share plots and graphs from the analysis.

Plus Tier

  • Everything in Free!
  • Store unlimited coasters.
  • Priority processing.
  • Export of processed data and 3D Model (OBJ).
  • Additional colour customisation.
  • Exclusive badge.

Pro Tier

  • Super-fan to support the long-term development of Coaster Logger and the research and development of Coaster Fusion — the algorithms behind the scenes.
  • Everything in Plus!
  • Super exclusive badge.
  • You can use the processed data generated from the app for commercial purposes, such as including it on POVs or publications. Note that this applies to the publication of substantial portions of the analysed data, such as the full inclusion of a 3D model or comprehensive time series graphs. The mention of summary statistics or the display of data excerpts, provided there is explicit attribution to Coaster Logger, is permissible across any tier.

Disclaimer

Coaster Logger is not responsible for any damage to personal property, physical injury, or loss of items that may occur as a result of using the app while riding roller coasters or other attractions. The user is fully responsible for ensuring their device is properly secured and for complying with all safety guidelines set by ride operators and the theme park. The app’s creators and distributors assume no liability for any incidents that may arise during its use.

Q&A

How Accurate Are the Statistics?

View the Coaster Fusion validation report to get a sense of the expected accuracy of tracks and statistcis: https://www.tszheichoi.com/coaster-fusion.

Does it Work for Other Types of Rides?

Coaster Logger is designed primarily for close-circuit roller coasters. It may work for some flat rides, but the quality will be degraded.

What is the Maximum Ride Duration?

For a successful analysis, your recording must not be longer than 20 minutes, and the detected ride segment within this 20 minute period must not be longer than 8 minutes.

What is the Minimum Coaster Requirement?

The minimum detected coaster duration must be at least 10 minutes long. Your ride experience must also have at least 8 meters of vertical elevation change, as detected by the barometer.

Check Server Status?

You can check the latest status of our analysis server at https://stats.uptimerobot.com/tA1F7mCPao.