Final Report: GSoC 2020 - aditis1204/MapMint4ME GitHub Wiki

Enhancing AR Support for MapMint4ME and adding GPS Satellite Tracking

Google Summer of Code 2020

Abstract

MapMint is an internet-based Geographic Information System (GIS), which is designed to facilitate deployment of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). In an SDI, geographic data, metadata, tools, and the users are connected in an interactive manner in a framework so as to use the spatial information in an efficient and flexible way. MapMint combines various different software in a complete and coherent web mapping platform, thus helping users in building their own maps and web-applications. These web-services are built on top of the ZOO-Project. The ZOO-Project, at the heart of MapMint, is capable of deploying WPS data processing services, efficiently and easily. For this, it uses MapServer as the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) services engine. MapServer provides the following functionalities:

MapMint services provide a user-friendly interface to interact with these web services, ranging from a simple map display to complex geographical operations. MapMint4ME is an Android application for field data collection used for MapMint web-services.

The aim of the project is to extend Augmented Reality (AR) support in the MapMint4ME application. The motivation for the project was to improve field data acquisition. AR Simulation module provides users capability to visualize 3D objects simulation in real world scenes. AR Area module allows users to export measured "AR measurements" into text format and which can be used for further analysis. MapMint4ME works without the internet too, so adding a GPS Satellite information module which gives detailed and real time dynamic analysis about GPS Coordinates and GPS Satellite information improves the information gathering process and makes it more efficient.

MapMint4ME before GSoC 2020:

MapMint4ME is an android application with the capability to record data on the field to take photos, record their position, and view their current location on a map based on the configuration settings of their MapMint server. When the user returns to a place with access to the internet, the recorded data can be uploaded back to the MapMint server. MapMint4ME is also able to store media files and able to receive data directly from sensors.

Updates in MapMint4ME during GSoC 2020:

Augmented Reality support extended in MapMint4ME. Following three different features were added to the MapMint4ME using Google ARCore. The added features are as follows:

  • AR Simulation : A simulation is an approximate imitation of the operation of a process or system. Augmented Reality simulation serves the purpose of experimentation and usability evaluation. In this module, the user can place any 3D object in the real world scene virtually. Users are virtually able to adjust an object's position and adjust its size according to its need. Simulation module also includes accelerating which provides the ability of left, right and forward direction movements of the 3D object in the real world domain, also added functionality for rotating this 3D object.

  • AR Scale + Export: Measuring real world things with the help of augmented reality is the objective of this task. Users are able to measure length, width and height for multiple objects and save all those measurements in text format. Later after taking all measurements users can export those measurements, and are easily able to save in google drive or locally as text file.

  • GPS Satellite Module: As MapMint4ME works without internet also, so for offline data collection GPS Coordinate plays an important role. Apart from GPS Coordinates, GPS Satellite information is also necessary. GPS Satellite information module provides following information for each detected satellite using GpsSatellite Class in Android.

    1) PRN No  : Psuedo Random No for satellite

2) SNR : Signal to noise ratio for satellite

3) Azimuth: Azimuth angle for satellite

4) Elevation : Elevation angle for satellite

5) UsedInFix: Boolean value representing if satellite used to fix location or not

    This module also shows how many satellites are detected, and out of which how many actually are used to fix GPS Coordinates. All the above information about the satellites is real time and changes dynamically.

Future Opportunities:

There are endless possibilities of what we can do with Augmented Reality . Adding more Augmented Reality support based on requirements can improve field data collection surely. At present AR Scale + Export & AR Simulation both are different modules,but if both of them can be merged so that we can use AR Scale + Export module to take measurements and visualise objects of that particular size using AR Simulation. In the GPS Satellite module we can provide features to visualise those tracked satellites in an animation.

Working and Examples:

Implementation video about how to use added functionalities in MapMin4ME [Example]

Link to Repository: MapMint4ME

Link to Project's OSGeo Wiki-page: Wiki-Page Link

Final APK

Other repositories:

Other Important Links: