ce5105-6 applied communications technology

21/04/23E.R.Edwards 21/04/23 Staffordshire UniversitySchool of Computing

CE5105-6 Applied Communications Technology

Openstreetmap GPS and mapping


Convergent Technologies In the ‘old days’ each type of communication

was separate.• TV used analogue TV signals• Music was played on vinyl records or tapes• Pictures were printed on paper• Radio used different bandwidth and needed a different

device• Telephones needed separate wiring

Convergence of technologies has occurred.– Most data is in digital format– And can be transmitted over a single network


Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

GIS present disparate information in a ‘Visual’ format Details include

– Location (co-ordinates)– Points of interests (hotels, petrol stations, shops etc)– Land usage (roads, Pathways, Fields, Forest buildings)– Geology (rock types, – Statistical analysis (population densities, distributions)– Boundary information (Countries, Counties.. Land registry)


GIS

Several layers are used to display several different types of data.

Each layer has a file that contains some appropriate information

Files are XML type text files.

This makes it flexible but complex


OGC standard

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Geoservices_server_with_apps.png

•Open Geospacial Consortium (OGC) agree ‘industry Standards’•http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards•Complex pieces of software


Layered Views

Google Maps is not just one map and you zoom in and out

It is several maps all at different scales, plus data overlays– Each map image level is made up of a series of square tiles– The details displayed on each tile vary (depending on the

scale)• Eg when looking at a map of the whole of the UK the individual

houses seen at the most detailed levels are not displayed– Tiles are ‘Rendered’.

• Takes time and a lot of processing power• If you change something maybe next day before change available


Google Maps and KML

The overlay information for Google Maps uses KML The Keyhole Mark-up Language is now a standard <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2"> <Document>

<Placemark><name>New York City</name><description>New York City</description><Point>

<coordinates>-74.006393, 40.714172, 0

</coordinates></Point>

</Placemark></Document>

</kml>


Images are layered

1 4

1216


Tiles format

Format– Raster Scan

• digital image represented by reducible and enlargeable grids

– Vector scan• features as geometrical shapes. E.g points,

Lines, polygons


Mapping Applications

Google Maps is a well known example of an application using convergent technologies;

• Vector maps• Traffic data• Images of locations

– Satellite images– Street view

– Displayed over the web as a “Web 2.0” RIA (using AJAX)


Google My Tracks

My Tracks records path, speed, distance, and elevation while you travel outdoors.

While recording, you can view your data live, annotate your path, and hear periodic voice announcements of your progress.

My Tracks can sync via Google Drive. Easily export tracks to Google Maps.


Orux Maps

Great app for offline maps

But difficult to use if you’re colourblind…


OpenStreetMap

Openstreetmap is another mapping application, quite similar but all open-source (www.openstreetmap.org)


OpenStreetMap


Adding to OpenStreetMap

Five stages to adding to OpenStreetMap– Recording a track with GPS (VisualGPSce)– Uploading a track to OpenStreetMap Server– Create /Edit data on OpenStreetMap JOSM– Uploading the data file back to OpenStreetMap – Rendering the map tiles

Beginners Guide to OpenStreetMap – http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginners%27_Guide

Stoke Site Campus Map– http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/stoke_campus_map_tcm44-3815.pdf

Google Maps data to GPX can be done (for example: http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx/)


Maps on your Mobile device

•While you can use Google maps on you mobile – it costs to download the images•Why not store maps directly on your device?•Mobile Atlas creator allows this to be done•Use ORUXmaps app to display them on an Android device.


Mobile Atlas Creator Mobile Atlas Creator (http://mobac.sourceforge.net/)

– Tutorial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4exhu4EThE

Try– Openstreetmap Mapnik– Openstreetmap public Transport– Ordinance Survey Explorer maps UK– Google maps– Google Earth

– KML information: https://developers.google.com/kml/documentation/


Panoramic Imagesusing tiled image technology

Interesting Camera work– http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?

auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c You can do it too..

– www.gigapan.org– http://www.gigapansystems.com


Tutorial

Check out GIS on the internet (Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_Information_System)

OpenStreetMap– Read beginners guide– Create an account– Attempt to generate a track

Mobile Atlas creator– Create your own offline atlas

ce5105-6 applied communications technology

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