Aerial Maps (KB-AM007)

By default, once the user has selected their company, team, or project the aerial map will appear (Fig. 1). The user can change the default start screen from the map view to the AR mode from the options page (See Options).

The "MAP" screen can be accessed by tapping the "MAP" icon in the bottom-right of AR Mode.

A company-specific disclaimer may appear on the screen if it is defined for the team/project.

From the aerial map, the device user can view BIM and GIS information projected onto either a Bing, Esri, Street, or custom map. This can be selected by pressing the map icon.

Fig. 1

The blue dot in the center of the screen represents the device user, and the blue beam represents the direction that the user is facing.

There are several functions that can be achieved from the aerial map screen:

Search

The user can view the infrastructure of a different area by entering the address or intersection into the search bar. A pin will be dropped relative to the searched location. vGIS uses Google Maps Search API to power map searches.

360 View

The virtual tour function projects holographic overlays of BIM and GIS data over a 360-imagery such as Google Maps. This feature can be accessed by selecting “Tools”, and then clicking on “360 View”. This view will simulate how an area will appear in augmented reality without the device user having to go onsite.

Once the virtual tour button has been selected, all of the virtual paths and points available for viewing will highlight blue. To enter a virtual tour, simply tap the highlighted section you wish to view.

Adjust

Under “Tools”, there is also an option to manually adjust your location and viewing direction. To adjust your location, this can be done by simply swiping the screen to position the central blue point with your location. To adjust the viewing direction, adjust the “bezel” at the bottom of the screen. Please note after 8 seconds of inactivity, the adjust screen will be automatically exited.

Layers

Under “Layers”, the user can select which layers they would like to view. There is also an added layer called “Field Reports” which includes the real-world findings in the field. See Layers for more information.

Re-Center  

Tapping this button will re-center the map around the device user’s position. The blue dot that represents the device user will return to the center of the screen.

Main Menu

By pressing this button you will enter the main menu screen. See Main Menu.

Augmented Reality View

By pressing this button, you will enter the augmented reality view. The user will be taken to the calibration screen if they haven’t already calibrated their device during the current session. See Calibrating your device.
Compass

The compass tool can be used to orientate oneself while in the aerial map view. The red needle will always point in the direction north.

Positioning Adjustments and Accuracy

In certain circumstances, the calibration process may not provide an accurate representation of the user’s position in 2-dimensional space. These imperfections may occur due to certain light conditions, how an individual holds their device, or unexpected movements during the calibration process. The adjustments feature allows users to manually position adjustments to improve their positioning accuracy.

If enabled in the options menu, the accuracy window will appear below the adjustment button. The accuracy bubble displays the accuracy of the GIS data on their screen in either meters or feet (See Main Menu > Measure).

The grey gauge (as shown) indicates that no GNSS device is connected. The green gauge indicates an accuracy of 0.1 meters (0.3 feet) or less, while the yellow gauge indicates an accuracy of 1.0 meter (3.3 feet) or less. An accuracy of greater than 1.0 meter is represented by the red gauge.

Gestures and Interactions

• You can perform a typical pinch-to-zoom gesture to zoom in and out.
• You can rotate the angle of the overhead map by performing a twist gesture.
• If you drag your finger across the screen, you can see objects located beyond the current view. If you scrolled too far, tap the “RE-CENTER” button to re-center the map on your location.

Using Maps for Location Validation

When you’ve been walking for a while in the first-person view, it is beneficial to switch to the overhead map view from time to time. This will help you check if the system has an accurate estimate of where you are. For example, if you walked 20 meters along the sidewalk, the map should display your location accurately. If not, tap the “POSITIONING ADJUSTMENT” button to adjust your position. 

More Screen Features

• The colors of the objects correspond to the object colors in the first-person view. 
• The overhead map shows objects that are above and below the ground.
• If there is a cluster of objects in the same location, the number of objects will be displayed instead of the objects. This makes the screen display more organized.