vGIS AR: Map View (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 View screen can be accessed by tapping the MAP icon in the bottom-right of AR Mode.

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 arrow in the center of the screen represents the device user and 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.

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.

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

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.

The Accuracy Bubble

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.

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 Recenter 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.