PosiView multi vehicle/object tracking tool

_images/posiview.png

Concepts

PosiView is a plugin that allows to track multiple vehicles and objects. It accepts position and other data usually provided in NMEA-0183 format from devices like GPS, USBL systems or other sensors.

Connection to those devices is established by data provider connecting to network sockets (UDP/TCP). Future alternatives like file based inputs are planned.

To get something up and running just do:

  1. Create one or more data provider.
  2. Create one or more vehicles and objects and assign a data provider.
  3. Start tracking and wait for data.

Configuration

  1. Enable PosiView and open configuration dialog.

  2. On Provider page create and configure providers as needed.


  3. On Vehicle/Object page create and configure a vehicle as needed.

    • Add a new vehicle first, give it a unique name and set the properties.
    • Select a type. For shape types a template shape can be choosen by right clicking on the shape lineedit. If needed, modify the shape by hand. A heading of zero points upward.
    • For shape types set the real world size.
    • Select colors for outline, fill and track color.
    • The Z-value defines the vertical painting order.
    • Select a timeout. When no fix is received within that time, the display in the tracking window turns red. An additional notification is displayed in the messagebar when no fix is received within n times the timout.
    • Assign one ore more data providers. If a provider supplies more then one position, a filter is needed. This could be a beacon id or a string. For AIS provider the filter has to be the MMSI.
    • Configuring a vehicle/object in depth
    • Don’t forget to apply the changes.

  4. Apply changes and close dialog. Providers and vehicles will be shown in the tracking window.

    _images/tracking.png

  1. Click on the green LED of the provider to see what comes in and what is parsed.

    _images/provider_dump.png

Tracking

  1. Start online tracking.

  2. Open guidance window and select two vehicles/objects to see distances and bearing. A compass is visible if the windows lower edge is pulled down.

    _images/guidance.png

Recording

  1. Position and bearing of the vehicles and objects can be recorded to a text file. All objects are merged into one file. A new file is created after 10000 lines
  2. On General page of the properties dialog select a path where to store the files.
  3. Recording starts manually or automatically on tracking start.

Measuring

PosiView provides a simple tool to measure distance and azimuth

  • Activate measure tool
  • Click on map and keep mouse button pressed
  • move the mouse
  • release mouse button