# PosiView multi vehicle/object tracking tool

# Concepts

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

Connection to those devices is established by data providers connecting to network sockets (UDP/TCP) or serial ports.

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.

   - Add a new provider first, give it a unique name and select the properties.

   - Configuring a provider in depth

   - Don’t forget to apply the changes.

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 the changes and close the dialogue. The data providers and vehicles are displayed in the tracking window. The map can be centred on the vehicle. The track can be adjusted in the visible length or deleted completely. The mouse position is displayed here or in the status bar depending on the setting.

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

# 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. The guidance window allows also to display the position of static targets of a map layer.

   Requirements for the targets:

   - Layer geometry type is ‘POINT’

   - Layer contains a field ‘name’

   - Layer has to be the active (selected) layer. The position display is reset when the active layer changes. The plugin doesn’t monitor layer modifications.

3. An additional compass window shows the heading of two vehicles

4. Left mouse click on the green tracking display with CTRL-key hold down copies the current vehicle position to the clipboard. The position can also be transferred via drag and drop.

# 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

- Holding the CTRL-key down during release, copies the current position to the clipboard

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