OpenStreetMap 3D on Android: OSG-Explorer

Hi,

I want to inform you about a new 3D map client for Android. It is called OSG-Explorer and is available on the Google Play Store at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anavi

It is primarily targeted at end users/consumers searching for places/POIs around their current location or anywhere in the world. A typical Location Based Service App based on OpenStreetMap. It displays the buildings as prismatic shapes with correct height where available and tagged using the appropriate tags. Otherwise, a default height is applied.

quote
“Search and find nearby places close to your current location using a 3D map on your mobile device.
With OSG Explorer you have access to currently 7 Mio points of interest in various categories such as restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, public transport, museums, cinemas, gas stations, parking lots, pharmacies, and hospitals around the world. More than 70 Mio buildings are displayed in 3D. Many entries provide detailed information on opening hours, type of service, contact address, telephone numbers, and accessibility for wheelchair users.”

The App can be also used by OSM editors who want to verify new height tag values. This may be useful for complex building structures that are modeled in a 2D editor like JOSM.

I made some tests editing the Hypo-Haus at http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=48.149801&lon=11.616792&zoom=18&layers=M
and the BMW Building at http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=48.17668&lon=11.56053&zoom=18&layers=M

using the JOSM editor.
The changes showed up almost instantly in the App, within a minute after restarting the App.

The software is still very beta, and the number of supported tags and relations is limited. Moreover, it may not run properly on older Android devices (as “older” I consider Android Gingerbread 2.3.x and previous versions). I would appreciate any error reports with details on the OS and device configuration so that I can fix the minimum requirements.

Wiki page: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSG-Explorer

osg img

best regards,
Arne

Looks interesting Arne :slight_smile: Does it make use of the OSM-3D W3DS or do you use a own development?

It downloads building and POI data directly from the OSM servers through the Overpass API.
Map tiles are from Mapquest Open

Thank you for this interesting App.
But I am a little bit shocked about your examples:

Both buildings were mapped in detailed 3D by me, according to discussed “Simple 3D” standards. Tested with Kendzi3D and osm2World.
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Simple_3D_Buildings

At both buildings you deleted all building:part and replaced it with building because the app doesn’t support it.
The BMW Building now has height and building tags on all outline nodes. The Hypo-Haus doesn’t have a building outline anymore at all.

This is tagging for your renderer. I also put a lot of work in this models. Please respect the work of others like i respect your work in programming.

My request is that you revert your changsets on both buildings.

robgeb,
Apologies, I respect your work and I will revert these changes.
Anyway, I need to find a way to support building:part tags and relations, otherwise the App will be of little use.
As described in http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Simple_3D_Buildings is actually the right way to do this.

The simpelst way to do that maybe rename building:part to building in the downloaded data.
so the most buildings now will be right.

Version 1.0.1 is now out.
It can handle building:parts, building realations and multipolygon relations.
I was fiddling around with the Overpass API, which is quite versatile, and managed to download everything with a single request

Congratulations for the release and the application. I’ve installed it right after your initial announcement, and with the building:part support some of the 3d mapped buildings already look very nice. :slight_smile: The search function and gesture support also works flawlessly as far as I can tell.

However, there are two things I noticed:

  • Are you sure you got the multipolygons right? I’ve yet to see a building whose inner rings aren’t filled in. Maybe it’s a bug?

  • You call yourself “OpenStreetMap 3D Mobile Division”. This can be considered misleading as it suggests that you officially represent the OpenStreetMap project. Don’t you worry that this will get you in trouble with the community or OSMF later?

It sounds great.

Except for some insanely complicated multipolygons and those with multiple outlines (I couln´t find an example though) the triangulation algorithm seems to work now.