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Progress: Campus Indoor Mapping Project

Posted by Arwym on 11 April 2016 in English.

Mapping the InterBC campus, even though it’s a pretty small campus in comparison to others, is proving to be a real challenge.

The main problem is that the emergency floorplans, which are the only source I got at this point, are not very accurate and do not match the building outlines from the existing aerial imagery. Maybe I still don’t know how to use JOSM properly.

For now, I’ve decided to work with leaflet.js, and have the POIs in a GeoJSON data layer on top of OSM. Still, I need a tool that will allow me to copy a node’s coordinates to my clipboard inside JOSM, so that I can use these coordinates in my GeoJSON file. Basically, I am using JOSM to put the floorplans as a piclayer over the OSM layer, to figure out each room’s or area’s approximate boundaries as I draw them. Because GPS signal inside buildings often fails me, this seems to be the best way for now.

Eventually, I want to work on an offline mode for the app I’m building, and have QR codes or NFC tags in particular spots inside buildings, with coordinates written on them, to locate and guide users inside buildings, even without Internet or GPS signal.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I will have the work in progress available online very soon.

Edited: I particularly need a way to easily copy the coordinates of a node I have placed onto a JOSM layer. I really need this, but have yet to find a plugin that does it.

Solo Project: Indoor Mapping of my University Campus - First mapping experience!

Posted by Arwym on 1 April 2016 in English. Last updated on 11 April 2016.

Hello, there!

I am Jessica, from Puerto Rico. From March 30 and on, I’ve taken up the responsibility of mapping the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus, especially indoors. This is my first time doing this kind of work, and I’m building a web application that will help students navigate the campus, using OSM data.

So far, I’m getting the grip of how OSM editing works. It looks pretty fun, but I am overwhelmed.

First thing on Monday, I will go to the administrative building and see if someone will help me obtain a copy of the floor plans. I am going to start with building F, the Telecom. and Information building. By the end of the month, I must have something to present to my classmates.

Any tips for indoor mapping are more than welcome, by the way! Wish me luck. :)