ARCore Navigation Anchors using LatLng in AR World - Android

This repository developed in Native Android - Java demonstrates how to place objects & draw routes between them in ARCore scene using Latitude & Longitude. The code doesn't require any use of Google Geospatial API or any such library.

How does this work?

This app uses ARCore with Sceneform to support AR & render objects in AR World. The current location of user is continuously calculated and also the yaw(azimuth) aka the rotation of the device around it's -z axis which is respective to north. Now, we have our current Latitude, Longitude & our rotation so we assume that we are an origin point on graph (0,0) and we added a Latitude & Longitude of a coordinate into the graph say it's (3,3). So, we convert this (3,3) via a CoordinateHelper class which converts LatLng into local coordinates using our current location, yaw and the target Location. Now we got the local coordinates, we set this as a LocalPosition to our AnchorNode in AR World.

Accuracy?

This solution is pretty accurate as it doesnt rely on any external system and just requires user location & yaw. But, keep in mind that if the location LatLng & yaw of user is incorrect or inaccurate, then this may affect the resulted coordinates.

Examples

Anchor placed in AR World using LatLng

Route lines draw between different LatLng in AR World

With this app you will be able to:

• Get current user location & yaw
• Convert entered Latitude & Longitude into local coordinates
• Place anchor & object on LatLng using coordinate converter in AR Scene
• Draw routes between different LatLng using coordinate converter in AR Scene

Getting Started

Setup ARCore & SceneForm dependencies

Setup Google Cloud Console Account & enable ArCore in it & make an API Key

Add the required permissions and metadata of ArCore Api in Manifest file

Enable ViewBinding in buildfeatures in Build Gradle file

Get user location

Using the code below, retrieve & update the current user location

 private LatLng currentLatLng =
            new LatLng(0, 0);
            
private LocationManager locationManager;

locationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

  locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 0L, (float) 0, new LocationListener() {
            @Override
            public void onLocationChanged(@NonNull Location location) {

                // this location LatLng can be highly inaccurate if being used in indoor location
                // or places where it's hard to navigate, it is suggested to use special
                // navigation systems like indoor navigation system for accurate results.

                // this inaccurate latlng can affect the coordinates of poi anchors, for testing
                // try with a fixed current latlng on which you are currently placed.

                currentLatLng = new LatLng(location.getLatitude(), location.getLatitude());
                binding.instrText.setText("Place your camera slightly next to your foot and tap on the floor shadow to begin!");


            }
        });