Mapping EXIF Images With GPS Info

Was tasked to load an EXIF image with GPS info onto a map using the Flex API for AGS. So I first looked around for existing AS3 libraries and found ExifInfo. Downloaded it and tried it, but somehow it failed loading some EXIF images. Then I remembered a JavaScript library that a colleague pointed it out to me. So I ported the code to AS3 (optimization will come later) and here is the result. I used picasa to load some images and geo-tagged them using Google Earth (that is from the Tools menu BTW) and it worked pretty well. I borrowed some ideas and code from the author of ExifInfo and made my own EXIF mxml enabled class. Like usual here is the source code. BTW - There is a TextInput field at the bottom of the application, enter the url of your image (make sure that you have a crossdomain.xml at the base of your url) and if the image has EXIF GPS info, the map will display it. Try "assets/sample1.jpg" and hit enter.

[ANN] Flex Mapping API For AGS 1.2 is Released

We are proud to release the 1.2 version of the flex API for AGS - check it out here. New stuff include the support for Virtual Earth map tiles and geocoding. There is also now support for Network Analyst routing/sequencing with time windows and lots of bug fixes and enhancements. Hope you all like it.

My 360|Flex Presentation

As promised - just finished my presentation and here it is - have fun. Oh, here is the abstract: In this session we will demonstrate the Flex Mapping API For ArcGIS Server, where we will deconstruct live real-world mapping applications and algorithms such as dense clustering, auto labeling of features, collaborative editing, real-time asset tracking and client/server collaborative Geo-Processing. In addition, we will demonstrate how to create your own layer, geometry and symbol extensions for superior rendering performance taking advantage of the FP10 drawing API.

Map Points Cubic Clustering

Here is yet another clustering application. This is very similar to GeoCubes. It is based on a simple but effective algorithm, where the map extent is divided into "cubes". Given a map point from a set, the associated cube that it lies above is selected and the cube internal count is incremented. After processing all map points, the set of cubes with an internal count greater that one are displayed. Here is the application in action. And like usual, the source code is here.

Street Path Finding in AS3

Just finished reading Keith Peter's ActionScript 3.0 Animation book, and I very highly recommend it. Chapter 4 is all about pathfinding using A* but is based on a tiled grid network. So I adjusted it, in such a way that the nodes and arcs are derived from street features off a shapefile. The resulting application enables you to select a starting and ending street intersection and a path is displayed. In addition, you can add street barriers so that the calculated path will go around the defined barriers. The nodes and arcs are spatially indexed. This enables live reverse geocoding as the mouse moves - that means that once the mouse is close enough to a street segment, a snap point is calculated and based on the side of the street, an interpolated address is calculated and displayed. Check out the application here, make sure to zoom in to enable snapping and path finding. Again, once you move close enough to a street segment, a snap point is displayed and the address is displayed on the top right corner. You can type the 'x' character to toggle the street as a barrier. Upon a mouse click, the closest node is selected as a starting node. Next, move the mouse to another node and click, and a path is displayed. The last selected node is now the starting node, click again and a path is calculated and displayed. Type 'C' to clear the resulting path. Like usual the source code is here. Have fun.
PS: People have reported some drawing issues :-( that have been resolved if you use FP10.