How a small company uses map data, for an audience of OpenStreetMap developers
Oliver White, cueSim
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Introduction: this is what we do, we create simulated cockpits allowing people to train for various types of aircraft. The systems are a mix of real hardware, and of LCD displays with overlays to simulate dials |
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This is the kind of map we use, showing a helicopter pilot flying south towards London. We're interested in his position, height, distance to other aircraft, rather than in the maps themselves. Map shown is the 2048-pixel world image from xplanet |
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For some maps we are interested in, this is the location of navigation aids. These allow the instructor to see whether the pilot is looking for the right frequencies, and to see how well they're handling navigation. |
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When we first developed this system in 2003 or so, the best available public-domain road data for england was VMAP from the U.S. government. |
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We can do map projections, e.g. the Mollweide shown here. Different projections are useful, depending on whether you want speed, accuracy, ability to fly near the poles, etc. |
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The maps which pilots use are generally air-navigation charts and low-flying charts, available as plastic-coated paper maps for keeping in the aircraft. Shown: map of Norway |
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While there is much distrust of "Free" stuff in the industry, if we ever did want to use OpenStreetMap data then this is what it might look like. Osmarendered tiles are trivial to integrate into the map system. |
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Moving on to a more specific example, this is a helicopter that we simulated. The bottom-left display (currently showing a compass) can be switched to display a moving map for the co-pilot to use when navigating to an incident |
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The level of detail that simulators go into is quite interesting. Shown here, our OpenGL program is pretending to be an embedded computer booting-up, to enhance the realism of the simulation |
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The graphical boot-up screen of our map, illustrating that GPS devices still can't be relied-upon by pilots (this is the reason that the moving map is on the copilot's side of the cockpit, where the pilot can't easily see it) |
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When in use, the device displays Ordnance Survey maps, along with lots of navigation information. The customers have to pay yearly, per person, per computer screen, for these maps, even though they're not a primary part of the simulation. |
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As well as the maps themselves, we also use vector data, such as this list of airport locations and runways. This data is taken from Jeppersen, and again, must be paid for yearly, from only one choice of supplier. |
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If our customers ever did want to use OpenSteetMap data, this is what it might look like. It's not yet as detailed as the Ordnance Survey maps, but maybe the low cost makes it attractive anyway |