Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Android's most accurate Location API

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In order to work, my app requires a location API. I intend use the Mapbox platform to customize its design (since Google Maps does not provide this level of customization, as far as I am concerned).

Documentation says that we should use Google Play API when building location apps:

The Google Play services location APIs are preferred over the Android framework location APIs (android.location) as a way of adding location awareness to your app. If you are currently using the Android framework location APIs, you are strongly encouraged to switch to the Google Play services location APIs as soon as possible.

My question is: Is Google Play API the most efficient API when it comes to GPS accuracy? Or should I use the LocationManager and LocationListener way of doing it?

I need accuracy. Which one should I use? Thanks.

5 Answers

Answers 1

Use FusedLocationProviderApi and set LocationRequest priority to PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY

This is newest API for accurate location fetch and google suggest to use the same.

Check Accuracy details here.

Basically Google play services API has intelligence to get accurate location by fusing GPS+NetworkProvider+passive providers.

Answers 2

In android also there are three types of location :

  1. GPS_PROVIDER
  2. NETWORK_PROVIDER
  3. PASSIVE_PROVIDER

So, as per my coding experience I came to know that if you use :

locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 5000, 10, new MyLocationListener()); 

you will get precision upto 14+ decimal places.

But if you use fusion of them like this :

LocationServices.FusedLocationApi.requestLocationUpdates(mGoogleApiClient, mLocationRequest, my_google_listener); 

you will get precision upto 6 to 7 decimal places. try it !!! ref

But note few things here that, GPS Provider takes time to fetch location while Google Location much is faster as it gets data from API call to its server.

GPS works offline while google provider gets the location via mobile or wifi data.

Answers 3

In my experience, the Google Services Location API are preferable to use in following aspects:

  • they deal with user settings, choosing the best available location provider. If you choose to work with LocationManager directly, your code will need to handle that.
  • you might expect to get a better location with less power usage, as Google regularly updates their algorithms for determining location using WiFi, cell towers, etc.

In my experience, using Google Services, location with accuracy sufficient for a mapping application (that is some tens meters) in many cases does not require GPS data. That might also be the case with FusedLocationProvider, though, maybe with an exception for the battery usage numbers.

To conclude, if you don't have arguments to NOT use Google Services (such as - you target a country where they are not available, or want to distribute via alternative markets) you should use their Location API.

Answers 4

You should use LocationManager for accuracy. Also you can use this class.

//GPSTracker.java import android.app.AlertDialog; import android.app.Service; import android.content.Context; import android.content.DialogInterface; import android.content.Intent; import android.location.Location; import android.location.LocationListener; import android.location.LocationManager; import android.os.Bundle; import android.os.IBinder; import android.provider.Settings; import android.util.Log;  public class GPSTracker extends Service implements LocationListener {  private final Context mContext;  // flag for GPS status boolean isGPSEnabled = false;  // flag for network status boolean isNetworkEnabled = false;  // flag for GPS status boolean canGetLocation = false;  Location location; // location double latitude; // latitude double longitude; // longitude float bearing; // bearing  // The minimum distance to change Updates in meters private static final long MIN_DISTANCE_CHANGE_FOR_UPDATES = 10; // 10 meters  // The minimum time between updates in milliseconds private static final long MIN_TIME_BW_UPDATES = 1000 * 60 * 1; // 1 minute  // Declaring a Location Manager protected LocationManager locationManager;  public GPSTracker(Context context) {     this.mContext = context;     getLocation(); }  public Location getLocation() {     try {         locationManager = (LocationManager) mContext                 .getSystemService(LOCATION_SERVICE);          // getting GPS status         isGPSEnabled = locationManager                 .isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);          // getting network status         isNetworkEnabled = locationManager                 .isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);          if (!isGPSEnabled && !isNetworkEnabled) {             // no network provider is enabled         } else {             this.canGetLocation = true;             if (isNetworkEnabled) {                 locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(                         LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER,                         MIN_TIME_BW_UPDATES,                         MIN_DISTANCE_CHANGE_FOR_UPDATES, this);                 Log.d("Network", "Network");                 if (locationManager != null) {                     location = locationManager                             .getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);                     if (location != null) {                         latitude = location.getLatitude();                         longitude = location.getLongitude();                         bearing = location.getBearing();                     }                 }             }             // if GPS Enabled get lat/long using GPS Services             if (isGPSEnabled) {                 if (location == null) {                     locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(                             LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER,                             MIN_TIME_BW_UPDATES,                             MIN_DISTANCE_CHANGE_FOR_UPDATES, this);                     Log.d("GPS Enabled", "GPS Enabled");                     if (locationManager != null) {                         location = locationManager                                 .getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);                         if (location != null) {                             latitude = location.getLatitude();                             longitude = location.getLongitude();                             bearing = location.getBearing();                         }                     }                 }             }         }      } catch (Exception e) {         e.printStackTrace();     }      return location; }  /**  * Stop using GPS listener  * Calling this function will stop using GPS in your app  * */ public void stopUsingGPS(){     if(locationManager != null){         locationManager.removeUpdates(GPSTracker.this);     } }  /**  * Function to get latitude  * */ public double getLatitude(){     if(location != null){         latitude = location.getLatitude();     }      // return latitude     return latitude; }  /**  * Function to get longitude  * */ public double getLongitude(){     if(location != null){         longitude = location.getLongitude();     }      // return longitude     return longitude; }  public float getBearing() {     if (location != null) {         bearing = location.getBearing();     }     return bearing; }  /**  * Function to check GPS/wifi enabled  * @return boolean  * */ public boolean canGetLocation() {     return this.canGetLocation; }  /**  * Function to show settings alert dialog  * On pressing Settings button will lauch Settings Options  * */ public void showSettingsAlert(){     AlertDialog.Builder alertDialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(mContext);      // Setting Dialog Title     alertDialog.setTitle("GPS is settings");      // Setting Dialog Message     alertDialog.setMessage("GPS is not enabled. Do you want to go to settings menu?");      // On pressing Settings button     alertDialog.setPositiveButton("Settings", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {         public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog,int which) {             Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS);             mContext.startActivity(intent);         }     });      // on pressing cancel button     alertDialog.setNegativeButton("Cancel", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {         public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {             dialog.cancel();         }     });      // Showing Alert Message     alertDialog.show(); }  @Override public void onLocationChanged(Location location) { }  @Override public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) { }  @Override public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) { }  @Override public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) { }  @Override public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0) {     return null; }  }  //MainActivity.java GPSTracker gps = new GPSTracker(MainActivity.this); 

Answers 5

Here, i am giving a some piece of code i think it use full to you....

public class MainActivity extends Activity implements OnMapReadyCallback      {  @Override  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){  super.onCreate(savedInsatanceState);  //here give your map Fragment layout Name  setContentView(R.layout.map_activity);  MapFragment mapFragment=(MapFragment)getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map);  mapFragment.getMapAsync(this);            //here your give a title to your marker  @Override  public void onMapReady(GoogleMap map){  LatLng mapcenter=new LatLng(//give your present position Lat,Lng);    CameraPosition cp=CameraPosition.builder()  .targent(mapCenter).builder();    //Update the location View in camera View every 2 seconds    map.animateCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newCameraPosition(camerapostion,2000,null));    //here 3 parameters you given is currentLocation,update Location time,update Location in meters    }            }

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