Google Maps, GPS, ASP.NET

4/03/2006 09:03:00 AM | Permanent Link | Comments (4)

[UPDATE, April 7 2006]

I've got it to work with Google Maps API Version 2.44, works in both IE6 and Firefox, and hopefully IE7 Beta. Anybody has IE7 to check this?

[/UPDATE]

It sounds trivial, and it somewhat is.

I was an ASP.NET virgin until a couple of days ago, when I programmed my first C# program that plots points on Google Maps :-)

The idea is to understand an underlying protocol that GPS receivers (and many other equipment) use to transmit data to a computer through the serial port; the NMEA Protocol; pioneered in the US Navy for a limited set, fixed baud rate communication protocol.

Basically the GPS receiver at a rate of 4800 bits per second, or 600 letters per second sends lots of data, including the information needed to plot points on Google Maps, latitude and longitude.

For my purpose, which is a class project essentially, I just sufficed with lat/long details out of all the data that was sent, which includes speed, satellites in use, fix, and other bunch of information which I could least bother myself with, maybe I will in sometime, but for now I'm sticking to the basics :-)

For a quick look, head over to the .NET GPS Webpage, make sure you have NMEA files to upload. If not test drive these;

car01gps.txt
car02gps.txt
car03gps.txt

Upload the file, wait for a minute or so, and see the results :-)

Labels: Technology