Snowdog Geospatial Data Collection System

The Snowdog Geospatial Data Collection System is a sophisticated solution designed for mountainbikers to track the condition of the winter trail driven by the Snowdog. Utilizing the Snowdog device, this system integrates various technologies to provide up-to-date trail information, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Problem Statement

One common challenge faced by outdoor enthusiasts is the lack of real-time information on trail conditions. The initial solution involved integrating with Strava; however, this posed accessibility issues for users without Strava accounts and hindered the embedding of maps on external websites.

Project Planning

The development approach followed an Agile and Lean methodology, allowing for swift prototyping, testing, and refinement. The project progressed from the initial concept to a functional prototype within a matter of days.

Devices Used

The system relies on the ECM2040, a commercial product offered by Exertus.fi. This module provides comprehensive connectivity, enabling the collection of positional data, which is then seamlessly transmitted to the cloud.

Architecture Overview

The system adopts a Producer-Consumer model on the edge side, incorporating a streamlined flow of data. A PHP backend is employed to store data in a MySQL database, providing a reliable and familiar infrastructure. A Python script processes NMEA data, placing it into a queue, and leveraging Redis streams for efficient data flow. Finally, consumer groups retrieve and push the information to various destinations, including the utilization of IoT-Ticket.com for comprehensive visualization.

flowchart TD
    C{redis}
    subgraph ECM2040
        A[GPS device] -->|Parse NMEA data| B(Redis)
        B <--> C{Redis consumers}
    end

        subgraph IOT
            M{IoT Ticket}

        end
        subgraph WEBSITE
            MAP
        end
        subgraph API
            J{Cloud API}
            MYSQL
            J --> MYSQL
        end
        C -->|http POST| API;
        MAP <-->|http GET| API;
        C -->|MQTT| IOT[IoT Ticket]

Technical Specifications

The core functionality is implemented through a Python script responsible for processing NMEA data. This data is strategically placed in Redis streams, facilitating a robust flow for subsequent processing by consumer groups. The resulting information is then seamlessly pushed to different locations, including the integration with IoT-Ticket.com for an immersive and dynamic map visualization.

Leafletjs Integration

A one-page map, powered by Leafletjs, is utilized to present a heatmap of the route. Geofences are intelligently formed using geojson.io, and the edge software calculates the device's current location within these defined areas.

Conclusion

The Snowdog Geospatial Data Collection System stands as a comprehensive solution for users seeking to collect and visualize geospatial data using geofences. This system seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technologies, providing a reliable and user-friendly experience for mountainbikers for observing winter trail condition.

Running the service

1. make all
2. docker-compose up -d --build
3. go to address http://localhost/snowdog/

Running tests

docker run --network=snowdog_mynetwork -it --rm -v $(pwd):/tests snowdog-rpa-snowdog bash -c "robot --outputdir /tests/results /tests"

Map of the dog