How to create a target-tracking view?

[KennSebesta]

Let's say that we wanted to recreate the core visualization of https://globe.adsbexchange.com/, which basically plots an icon. This icon is a tracked object, and it has a coordinate, speed, and heading, all of which are continually updating. Furthermore, the tracked objects appear and disappear throughout the runtime.

Basically, a simple version of radar.

How would we do something similar with ArcGIS? In the SDK runtime samples set there is example of adding elements to a map, but that example doesn't include updating them nor removing them.

[JamesBallard1 · Accepted solution]

Hi @KennSebesta ,

We have a few different samples that may useful to solve this. The first thing that comes to mind is the StreamLayer but Runtime doesn't support that yet. But not to worry, we have an entire Qt example app designed for a similar purpose: the "DSA" (dynamic situational awareness). That might be overkill for what you need but it would solve the issue. The only thing to keep in mind with the DSA app is that it is built with the Qt C++ API so the concepts will transfer to the QML API but not the codebase.

https://github.com/Esri/dynamic-situational-awareness-qt 

An alternate workflow would be to use Kml, which supports dynamically refreshing content. Here's a good example of that workflow which actually uses plane tracking like your example:

https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-runtime-samples-qt/tree/main/ArcGISRuntimeSDKQt_QMLSamples/Layers/Dis...

We also have a sample that shows how to use frequently-updated raster imagery in 3D to support a radar-like animation via the ImageOverlay. This currently only works in 3D so I don't know if it's suitable to your workflow and requires raster imagery as well.

https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-runtime-samples-qt/tree/main/ArcGISRuntimeSDKQt_QMLSamples/Scenes/Ani... 

[KennSebesta]

This is great stuff! I'll start with the KML and see if it gets me to where I'm going.

I've said it before but it's worth saying again: the care and thought which went into the SDK samples is truly commendable.

[JamesBallard1]

Thanks @KennSebesta! I will pass along your compliments to our samples team.