Roadmap

While we like to be transparent about our goals, please understand that this is a technical document. The order of this list is based on implementation-requirements which might seem un-natural to you.

• Full re-rendering of the map

  Future functionalities will require full map-redraws (changing geo data, advanced closures, imports ect.) but as a user you do not want to wait for this to complete, nor do you want to suddenly have your map changing while working on it.

  This implementation will allow full map-redraws without interruption the user work-flow.

  • A redraw should be calculated in a separate thread and only applied if the user chooses too.
  • User should see a button that indicates a map-redraw being available (Only AFTER pre-processing it).
  • When user clicks redraw button, the full map should instantly redraw without interrupting the UI-thread.
  • All functionalities should remain available no matter which redraw status indicated.
  • Action(-dialogs) should have the options of bypassing the button and forcing a ?blocking? redraw.

• CRUD functionality on map stations

  A user should be able to create, search, edit and remove any station they want, depending on users action a full map-redraw should be triggered.

  • A user should be able to change any location related data on a station already existing on the map.
  • GPS-based stations should move all non-GPS stations that are connected, making it possible to change/correct the entrance position of a map.
  • Above statement goes for the “edit dialog” option too, changing the lng/lat should move the system as a hole.
  • A user should be able to add a station on an already existing line.
  • A user should be able to remove a station on an already existing line. - Added version 0.42
  • Searching will be added in a later milestone.

• Import StickMaps-file(.stk) files into another StickMaps file

  As a user I will want to be able to import an existing .stk file into my current project. This would make it possible to connect multiple previously separated systems together or even create one huge map with all caves in the world.

  • users should be allowed to import one file into another, meaning that they can “merge” two separate stickmaps into a single map.
  • the imported stickmap should exist of exactly the same data as a non-imported stickmap.

• Support more devices and file-types

  Now that we can import a file into another file, supporting other formats will be much easier. Allowing user to import their existing surveys will most probably boost our online presence.

  • users should be able to connect to their Sinapsi.
  • users should be able to import .tml files. Ariane
  • users should be able to import .csv files.
  • users should be able to connect to their Mnemo directly. - cancelled -
  • Your file format not here? Let us know

• Offline usage

  Currently, no effort has been put in offline usage and so is impossible to use StickMaps without an internet connection. Yet as a user, it happens more often the sometimes that you want to process your survey without having internet available.

  • allow users to prepare offline areas in order to make map-imagery available. (within the possibilities provided by ArcGIS)
  • possibly add a default “offline area” that will always be available offline.

• Search functionality navigator

  In the process of creating a map, a user provides an excessive amount of information. All of this information should be searchable using a simple text-based keyword search-query.

  • User should be able to search for stations, lines, surveys and markers within the navigator.
  • Search query should filter navigator data, allowing for multiple results.
  • User should be able to zoom/center mapview on a specific station from within the navigator - Added version 0.40

• Refactor Navigator

  Now that we can search, we will probably want to order and structure our data. We would like the navigator become a dynamic entity allowing for user modifications.

  • User should be able to create “directories” and add pieces of map in there (for exporting/publishing)
  • Directory structure should be virtual as so a user should be able to switch back and forward between folder view and survey view.
  • Navigator should allow for sorting and ordering.
  • More to come

• Data visualiser

  Extending existing search functionalities, we should now allow users to visualize their data based on user-provided parameters

  • users should be able to color and/or shape lines/stations based on tags, contacts, dates, depths or any other provided information.
  • users should be able to create a textual report included total length’s, accuracy, possible leads, surveyors and so on.

• Further Esri ArcGIS integration

  While StickMaps fully integrated the ArcGIS api apart from the map-imagery none of their front-end functionalities have been fully implemented.

  • users should be allowed/endorsed to use their own (free) ArcGIS account.
  • users should be allowed to import their own feature-layers from their arcGIS account.
  • users should be able to export their stickmaps as a arcGIS feature layer.
  • exported feature-layers should be fully compatible with arcGIS own analytic-tools.

• Image overlays

  Do you have your own drone images? Do you maybe have a jpeg with a huge cave-system or some other image data you would like to overlay with your map? This feature will enable you to do so.

  • users should be allowed to drop and scale images on the map.
  • the images should display between the map and the stick-map symbols.

• Least-squares loop closures

  Now that we came so far, we should be able to average inaccuracies using te most proper mathematical-algorithm. While there are multiple options, least-squares is accepted as the best possible solution. There are multiple applications claiming to have implemented this algorithm yet doing so correctly might not be as easy as it sounds.

  • Loop-closures should implement the least-squares algorithm.
  • After a loop-closure the hole map should be re-generated but redrawn only on request.

• Release 50k and 500k versions of StickMaps

  Start smart, grow big. We have a lot of power under the hood, and we want to bring that to good use. Imagine a single file that holds all caves known to humanity; We are up for the challenge, -are you?

  • implement hot/cold logic (in-sight/out-of-sight separation)
  • implement proper BTree, Hash and GIST indexes
  • loop-indexing for realtime path-finding
  • optimize search-speeds

• Multi-player version?

  Wouldn’t it be cool to work with all your dive-buddies on the same world map?