For Apps used in various field works, it is useful Appsheet feture to capture the location where the event happens, like the location when the data is captured, such as image taken.
We are able to expand this feature in a super easy way.
Once the Apps capture latlong in the field, then use this column as anchor to construct the URL jump to Google Street View.
Those are steps how to achieve this.
Powered by the acquisition by Google, this feature and tips potentially get more powerful with the deeper integration with Google service they provide now and in the future.
- Make sure your table have physical column to capture lat / long info using HERE() expression.
- Create new virtual column with name - Street View - for instance.
- Add the following expression into app formula.
HYPERLINK(โhttp://maps.google.com/maps?q=&layer=c&cbll=โ&[LatLong Field]&"&cbp=12,0,0,0,0",
โTEXT APPEARING ON THE VIEWโ)
This will generate the hyperlink to Google Street view targetting the lat/long you capture within Appsheet app.
You can change โTEXT APPEARING ON THE VIEWโ to string whatever you want.
Google street view url do have several parameters to change the behaivior. Most importanly, I m using one of params for ANGLE.
For instance, you take a photo and capture the location lat long at the same time. Using this latlong to construct dynamic URL, but we need to direct URL which direction, i.e. โNorth, East, West, Southโ to set the default view of the Google Street View.
Within some of my app, I do have 4 different Hyper links to street view to set the angle with 0 deg, 90 deg, 180 deg and 270 deg.
Lets say your object for the image can be seen from your local street. Then you take photo of your object from the street. (Building etc) We do capture the lat long for that location upon taking photo. But still not sure which direction from that anchoring lotlong location the image can be seen.
As far as we have 4 different angle like that, technically one of or possibly two of the URL / street view will be displaying the target object of your image.
I m asking my user to find the URL for the street view where the object is exactly appearing from the browser. Copy this url and paste to other column to retain that URL within the app.
Now we do have pretty much precise URL for Google street view for display your target objects.
This will give user additional interact to see the object as google street view in addtion to static image shot which was taken by user.
Future potential use?
Once the google update the street view, we are able to access to most latest view of the object by jumping into street view with clicking URL link within app sheet app.
If you have bunch of property and object you need to inspect, letโs assume Google refresh the street view every year (hopefully), but we dont need to go to the site physically, but view the property and object out of Google Street View.
Migh be we are able to priotalize the property and object to arrange re-inspection based on the latest street view, which will make the process of inspection and field works more effective, I think.
Anyway try it out, if you have app for inspection like me.
Koichi
@Kirk_Masden
@Fabian
@Suvrutt_Gurjar
In the meantime, i forgot to mention. Please set the virtual column data type to URL.
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