Auto-geotagging
Encyclopedia
Real-time geotagging is a name given to the automatic technique of acquiring media (such as photos, audio or video), associating a specific location with the media, transferring the media to an online map and publishing the media in real time. It is thus an extension of an automatic geotagging
process, requiring an in-built or attached location acquisition device (such as GPS or wi-fi triangulation), but also requires communication with a wireless data transfer device (such as mobile phone networks or wi-fi networks). Several modern cell phones and digital cameras already integrate camera, aGPS
, and wireless data transfer into one device, thus directly producing a geotagged photograph. Real-time geotagging is sometimes referred to as "mobile geotagging" or "autogeotagging", but this does not imply the real-time publishing step.
capability. Most do not, so many photographers rely on external GPS receivers to determine location. Location may be inserted immediately into the picture file by tethering with Bluetooth
or suitable wired connection, which are about as rare in cameras as the built-in autogeotagging feature, or later using a user's computer or a geotagging photo sharing
web site. It has even been proposed that in future, it may be possible to deduce the locations of photos purely by comparison with large numbers of geotagged photos.
GPS units, internal or external, require a lock from at least three satellites (for position), which usually requires up to 60 seconds. However, acquisition time
is decreasing rapidly with hardware improvements. Some 21st century GPS receivers use cell tower location and one global positioning satellite to obtain a faster lock on location. This technology known as assisted GPS (aGPS
) is becoming more popular in cellular phones since it leverages cell tower locations.
One alternative to GPS is WiFi triangulation which uses the MAC addresses of nearby wireless access point
s to determine position. Automatic geotagging relies on media acquisition devices that contain GPS, aGPS, or WiFi or other local positioning systems. Some camera phone
s are also equipped to use the methods of mobile phone tracking
. Some geotagging techniques rely on post-processing of media, recorded tracks and/or MAC addresses, but they cannot be used for real-time geotagging.
With the rapid rise of mobile smartphones which integrate GPS receivers and cameras, and relative market stagnation of separate devices, , these phones are prime candidates for autogeotagging. Those that don't include this ability in their stock software may acquire it by use of added application programs.
, people tracking, security, and geofencing.
Geotagging allows presenting the geotagged media via a map. Some examples of location-based social networking sites include MapWith.Us
, Flickr
, Panoramio
and Picasa
. However, presenting the data using online maps is a challenging problem, especially when combined with collaborative mapping
. One example of such a project using real-time geotagging is MapWith.Us
.
GeoTagging
Geotagging is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as a geotagged photograph or video, websites, SMS messages, QR Codes or RSS feeds and is a form of geospatial metadata...
process, requiring an in-built or attached location acquisition device (such as GPS or wi-fi triangulation), but also requires communication with a wireless data transfer device (such as mobile phone networks or wi-fi networks). Several modern cell phones and digital cameras already integrate camera, aGPS
AGPS
AGPS can refer to:* Assisted GPS* Alkylglycerone phosphate synthase...
, and wireless data transfer into one device, thus directly producing a geotagged photograph. Real-time geotagging is sometimes referred to as "mobile geotagging" or "autogeotagging", but this does not imply the real-time publishing step.
Location Acquisition
Geotagging is gaining popularity with photographers to produce geotagged photographs. A few cameras have built-in geolocationGeolocation
Geolocation is the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a radar, mobile phone or an Internet-connected computer terminal...
capability. Most do not, so many photographers rely on external GPS receivers to determine location. Location may be inserted immediately into the picture file by tethering with Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
or suitable wired connection, which are about as rare in cameras as the built-in autogeotagging feature, or later using a user's computer or a geotagging photo sharing
Photo sharing
Photo sharing is the publishing or transfer of a user's digital photos online, thus enabling the user to share them with others . This function is provided through both websites and applications that facilitate the upload and display of images...
web site. It has even been proposed that in future, it may be possible to deduce the locations of photos purely by comparison with large numbers of geotagged photos.
GPS units, internal or external, require a lock from at least three satellites (for position), which usually requires up to 60 seconds. However, acquisition time
Time to first fix
Time To First Fix is a measure of the time required for a GPS receiver to acquire satellite signals and navigation data, and calculate a position solution .-Scenarios:...
is decreasing rapidly with hardware improvements. Some 21st century GPS receivers use cell tower location and one global positioning satellite to obtain a faster lock on location. This technology known as assisted GPS (aGPS
AGPS
AGPS can refer to:* Assisted GPS* Alkylglycerone phosphate synthase...
) is becoming more popular in cellular phones since it leverages cell tower locations.
One alternative to GPS is WiFi triangulation which uses the MAC addresses of nearby wireless access point
Wireless access point
In computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...
s to determine position. Automatic geotagging relies on media acquisition devices that contain GPS, aGPS, or WiFi or other local positioning systems. Some camera phone
Camera phone
A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs . Since early in the 21st century the majority of mobile phones in use are camera phones....
s are also equipped to use the methods of mobile phone tracking
Mobile phone tracking
Mobile phone tracking refers to the attaining of the current position of a mobile phone, stationary or moving. Localization may occur either via multilateration of radio signals between radio towers of the network and the phone, or simply via GPS...
. Some geotagging techniques rely on post-processing of media, recorded tracks and/or MAC addresses, but they cannot be used for real-time geotagging.
With the rapid rise of mobile smartphones which integrate GPS receivers and cameras, and relative market stagnation of separate devices, , these phones are prime candidates for autogeotagging. Those that don't include this ability in their stock software may acquire it by use of added application programs.
Applications
Wireless data transfer allows real-time mapping of media. Transferring images from cell phones to social networking sites is gaining popularity. Applications for real-time mapping include travel, real estate, geosocial networkingGeosocial networking
Geosocial Networking is a type of social networking in which geographic services and capabilities such as geocoding and geotagging are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with...
, people tracking, security, and geofencing.
Geotagging allows presenting the geotagged media via a map. Some examples of location-based social networking sites include MapWith.Us
MapWith.Us
MapWith.Us is a geosocial networking website that allows users to create and share custom maps with an online community. User maps are created by uploading and geotagging media. When media is associated with a location on a map, the media is known as a map article...
, Flickr
Flickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
, Panoramio
Panoramio
Panoramio is a geolocation-oriented photo sharing website. Accepted photos uploaded to the site can be accessed as a layer in Google Earth and Google Maps, with new photos being added at the end of every month. The site's goal is to allow Google Earth users to learn more about a given area by...
and Picasa
Picasa
Picasa is an image organizer and image viewer for organizing and editing digital photos, plus an integrated photo-sharing website, originally created by Idealab in 2002 and owned by Google since 2004. "Picasa" is a blend of the name of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, the phrase mi casa for "my...
. However, presenting the data using online maps is a challenging problem, especially when combined with collaborative mapping
Collaborative mapping
Collaborative mapping is the aggregation of web maps and user-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms.-Types:...
. One example of such a project using real-time geotagging is MapWith.Us
MapWith.Us
MapWith.Us is a geosocial networking website that allows users to create and share custom maps with an online community. User maps are created by uploading and geotagging media. When media is associated with a location on a map, the media is known as a map article...
.