OpenStreetMap
Installing mapillary_tools on an Android device...
Posted by JesseAKARaccoon on 13 February 2021 in English.You can install mapillary_tools on an Android device without rooting it. Here was my process:
Start by downloading Termux, a good command line program for Android.
Then, install mapillary_tools according to Linux instructions on the README. However, because Python 2 is no longer supported, the “pip” command seen in the readme will not work.
Use the command…
pkg install python2
…to install the necessary version of Python. Then follow instructions as-is, but replace instances of “pip install” with “python2 -m pip install”
Finally, on Termux, you must run the command “termux-setup-storage” to access the device’s internal storage.
As a non-programmer, this took me a while to figure out. I hope this helps someone!
Discussion
Comment from eneerhut on 2 March 2021 at 19:13
Thanks for sharing your workflow Jesse. The images do indeed look good. I’m curious what the main reasons are for using Open Camera over the Mapillary are. This would be really helpful for future improvements to the native Mapillary app.
Comment from JesseAKARaccoon on 3 March 2021 at 08:27
My only real problem with the Android Mapillary app – but it is a big one for me – is that I cannot opt to use my phone’s wide angle lens camera. I explain my feelings more, in a https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/JesseAKARaccoon/diary/395755:
“In terms of editing OSM, images taken with the standard lens on the Mapillary Android app can be nearly useless sometimes. I’ve had plenty of instances where I’ve been unable to verify street names, other signage, etc. Gathering house addresses, names of businesses, and other features not DIRECTLY near the road is often impossible. By the time something is close enough to see well, it’s out of frame or blocked by the vehicle ahead of me.
Plus, aesthetically, having imagery that only looks straight down roads is super-unappealing. It squanders Mapillary’s ability to stitch nearby photos together,” (not to mention, the user’s ability to see things other than the pavement ahead of you).
Honestly, I’m eager to try using a 360° camera to capture images, for basically the same reasons. And now I can, since I’ve found out how to use mapillary_tools! Just need to get a camera, first…
Comment from JesseAKARaccoon on 3 March 2021 at 08:29
Shoot, messed up the link. I got a bit reckless, since I forgot you can’t edit comments.
For some reason.
Comment from eneerhut on 5 March 2021 at 01:21
Thanks for getting back to me Jesse. That’s really good to know.
Wide angle lens options are definitely interesting for us as this becomes more common on Android phones. I hear it’s quite tricky to implement support for, but it’s something we’ll be looking at for the same reasons you are. Being able to see businesses, landmarks, bus stops, in the wide angle lends is helpful for mapping purposes.
There are some really good 360º cam options on the market now. Going to test the GoPro Max this weekend, but it looks really promising so far with on-device GPS and processing and the ability to take time lapse photos. They’ve also come down in price a lot which is a plus.