iqtlabs/edgetech-occlusion-mapper repository overview

⁠EdgeTech Occlusion Mapper

GitHub Repo⁠ This repo is designed to be part of a SkyScan system. SkyScan automatically points a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera at an aircraft based on the location information broadcast in an ADS-B message. Occlusion Mapper lets you map out objects that are blocking the view of a PTZ camera so that they can be avoided. It produces an array of Azimuth and Elevation values. This array provides what is the lowest possible elevation that can be used at a given azimuth.

⁠Running Things

Occlusion Mapper is available as a Docker Image on Docker Hub. Unless you are looking on making modifications to the code, you can just use the Docker Image that is available there. The included docker-compose⁠ file provides an example of how to use that file.

The occlusion-mapper.env⁠ file provides the set of environment variables that need to be set. Save a copy this file as .env and then modify it for your local install. You will probably need to change the Project & Device names, along with the IP address for the camera.

⁠Usage

Launch the container using Docker Compose: docker compose up

If the container is running locally, navigate to: http://localhost:5000⁠ in your browser.

Otherwise, if the container is running on another machine, navigate to that IP address with port 5000. For example: http://192.168.1.111:5000

This will bring up a rudimentary web interface that lets you control the camera and record different Azimuth/Elevation values. To map out the ooclusions around your camera:

1. Starting at 0° azimuth, find the camera elevation where you begin to have a clear view of the sky in the middle of the screen.
2. Next hit the Add Point button to record this value. The Graph at the bottom of the screen should update with this value.
3. Move the camera to the right. If the center of the frame no longer lines up with where planes would begin to be visible, adjust the Elevation and then hit Add Point
4. Continue this process until you have arrive back at 0° azimuth