Newer devices (Motorola Xoom, Galaxy Nexus) contain a barometer which can read
atmospheric pressure.
This enables developers to get a fairly accurate altitude opposed to the poor
accuracy of the gps.
To get absolute heights above sea leven, MyTracks would have to "calibrate" the
barometer with the current atmospheric pressure. Perhaps the ATIS (air traffic
information service) provides an API for this (please see the text at the end
of this issue). Relative heights should be accurate even when the barometer
isn't calibrated.
This would enable a much finer and accurate height-reading and make the height
graph really usable while jogging etc.
Here's the comment by Jim Sher on the G+ post
(https://plus.google.com/112413860260589530492/posts/jVJhPyouWDP):
"It would be nice if the barometer could also be configured. As any pilot can
tell you, the air pressure changes from day to day and hour to hour. The QNH
(air pressure adjusted to sea level) is broadcast by the nearest ATIS (Air
Traffic Information Service). If the phone's internal barometer can pick up the
QNH from the local ATIS, often streamed online as well as over the air (at
least I think so), then a more accurate alt could be achieved and could even
assist in recording of tracks with the GPS?
I have AIX Weather widget installed on my phone. It gives me the MSLP (Mean Sea
Level Pressure) which is essentially the same as QNH."
Original issue reported on code.google.com by ulrich.moritz on 5 Dec 2011 at 7:43
Original issue reported on code.google.com by
ulrich.moritz
on 5 Dec 2011 at 7:43