Project 2: Visualizing Manhattan Traffic Data in Unity

1. Total Number of Hours = 83

2. Proposal

3. Proposal Evaluations

4. Milestones

5. Timeline

6. Visualization

7. Deliverable: Mapbox Tutorial for Unity

8. Additional Mapbox Unity Visualizations

Project Proposal

In this project, I will be visualizing Manhattan Traffic Data (https://opendata.cityofnewyork.us/data/#datasetsagency, open-source New York data) in Unity. I will be utilizing the Mapbox SDK for Unity and work with Loudon to have this visualized in the Yurt. Potential deliverables include a Mapbox tutorial on the Wiki (not done previously), a journal writeup, visualizing map data in a custom mobile application for iOS, and visualizing map data in the Yurt.

My class activity was done in Project 1.

Proposal Evaluations

Evaluation by David - March 31, 2020

Looks great! You have many reviews, so I won't duplicate what's already clear. My one suggestion would be to clarify the course wiki contributions that will come out of the project. In some ways, that is what will persist from your work and provide value to others after the class. I find that particularly compelling! Very nice job on identifying a new and interesting dataset and on aiming to get that into the Yurt!

Evaluation by Ross - March 31, 2020

The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki:

(5)

The proposed project involves previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality:

(5)

The proposed project involves large data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data and software that it will use:

(5) Nice choice of data; excited to see how this will turn out!

The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class:

(5) Milestones are concrete and frequent

The proposed project includes an in-class activity:

Completed with first project

The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation:

(4) The YURT visualization will obviously contingent on whether Unity works in the YURT, so maybe consult with Louden on this section of the project. Also, you might consider looking into ArcGIS if you're interested in map data. I believe Brown students have a free subscription. Overall, great job!

Evaluation by Loudon - March 31, 2020

The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki

(5)

The proposed project involves previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality

(5) Yes, the proposed project does involve previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality.

The proposed project involves large data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data and software that it will use

(5) The proposed project uses Manhattan Live Traffic, which is new and will be visualized in Unity (let me know if you want any help with Unity!)

The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class

(5) Rough timeline above.

The proposed project includes an in-class activity

(5) Already done!

The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation

(5) Mapbox documentation, Unity documentation and New York's data look good!

Evaluation by Loudon - March 30, 2020

The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki:

(5)

The proposed project involves previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality:

(5), Yep definitely!

The proposed project involves large data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data and software that it will use:

(5) -- Manhattan Live Traffic

The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class:

(5)

The proposed project includes an in-class activity -- Already completed in project 1!

The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation:

(5)

Evaluation by Brandon - March 31, 2020

The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki - Strongly agree

The proposed project involves previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality - Strongly agree

The proposed project involves large data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data and software that it will use - Strongly agree

The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class - Strongly agree

The proposed project includes an in-class activity - Strongly agree (Already completed)

The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation - Strongly agree

Evaluation by Spencer - March 31, 2020

The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki:

(5)

The proposed project involves previously unavailable Yurt data visualization functionality:

(5), This would be super cool.

The proposed project involves large data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data and software that it will use:

(5) -- Manhattan Live Traffic

The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class:

(5)

The proposed project includes an in-class activity -- Already done I think?

The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation:

(5)

Milestones

April 9, 2020

Get familiar with the traffic dataset, clean the dataset.

April 14, 2020

Research Mapbox and incorporating into Unity

April 16, 2020

Make basic mobile app with Mapbox

April 21, 2020

Add Manhattan Traffic dataset to Unity

April 23, 2020

Finish mobile application

April 28, 2020

Port to the Yurt (will be doing throughout April)

May 1, 2020

Finish journal writeup

Timeline

March 25, 2020 - 3 hours

Initial brainstorming of new project ideas, I knew I wanted to do something with map data but could not pinpoint on what.

March 28, 2020 - 4 hours

Used this time to finalize project idea and research SDKs and frameworks. Chose Unity as software to use for Project 2.

April 1, 2020 - 2 hours

Settled on using Mapbox SDK since it is compatible with Unity and there is sufficient documentation available for reference. Watched several Mapbox tutorials to gain familiarity with the plugin.

April 2, 2020 - 4 hours

Watched Mapbox Tutorial series (https://www.mapbox.com/videos/how-to/create-and-edit-data-in-mapbox-studio/) and developed a sample application displaying map data with the Mapbox SDK for iOS.

April 4, 2020 - 5 hours

Clean Manhattan traffic dataset and worked on importing it into Unity. Researched different dataset formats that Unity supports.

April 5, 2020 - 3 hours

Worked with Unity, gaining familiarity with the interface and controls. A slight learning curve initially.

April 8, 2020 - 2 hours

Visualized sample scenes and views in Unity.

April 10, 2020 - 3 hours

Successfully got Mapbox and dataset to work and visualize in Unity.

April 11, 2020 - 4 hours

Started implementing animations in Unity - this took a bit of research and was initially difficult.

April 14, 2020 - 3 hours

Worked on making the dataset visualization look more intuitive by using colors to display the more heavily traffic areas (orange cars represent heavy traffic whereas green cars represent light traffic)

April 17, 2020 - 3 hours

Began researching the Mapbox Vision SDK (will include this in the Mapbox tutorial deliverable but not particularly useful in visualizing the Manhattan Traffic dataset)