Utilize the Google Maps API to align an SVG symbol with the direction of an aircraft's

I have been struggling to update the rotation of the Google Maps API SVG aircraft symbol to display the correct heading as it moves. Although it initially loads with the correct heading, I can't seem to figure out how to dynamically update it. I've spent two days trying and failing miserably. I thought simply adding rotation: getTrueHeading would do the trick but no such luck.

The only way I managed to get close to what I want is by including the planeSymbol instance and marker instance inside the 

setInterval(function() {}, 3000);

function at the bottom, but this results in duplicating the aircraft icon and seems highly inefficient.

I admit that the code below is not of great quality, so please excuse its shortcomings – I am still learning JavaScript.

If anyone could provide assistance, I would greatly appreciate it.

javascriptgoogle-maps-api-3svgrotation

Answer №1

Extract the heading information from the DOM just like you would with coordinates, and apply it to adjust the rotation property of the icon.

// Obtain the heading value from the DOM
var gettrueHeadingEl = document.getElementById('trueHeading');
getTrueHeading = parseFloat(gettrueHeadingEl.innerHTML);

// Update the rotation property of the icon
marker.setPosition(new google.maps.LatLng(getLat, getLong));
var newIcon = marker.getIcon()
newIcon.rotation = getTrueHeading;
marker.setIcon(newIcon);

Check out the demo fiddle for a visual representation of this concept.

Sample code snippet:

function initMap() {

  var getLatEl = document.getElementById('latitude');
  getLat = parseFloat(getLatEl.innerHTML);

  var getLongEl = document.getElementById('longitude');
  getLong = parseFloat(getLongEl.innerHTML);

  var gettrueHeadingEl = document.getElementById('trueHeading');
  getTrueHeading = parseFloat(gettrueHeadingEl.innerHTML);

  if (isNaN(getLat) == true && isNaN(getLong) == true) {

    // Display default location      
    var usersLocation = {
      lat: 33.949484,
      lng: -118.430566
    };
    var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), {
      zoom: 3,
      center: usersLocation,
      mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.TERRAIN
    });
    var image = 'assets/images/icons/aircraft_marker_map_none_16x16.png';

  } else if (isNaN(getLat) == false && isNaN(getLong) == false) {

    // Show flight sim location
    var usersLocation = {
      lat: getLat,
      lng: getLong
    };
    var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), {
      zoom: 8,
      center: usersLocation,
      mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.TERRAIN
    });
    var image = 'assets/images/icons/aircraft_marker_map_16x16.png';

  }

  var planeSymbol = {
    path: 'M362.985,430.724l-10.248,51.234l62.332,57.969l-3.293,26.145 l-71.345-23.599l-2.001,13.069l-2.057-13.529l-71.278,22.928l-5.762-23.984l64.097-59.271l-8.913-51.359l0.858-114.43 l-21.945-11.338l-189.358,88.76l-1.18-32.262l213.344-180.08l0.875-107.436l7.973-32.005l7.642-12.054l7.377-3.958l9.238,3.65 l6.367,14.925l7.369,30.363v106.375l211.592,182.082l-1.496,32.247l-188.479-90.61l-21.616,10.087l-0.094,115.684',
    scale: 0.0333,
    strokeOpacity: 1,
    color: 'black',
    strokeWeight: 1,
    rotation: getTrueHeading,
    anchor: new google.maps.Point(400, 400)
  };


  var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    id: "player",
    position: usersLocation,
    map: map,
    title: 'Username',
    icon: planeSymbol

  });

  //
  var polyline = new google.maps.Polyline({
      map: map,
      path: []
    })
    // Move players aircraft
  setInterval(function() {

    var getLatEl = document.getElementById('latitude');
    getLat = parseFloat(getLatEl.innerHTML);
    var getLongEl = document.getElementById('longitude');
    getLong = parseFloat(getLongEl.innerHTML);
    var gettrueHeadingEl = document.getElementById('trueHeading');
    getTrueHeading = parseFloat(gettrueHeadingEl.innerHTML);

    var planeSymbol = {
      path: 'M362.985,430.724l-10.248,51.234l62.332,57.969l-3.293,26.145 l-71.345-23.599l-2.001,13.069l-2.057-13.529l-71.278,22.928l-5.762-23.984l64.097-59.271l-8.913-51.359l0.858-114.43 l-21.945-11.338l-189.358,88.76l-1.18-32.262l213.344-180.08l0.875-107.436l7.973-32.005l7.642-12.054l7.377-3.958l9.238,3.65 l6.367,14.925l7.369,30.363v106.375l211.592,182.082l-1.496,32.247l-188.479-90.61l-21.616,10.087l-0.094,115.684',
      scale: 0.0333,
      strokeOpacity: 1,
      color: 'black',
      strokeWeight: 1,
      rotation: getTrueHeading,
      anchor: new google.maps.Point(400, 400)

    };

    if (marker && marker.setPosition) {
      marker.setPosition(new google.maps.LatLng(getLat, getLong));
      var newIcon = marker.getIcon()
      newIcon.rotation = getTrueHeading;
      marker.setIcon(newIcon);
      polyline.getPath().push(marker.getPosition());
    } else {
      marker = new google.maps.Marker({
        position: usersLocation,
        map: map,
        title: 'Username',
        icon: planeSymbol

      });
    }
    map.panTo(new google.maps.LatLng(getLat, getLong));

  }, 3000);


  marker.setMap(map);
  //  moveAircraft(map, marker);

}
var angle = 0;

function simulateMovement() {
  angle += 1;
  var newPt = google.maps.geometry.spherical.computeOffset(new google.maps.LatLng(42, -72), 100000, angle);
  document.getElementById('latitude').innerHTML = newPt.lat();
  document.getElementById('longitude').innerHTML = newPt.lng();
  var heading = angle + 90;
  document.getElementById('trueHeading').innerHTML = heading;
}
setInterval(simulateMovement, 1000);
google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, "load", initMap);
html,
body,
#map {
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
  margin: 0px;
  padding: 0px
}
<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?libraries=geometry&key=AIzaSyCkUOdZ5y7hMm0yrcCQoCvLwzdM6M8s5qk"></script>
<div id="latitude">42</div>
<div id="longitude">-72</div>
<div id="trueHeading">90</div>
<div id="map"></div>

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