Collecting small-scale spatial data using mobile phones

In the Mega spatial data acquisition solution, in addition to using professional panoramic cameras, it also supports a solution for collecting spatial data using smartphones. The mobile phone collection solution does not require purchasing additional equipment; simply install the Mega Toolbox app on your phone to start collecting, greatly lowering the barrier to data acquisition. Due to the limited field of view of mobile phones, this solution is only suitable for collecting small areas such as rooms and small squares. Before using a mobile phone to collect data, please carefully read the following data collection instructions.

Important

If the spatial area to be collected is too large, please use GoPro Max/Max2 for Mega Block spatial data collection.

Preparation for collection

Before starting data collection, it is necessary to choose suitable lighting conditions and plan the collection route. Thorough preparation is key to obtaining high-quality map data. Before each collection, follow the collection checklist for preparation.

Collection environment

• The area to be collected should be a small to medium-sized scene (store, exhibition hall, office, etc.)
• The environment should have sufficient and uniform lighting, avoiding areas that are too dark or overexposed (such as direct sunlight)
• The scene should have relatively fixed texture features (such as posters, decorative paintings, unique architectural structures), avoiding areas with minimal texture (pure white rooms, glass mazes)

Planning the collection route

Before collection, plan the route to ensure the starting and ending points coincide. The following are route planning requirements for three different types of scenes:

• Indoor room type: Adopt different strategies based on room size. For small rooms, walk along the edge of the room (about 1-2 meters from the wall) in a circle. For larger rooms, deploy a "grid-pattern" movement route to ensure all blind spots are covered.

  

• Corridor type: If the corridor width does not exceed 6 meters, walk directly through the center. If it exceeds 6 meters, walk close to both sides twice, each time about 3 meters from the adjacent wall. Shoot back and forth once.

  

• Small squares and other open areas: Deploy a grid-pattern route with grid intervals set at 3 meters.

  

Selecting a suitable phone model

Before starting collection, ensure your device meets the following requirements:

• iPhone users: iPhone 11 and above models.
• Android users: Devices supporting ARCore (excluding devices disabled by EasyAR), view details of supported devices.

Note

Note that on ARCore-supported models, an additional "Google Play Services for AR APP" must be installed to run ARCore functionality. This may be pre-installed on some models, while on others it needs to be searched for and installed from the app store.

Installing the collection tool

Download and install the data collection tool app Mega Toolbox:

• iPhone users: Search for Mega Toolbox in the App Store, download and install.
• Android users: On the EasyAR download page, find the "Development Tools" section and download the Mega Toolbox Android installation package. After downloading, copy the installation package to your phone for direct installation, or use adb install EasyARMegaToolbox_***.apk on your computer.

Collection process

The collection process is divided into three stages: launching Mega Toolbox, on-site route scanning and collection, and data saving.

Launching MegaToolbox

1. Open the installed Mega Toolbox on your phone, click the EasyAR Mega mapping data collection (mobile mapping) button to enter data collection mode.

   

2. Click the blue + at the bottom to enter the collection page.

   

   Function description:

   1. Return to main interface
   2. Delete record
   3. Enter collection page

3. Allow MegaToolbox to access your camera during the first collection.

   

Device initialization

After entering the collection interface, first point the camera at a nearby area with rich textures and slowly pan to initialize. Once the status in the top-left corner of the panel changes to Tracking, lift the phone to face the area to be collected and click the start collection button.

Performing collection

After entering the shooting interface, move slowly according to the planned collection route and adopt a scan-while-walking approach to ensure comprehensive visual map coverage.

• Panoramic scanning: Keep the phone at a horizontal viewing angle during collection. After moving forward one meter, pause briefly. Turn the phone 90 degrees to the left, hold for 1 second, return to the forward view, then turn 90 degrees to the right and hold for 1 second. Repeat this cycle to ensure both sides are covered.
• High-altitude collection: If there are tall buildings or landmarks in the space that the camera cannot fully capture, stay in position, adjust the angle to look upward, and collect again.

Tip

• Collection should be a single continuous process; do not interrupt during collection.
• Move slowly during collection, avoiding rapid turns or running.
• Always return to the starting position to complete the path loop.
• The real-time trajectory line displayed during collection helps determine if the path is closed and if the target area is covered.

Ending and saving

After completing all viewing angle collections, you need to stop recording and save the data persistently to the device.

1. After collection is complete, click the red button in the middle of the bottom to stop collection and enter the save page.

   

2. On the save page, enter a name for the collected data (only English and numbers are supported), click the Save button, and the collected data will be saved to the phone.

   

Precautions

1. Throughout the collection process, the Tracking status must be maintained. Keep the collection steady at all times, avoiding rapid turns or sudden stops.
2. The collection duration must not exceed 15 minutes. Exceeding 15 minutes will force the collection to end and enter the save page.
3. Do not switch to the background during collection, as this will cause the collection to fail.
4. Ensure the environment has sufficient, uniform, and stable lighting, avoiding areas that are too dark or overexposed.
5. Do not point the camera at white walls, metal surfaces, or other monochromatic surfaces, or reflective/transparent glass areas for extended periods.
6. If collection fails, restart the collection.

Next steps

After collection is complete, refer to the export data document to export the data, and create a small-scale mobile collection task in the Mega development center for mapping create small-scale mobile collection task.