RikiTraki visualizes and animates GPX tracks with CesiumJS

RikiTraki was an early adopter of CesiumJS that we showcased on the Cesium website a decade ago. This open-source CesiumJS application allows users to upload, manage, and share GPX tracks over 3D terrain. Our newest post discusses the technical updates Ricardo Morin implemented in RikiTraki 2.0.

A few highlights from the 2.0 release:

  • Transition to always-3D: Thanks to continuous engine rendering and performance optimizations in CesiumJS, the application moved away from its original 2D Leaflet map fallback to a fully 3D viewer.
  • Dynamic spatial queries: To manage thousands of uploaded tracks without degrading browser performance, the application was redesigned to fetch and display only GPX files within a nearby radius.
  • Elevation sampling and temporal tracking: Track elevations are sampled directly from the terrain rather than relying on uncalibrated GPS receiver data.
  • Modular layout and personal accounts: Side and bottom panels, including elevation profiles, can be pulled in as needed, while a personal space allows users to view and manage their own tracks.

Read our story: RikiTraki’s Hiking Tracks on the Web Evolve Alongside CesiumJS – Cesium

Check it out on GitHub

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