Navigating the Unknown: How to Get Estimated Arrival Time (ETA) from Google Maps & Waze
Ever wanted to integrate the power of Google Maps or Waze into your Android app to provide users with accurate estimated arrival times (ETAs)? This article will guide you through the process, explaining how to leverage the functionality of these popular navigation apps using intents.
The Problem: Need for Accurate ETAs
Imagine you're building a delivery app. Users want to know when their order will arrive, and you want to provide them with a reliable ETA. You could try calculating the travel time yourself, but it would be difficult to match the accuracy and real-time updates offered by Google Maps or Waze.
The Solution: Using App Intents
Thankfully, both Google Maps and Waze provide a convenient way to access their powerful navigation features through intents. By sending a specific intent, you can prompt the app to calculate a route and return the ETA. Let's break down how to achieve this.
1. Google Maps:
// Construct the intent with the desired destination
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
Uri.parse("google.navigation:q=Destination Address"));
// Start the Google Maps app and get the result
startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE);
In this code snippet:
- Intent.ACTION_VIEW is used to open the Google Maps app.
- Uri.parse("google.navigation:q=Destination Address") defines the destination address for navigation.
- startActivityForResult() initiates the intent and allows you to retrieve the result (including the ETA) once Google Maps finishes its calculations.
2. Waze:
// Construct the intent with the destination
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("waze://?ll=Latitude,Longitude&navigate=yes"));
// Replace Latitude and Longitude with your target coordinates
// Start Waze
startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE);
Similar to Google Maps, this code uses an intent to open Waze, but it utilizes the "waze://" scheme with latitude and longitude coordinates for the destination.
Understanding the Result:
- Result Code: The
onActivityResult()method will be called once the navigation app has finished calculating the route. The result code will indicate whether the navigation was successful or not. - Extra Data: The intent returned by the navigation app will contain extra data, including the ETA. You can extract this data using methods like
intent.getStringExtra("extraKey").
Additional Considerations:
- Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access location data and use the Internet.
- Handling Errors: Be prepared to handle cases where the navigation app might not be installed, or if the user cancels the navigation request.
- User Experience: Present the retrieved ETA to the user in a clear and intuitive way.
Leveraging the Power of Navigation Apps
By using intents, you can seamlessly integrate the power of Google Maps and Waze into your Android app, offering users a smooth and accurate experience. This approach allows your app to focus on its core functionality while utilizing the navigation capabilities of these established apps.
Further Exploration:
- Explore the official documentation for Google Maps and Waze for more details about available intents and extra data fields.
- Consider using libraries like
WazeNavigationSdkto access more advanced Waze features.
By understanding these concepts and leveraging the power of Google Maps and Waze, you can enhance your Android apps with advanced navigation functionality and provide users with a truly valuable experience.
