Skies-ADSB 2.0 is a web application that visualizes real-time aircraft positions in 3D using data from ADS-B receivers. It features a globe view with customizable map layers, detailed aircraft information including photos and flight history, and the ability to filter by various criteria like altitude and aircraft type. The app is open-source and built with React, Three.js, and Node.js, offering a user-friendly interface for exploring live air traffic around the world.
Luis Llopis has announced the release of Skies-ADSB 2.0, a significantly enhanced version of his web application designed for real-time three-dimensional tracking of aircraft. This open-source project, hosted on GitHub, leverages Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to visualize the positions and trajectories of airplanes in a user-friendly, interactive 3D globe environment.
Skies-ADSB 2.0 boasts substantial improvements over its predecessor. The application has been completely rewritten using TypeScript, a typed superset of JavaScript, enhancing code maintainability, scalability, and developer experience. The rendering engine has also received a major upgrade, transitioning from the older WebGL-based three.js library to the more modern and performant Babylon.js. This change promises smoother performance, more detailed visuals, and greater flexibility for future development.
The updated application provides users with an immersive and informative experience. They can observe aircraft movements across the globe, zoom in and out to examine specific regions, and rotate the 3D globe for different perspectives. Furthermore, detailed information about individual aircraft, such as their altitude, speed, and heading, is readily accessible by clicking on their corresponding representations within the 3D environment.
Beyond the core functionality of aircraft tracking, Skies-ADSB 2.0 offers a range of customizable settings, empowering users to tailor their viewing experience. These options include adjustments to the map style, the display of aircraft trails, and the level of detail shown for various geographical features.
Llopis emphasizes the open-source nature of the project, encouraging community contributions and feedback. The codebase is publicly available on GitHub, allowing developers to explore its inner workings, propose improvements, or even fork the project to create their own customized versions. This collaborative approach aims to foster ongoing development and refinement of Skies-ADSB, ensuring its continued evolution as a valuable tool for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Summary of Comments ( 15 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43022603
Hacker News users discussed the performance and features of the Skies-adsb project. Several commenters praised the impressive 3D visualization and smooth performance, particularly highlighting the use of WebGPU. Some expressed interest in the project's data sources and filtering capabilities, inquiring about handling noisy or inaccurate ADS-B data. Others suggested potential improvements, including adding features like historical flight tracking and aircraft information displays. The developer actively engaged with commenters, responding to questions and acknowledging suggestions for future development. Discussion also touched on the broader ADS-B ecosystem, with mentions of other tracking software and the challenges of reliable data reception.
The Hacker News post for "Show HN: Skies-adsb 2.0 – my 3D plane-tracking web app" has several comments, generating a discussion around the project.
One commenter expresses excitement about WebGPU being used for this project, noting it's one of the first real-world examples they've seen and anticipating its broader adoption. They inquire about the developer's experience working with WebGPU and whether they encountered any challenges. The project author responds by confirming the positive experience, explaining that they found it easier than expected and highlighting the performance benefits and the simplification of shader management. They also mention encountering minor issues with floating-point precision and buffer mapping, but overall express satisfaction with WebGPU.
Another commenter raises a question about the accuracy of altitude data obtained from ADS-B, referencing potential discrepancies they observed with their own ADS-B receiver. The project author acknowledges the potential inaccuracies stemming from various factors, including barometric altitude readings being influenced by weather conditions, and the inherent limitations of ADS-B data. They explain that
skies-adsbutilizes altitude data directly from the ADS-B feed and suggests that the discrepancy observed by the commenter could be due to differences in data sources or interpretation.A further comment inquires about the choice of not including a map background and the project author responds that it was an intentional decision driven by wanting to prioritize performance. They mention that the 3D rendering is computationally demanding and adding a map would exacerbate this, potentially leading to a suboptimal user experience. They do express openness to exploring map integration in the future, possibly as an optional feature.
Another user comments positively on the visual presentation of the planes, specifically noting the use of contrails. The creator responds, acknowledging the positive feedback and explaining that the contrails are dynamically generated based on the plane's altitude and atmospheric conditions. This adds a degree of realism to the visualization, enhancing the user experience.
Finally, there's discussion around data sources, with one commenter mentioning their own local ADS-B receiver setup and another commenter linking to a popular open-source ADS-B receiver software project called "dump1090". The author responds, indicating familiarity with "dump1090" and confirming that
skies-adsbcan ingest data from various sources, enhancing its versatility.