Google Maps iOS SDK, Getting Directions between 2 locations

Question

While I am using Google Maps SDK, I am trying to get driving direction between two locations on iOS. I know we can do this using two methods:-

1.) Using URL Scheme, for which it is necessary that Google Maps App is installed on your device.

2.) Using Directions API, via Request-Response and then parsing the JSON. Displaying markers to show the direction.

Now, my question is there any other way by which I can do this on iOS? I need to show the direction from my current location to a particular location of which i have the Lat/Long.

I mean is it really not possible to simply pass 2 location as parameter and Google Maps SDK, will give me the directions?

Thanks,

Answer 1

If you are using a restricted key, you have to add X-Ios-Bundle-Identifier header with the bundle you restricted the key to. With that header it works also from Postman.

Answer 2

As @iOS suggested I'm also posting my answer to show you a way how to accomplish it using Codable and Alamofire/Moya.

To do so, you'd have to remodel the GoogleMaps Response entities, like so:

/// Struct for modelling a response from the Google Maps Directions API. This is the "root level"
struct GMSDirectionsResponse: Codable {
    /// The suggested routes
    let routes: [GMSRoute]
    /// Status telling if request was okay
    let status: String
}
/// Struct for modelling a Route suggested by GoogleMaps Directions API.
struct GMSRoute: Codable {
    /// Represents an area in the map
    struct Bounds: Codable {
        // You can omit these structs for your case. 
        // Just to give an idea how it would look like if you model the entire response
        // ...
    }
    
    struct Leg: Codable {
        // ...
    }
    
    /// A single step of a route
    struct Step: Codable {
        // ...
    }
    
    /// Structure around the coded representation of the GMSPath
    struct OverviewPolyline: Codable {
        /// A coded representation of the GMSPath
        let points: String
    }
    
    /// The bounds to show on the map to include the whole route
    let bounds: Bounds?
    /// All legs of this route, including the single steps
    let legs: [Leg]?
    /// The path to walk/drive/etc. this route
    let overview_polyline: OverviewPolyline?
    /// A textual summary of the most important roads to take
    let summary: String?
}

You can see how a response object consists of an array of routes and a status string (e.g. "OK"). Each route has a few properties again, including the overview_polyline field. For being able to have that object decoded by a JSONDecoder you also need to model that class (it simply contains a string value for the key points.

Now if you only need the overview_polyline it's perfectly fine to omit all other unneeded properties and structs as long as you still model the hierarchical structure of the response (e.g. GMSDirectionsResponse > GMSRoute > OverviewPolyline > points).

What you can do now is to ask a JSONDecoder to decode a GMSDirectionsResponse from the body data with a single line! In my project I used Moya but I'm sure you can also do it with URLSession's data object.

// let moya do request
let moya = MoyaProvider<YourGMSService>()
moya.request(.getDirections(origin: origin, destination: destination)) { (result) in
    switch result {
    case .success(let response):
        // check if request was successful
        if
            // makes sure status is code is 2xx
            (try? response.filterSuccessfulStatusCodes()) != nil,
            // this line tries to decode a GMSDirectionsResponse object from response.data
            let directions = try? JSONDecoder().decode(GMSDirectionsResponse.self, from: response.data)
        {
            // successful request, converted response to JSON Dictionary
            NSLog("GET DIRECTIONS: Success")
            
            // here we can check for the directions properites already!
            NSLog("GoogleMaps Directions request finished with status %@", directions.status)
            
            // check if we have at least one GMSRoute with an overview_polyline
            guard let encodedPath = directions.routes.first?.overview_polyline else { return }
            // now let's use the encoded path:
            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                let path = GMSPath.init(fromEncodedPath: encodedPath.points)
                
                // continue as in other answers (Y)
                let singleLine = GMSPolyline.init(path: path)
                singleLine.strokeWidth = 6.0
                singleLine.strokeColor = .blue
                singleLine.map = mapView
            }
            return
        }
        // some error handling if we couldn't parse the data to a GMSDirectionsResponse object
        NSLog("Could not parse JSON from Directions API Response:\n%@", response.debugDescription)
    case .failure(let error):
        // we had an error
        NSLog(error.localizedDescription)
    }
    // log and complete with nil
    NSLog("GET DIRECTIONS: Failed")
}

This might look like a huge load of code but it's totally convenient and it keeps you from messing around with JSON subscript members and lots of [] braces. 😊

If you have questions, I'm happy to help!

Answer 3

If someone is looking to parse the distance from routes array following is the way to get the distance in swift 4/5

let distance = responseJSON["routes"][0]["legs"][0]["distance"]["text"]

Answer 4

Swift 4.1, Xcode 9.4.1

//Here you need to set your origin and destination points and mode 
let url = NSURL(string: "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json?origin=Machilipatnam&destination=Vijayawada&mode=driving")

//OR if you want to use latitude and longitude for source and destination
//let url = NSURL(string: "\("https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json")?origin=\("17.521100"),\("78.452854")&destination=\("15.1393932"),\("76.9214428")")

        let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url! as URL) { (data, response, error) -> Void in

            do {
                if data != nil {
                    let dic = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.mutableLeaves) as!  [String:AnyObject]
//                        print(dic)

                    let status = dic["status"] as! String
                    var routesArray:String!
                    if status == "OK" {
                        routesArray = (((dic["routes"]!as! [Any])[0] as! [String:Any])["overview_polyline"] as! [String:Any])["points"] as! String
//                            print("routesArray: \(String(describing: routesArray))")
                    }

                    DispatchQueue.main.async {
                        let path = GMSPath.init(fromEncodedPath: routesArray!)
                        let singleLine = GMSPolyline.init(path: path)
                        singleLine.strokeWidth = 6.0
                        singleLine.strokeColor = .blue
                        singleLine.map = mapView
                    }

                }
            } catch {
                print("Error")
            }
        }

        task.resume()

Here, you need to add your key (google api key) to the above API.

Answer 5

(void)viewDidLoad {
    [super viewDidLoad];

    GMSCameraPosition *camera = [GMSCameraPosition cameraWithLatitude:30.692408
                                                            longitude:76.767556
                                                                 zoom:14];
    GMSMapView *mapView = [GMSMapView mapWithFrame:CGRectZero camera:camera];
    mapView.myLocationEnabled = YES;

    // Creates  markers in the center of the map.


    GMSMarker *marker = [[GMSMarker alloc] init];
    marker.position = CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(30.6936659,  76.77201819999999);
    marker.title = @"Chandigarh 47c";
    marker.snippet = @"Hello World";
    marker.map = mapView;

    GMSMarker *marker1 = [[GMSMarker alloc] init];
    marker1.position = CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(30.742138,  76.818756);
    marker1.title = @"Sukhna Lake";
    marker1.map = mapView;
    //creating a path

    GMSMutablePath *path = [GMSMutablePath path];
    [path addCoordinate:CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(@(30.6936659).doubleValue,@(76.77201819999999).doubleValue)];
    [path addCoordinate:CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(@(30.742138).doubleValue,@(76.818756).doubleValue)];

    GMSPolyline *rectangle = [GMSPolyline polylineWithPath:path];
    rectangle.strokeWidth = 2.f;
    rectangle.map = mapView;
    self.view=mapView;

 }

Answer 6

Swift 3.0 & XCode 8.0 Using AFNetworking & SwiftJson

        let destLatitude="26.9124"
        let destLongitude="75.7873"
        mapView.isMyLocationEnabled = true
        var urlString = "\("https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json")?origin=\("28.7041"),\("77.1025")&destination=\(destLatitude),\(destLongitude)&sensor=true&key=\("Your-Api-key")"

        urlString = urlString.addingPercentEncoding( withAllowedCharacters: .urlQueryAllowed)!

        let manager=AFHTTPRequestOperationManager()

        manager.responseSerializer = AFJSONResponseSerializer(readingOptions: JSONSerialization.ReadingOptions.allowFragments) as AFJSONResponseSerializer

        manager.requestSerializer = AFJSONRequestSerializer() as AFJSONRequestSerializer

        manager.responseSerializer.acceptableContentTypes = NSSet(objects:"application/json", "text/html", "text/plain", "text/json", "text/javascript", "audio/wav") as Set<NSObject>


        manager.post(urlString, parameters: nil, constructingBodyWith: { (formdata:AFMultipartFormData!) -> Void in

            }, success: {  operation, response -> Void in
                //{"responseString" : "Success","result" : {"userId" : "4"},"errorCode" : 1}
                //if(response != nil){
                let parsedData = JSON(response)
                print_debug("parsedData : \(parsedData)")
               var path = GMSPath.init(fromEncodedPath: parsedData["routes"][0]["overview_polyline"]["points"].string!)
                 //GMSPath.fromEncodedPath(parsedData["routes"][0]["overview_polyline"]["points"].string!)
                var singleLine = GMSPolyline.init(path: path)
                singleLine.strokeWidth = 7
                singleLine.strokeColor = UIColor.green
                singleLine.map = self.mapView
                //let loginResponeObj=LoginRespone.init(fromJson: parsedData)


                //  }
            }, failure: {  operation, error -> Void in

                print_debug(error)
                let errorDict = NSMutableDictionary()
                errorDict.setObject(ErrorCodes.errorCodeFailed.rawValue, forKey: ServiceKeys.keyErrorCode.rawValue as NSCopying)
                errorDict.setObject(ErrorMessages.errorTryAgain.rawValue, forKey: ServiceKeys.keyErrorMessage.rawValue as NSCopying)

        })

Answer 7

Create a key in google developer console make sure your project is created with App bundleID after that add the following code

NSString *KEY=@"";
NSString *Origin=@"";
NSString *Destination=@"";
NSString *str_maps=[NSString stringWithFormat:@"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json?origin=%@&destination=%@&key=%@",Origin,Destination,KEY];
NSURL *url=[NSURL URLWithString:str_maps];
 NSData *dta=[NSData dataWithContentsOfURL:url];
NSDictionary *dict=(NSDictionary *)[NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:dta options:kNilOptions error:nil];
NSLog(@"%@",dict);

Answer 8

    NSString *urlString = [NSString stringWithFormat:
                       @"%@?origin=%f,%f&destination=%f,%f&sensor=true&key=%@",
                       @"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json",
                       mapView.myLocation.coordinate.latitude,
                       mapView.myLocation.coordinate.longitude,
                       destLatitude,
                       destLongitude,
                       @"Your Google Api Key String"];
NSURL *directionsURL = [NSURL URLWithString:urlString];


ASIHTTPRequest *request = [ASIHTTPRequest requestWithURL:directionsURL];
[request startSynchronous];
NSError *error = [request error];
if (!error) {
    NSString *response = [request responseString];
    NSLog(@"%@",response);
    NSDictionary *json =[NSJSONSerialization JSONObjectWithData:[request responseData] options:NSJSONReadingMutableContainers error:&error];
    GMSPath *path =[GMSPath pathFromEncodedPath:json[@"routes"][0][@"overview_polyline"][@"points"]];
    GMSPolyline *singleLine = [GMSPolyline polylineWithPath:path];
    singleLine.strokeWidth = 7;
    singleLine.strokeColor = [UIColor greenColor];
    singleLine.map = self.mapView;
}
else NSLog(@"%@",[request error]);

Note: make Sure Your Google Direction API Sdk Is Enable in Your google developer Console.

Answer 9

Using Swift I definitely solved in this way.
My purpose was finding distance between two coordinates:

import AFNetworking 

/**
 Calculate distance between two valid coordinates

 - parameter origin:      origin coordinates
 - parameter destination: destination coordinates
 - parameter completion:  completion callback
 */
func calculateDistance(origin origin: CLLocation, destination: CLLocation, completion: (distance: Double?) -> Void) {

    let service = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json"
    let originLat = origin.coordinate.latitude
    let originLong = origin.coordinate.longitude
    let destLat = destination.coordinate.latitude
    let destLong = destination.coordinate.longitude
    let urlString = "\(service)?origin=\(originLat),\(originLong)&destination=\(destLat),\(destLong)&mode=driving&units=metric&sensor=true&key=<YOUR_KEY>"
    let directionsURL = NSURL(string: urlString)

    let request = NSMutableURLRequest(URL: directionsURL!)

    request.HTTPMethod = "GET"
    request.addValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.addValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Accept")
    let operation = AFHTTPRequestOperation(request: request)
    operation.responseSerializer = AFJSONResponseSerializer()

    operation.setCompletionBlockWithSuccess({ (operation: AFHTTPRequestOperation!, responseObject: AnyObject!) -> Void in

        if let result = responseObject as? NSDictionary {
            if let routes = result["routes"] as? [NSDictionary] {
                if let lines = routes[0]["overview_polyline"] as? NSDictionary {
                    if let points = lines["points"] as? String {
                        let path = GMSPath(fromEncodedPath: points)
                        let distance = GMSGeometryLength(path)
                        print("wow \(distance / 1000) KM")

                    }
                }
            }
        }
        }) { (operation: AFHTTPRequestOperation!, error: NSError!)  -> Void in
            print("\(error)")
    }

    operation.start()

}

Answer 10

I had done it as it also shows PINS DISTANCE AND DURATION on map with DIRECTION ROUTE. But dont forget to set your GOOGLE DIRECTION API TO ENABLED in your GOOGLE DEVELOPER CONSOLE

AFHTTPRequestOperationManager *manager = [AFHTTPRequestOperationManager manager];
[manager.requestSerializer setCachePolicy:NSURLRequestReloadIgnoringLocalCacheData];

NSString *urlString =@"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json";

 NSDictionary *dictParameters = @{@"origin" : [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@",_sourceAdd], @"destination" : [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@",_destinationAdd], @"mode" : @"driving", @"key":@"AIzaSyD9cWTQkAxemELVXTNUCALOmzlDv5b9Dhg"};

[manager GET:urlString parameters:dictParameters success:^(AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation, id responseObject) {


    GMSPath *path =[GMSPath pathFromEncodedPath:responseObject[@"routes"][0][@"overview_polyline"][@"points"]];
    NSDictionary *arr=responseObject[@"routes"][0][@"legs"];
    NSMutableArray *loc=[[NSMutableArray alloc]init];

    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"start_location"]valueForKey:@"lat"];
    _sourceloc.latitude=[loc[0] doubleValue];

    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"start_location"]valueForKey:@"lng"];
    _sourceloc.longitude=[loc[0] doubleValue];

    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"end_location"]valueForKey:@"lat"];
    _destinationloc.latitude=[loc[0] doubleValue];

    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"end_location"]valueForKey:@"lng"];
    _destinationloc.longitude=[loc[0] doubleValue];


    NSString *dis,*dur;
    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"distance"]valueForKey:@"text"];
    dis=loc[0];

    loc=[[arr valueForKey:@"duration"]valueForKey:@"text"];
    dur=loc[0];


    NSString *sa,*da;
    loc=[arr valueForKey:@"start_address"];
    sa=loc[0];

    loc=[arr valueForKey:@"end_address"];
    da=loc[0];

    UIAlertView *av=[[UIAlertView alloc]initWithTitle:@"Route Info" message:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Distance:%@ \nDuration:%@",dis,dur] delegate:nil cancelButtonTitle:@"Okay" otherButtonTitles:nil, nil];
    [av show];



    GMSCameraPosition *camera = [GMSCameraPosition cameraWithLatitude:_sourceloc.latitude  longitude:_sourceloc.longitude zoom:10];
    mapView = [GMSMapView mapWithFrame:CGRectZero camera:camera];

    GMSMarker *marker = [GMSMarker markerWithPosition:_sourceloc];
    marker.title=@"Source";
    marker.snippet =sa;
    marker.appearAnimation = kGMSMarkerAnimationPop;
    marker.map = mapView;


    GMSMarker *marker2 = [GMSMarker markerWithPosition:_destinationloc];
    marker2.title=@"Destination";
    marker2.snippet =da;
    marker2.appearAnimation = kGMSMarkerAnimationPop;
    marker2.map = mapView;

    GMSPolyline *singleLine = [GMSPolyline polylineWithPath:path];
    singleLine.strokeWidth = 4;
    singleLine.strokeColor = [UIColor blueColor];
    singleLine.map = mapView;

    self.view = mapView;



} failure:^(AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation, NSError *error) {
    NSLog(@"Error: %@", error);
}];

Answer 11

It sounds like you are looking for UI Chrome like the Google Maps app has for showing directions. Google Maps SDK for iOS will paint you a map, but you are responsible for the additional navigation chrome.

You can use the Google Directions API to request directions, and then use the encoded path returned from the service to draw a GMSPolyline using GMSPath's pathFromEncodedPath: method.

Answer 12

These lines shows location between a given latitude / longitude and user location;

NSString *googleMapUrlString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"http://maps.google.com/?saddr=%f,%f&daddr=%@,%@", mapView.userLocation.coordinate.latitude, mapView.userLocation.coordinate.longitude, destinationLatitude, destinationLongtitude];

[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:googleMapUrlString]];