Getting results of nearby places from User's Location using Google Maps API in Android

Question

This is the first time using google map API and google places API. I am doing a demo application that displays the list hospitals (for example) nearest to the user's location with routes to each of the hospitals. I been able to get the user's location with the code below the:

public class MainActivity extends ActionBarActivity {
    private GoogleMap map;
    UiSettings mapSettings;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        map = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map)).getMap();

        if (map != null) {
           // map.addMarker(new MarkerOptions().position(myLocation).title("Start"));
            map.setMyLocationEnabled(true);
            mapSettings = map.getUiSettings();
            mapSettings.setScrollGesturesEnabled(true);
            mapSettings.setZoomControlsEnabled(true);
        }
    }
}

The xml file:

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin" tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <fragment
        android:id="@+id/map"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        class="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment" />


</RelativeLayout>

My question how do I get the list of hospitals using google places API and display them. Any help,tips,walkthrough or tutorials will really be appericaited.Thanks in Advance.

Answer 1

For Android, I tried to use Place picker for Android . It can add the built-in place picker UI widget to your app, so users can choose from a set of nearby places displayed on a map. It easy to use, you just need to do is:

int PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST = 1;
PlacePicker.IntentBuilder builder = new PlacePicker.IntentBuilder();    
startActivityForResult(builder.build(this), PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST);

It will show the UI below to pick a place for you, and you can get the place info by using below:

protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
  if (requestCode == PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST) {
    if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
        Place place = PlacePicker.getPlace(data, this);
        String toastMsg = String.format("Place: %s", place.getName());
        Toast.makeText(this, toastMsg, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }
  }
}

For more details, please refer to guide here and code here .

However, it cannot set the place type because it no feature for the Build in UI.. If you really need to set, you should use Google Places API Web Service API here , search the location yourself, parse the JSON data, and show on your own UI.

A Nearby Search lets you search for places within a specified area. You can refine your search request by supplying keywords or specifying the type of place you are searching for.

A Nearby Search request is an HTTP URL of the following form:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/output?parameters

Note that in parameters you need to set types=hospital

EDIT

Example on how to pass the search request for specific locations in JSON using the google places API web API web service API.

Request

location: -33.8670,151.1957
radius: 500
types: food
name: cruise
key: API_KEY

Url for this:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/json?location=-33.8670,151.1957&radius=500&types=food&name=cruise&key=API_KEY

and Response JSON like this:

{
   "debug_log" : {
      "line" : []
   },
   "html_attributions" : [],
   "logging_info" : {
      "experiment_id" : [],
      "query_geographic_location" : "AU"
   },
   "results" : [
      {
         "geometry" : {
            "location" : {
               "lat" : -33.86879,
               "lng" : 151.194217
            }
         },
         "icon" : "http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/place_api/icons/restaurant-71.png",
         "id" : "21a0b251c9b8392186142c798263e289fe45b4aa",
         "name" : "Rhythmboat Cruises",
         "opening_hours" : {
            "open_now" : false,
            "weekday_text" : []
         },
         "photos" : [
            {
               "height" : 426,
               "html_attributions" : [
                  "\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/views/profile/104066891898402903288\"\u003eRhythmboat Cruises\u003c/a\u003e"
               ],
               "photo_reference" : "CmRdAAAA-YL_I_Gk02blOX6S0nKHry8PFu9pDyp3Y9AnqISsa3Eq8mkbdD5mXuu1Fax60s0nSy3iiX-h5j-ztyLHcc1-782MsLQsgLLa4t3ZgDmCMll-a8ABapZGnZwDKByk67LFEhBgedv_u_eYFsEo9ay8jxJjGhTUHKPJ4G82vBJqSNliuv7UlAtclw",
               "width" : 640
            }
         ],
         "place_id" : "ChIJyWEHuEmuEmsRm9hTkapTCrk",
         "reference" : "CnRmAAAAvQlMKw-XtxEY4vWFCvudF7CEMQGI5ycNbfVgGl9rAF75fdiPOiLJw1k9NL2v8ZIJsOJuRS3Lm9Dw1vga4ajycAs7PlxN1MVnnYT9la0pBvEvSQNlyvszKANS1R4P7Mvk_jhqswMggqCUtwJ13LN2hRIQOiAkLTWUi3DOjVVOw7J5IRoUb_cJyJaJNqKdmkDM2f0OjQjh9F0",
         "scope" : "GOOGLE",
         "types" : [ "restaurant", "food", "point_of_interest", "establishment" ],
         "vicinity" : "Pyrmont Bay Wharf (Near Australia Maritime Museum), Pyrmont, NSW 2009"
      },
      {
         "geometry" : {
            "location" : {
               "lat" : -33.867591,
               "lng" : 151.201196
            }
         },
         "icon" : "http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/place_api/icons/restaurant-71.png",
         "id" : "a97f9fb468bcd26b68a23072a55af82d4b325e0d",
         "name" : "Australian Cruise Group",
         "opening_hours" : {
            "open_now" : false,
            "weekday_text" : []
         },
         "photos" : [
            {
               "height" : 1331,
               "html_attributions" : [
                  "\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/views/profile/110751364053842618118\"\u003eAustralian Cruise Group\u003c/a\u003e"
               ],
               "photo_reference" : "CmRdAAAAtEoj29FJcNBccrsu6bHt0xgwVGhYlciCY1fe6gTr_d5_KkeP3LITnOwnpNRJWnX39B04-aIBOKXKJH6ltx948T5vWIYBoah1yZDXsWngWZ5kMsK7xyCB5P_q_xBIBxxUEhAYWeB4PiOm_Jy093fB-j0iGhSYmIs9xB2aa6u-RH8V8lZEk-Q5ig",
               "width" : 2000
            }
         ],
         "place_id" : "ChIJrTLr-GyuEmsRBfy61i59si0",
         "reference" : "CnRqAAAAFbukrZvRNsc05TreHUCrPEya5NcN9v0fFLLaK-D1fSyxFTuQlUDhDstU3qwXKw_fADX4W6guUkexax1nufgiYIuGCKoZPEnup1r-LhGGNz9dn1uf9Of5iOtZ1XgCeDjJaYvGbSB3C0pAXL8r9kOsmhIQbx2Sia2DAWTjtSZwuh5aehoUhM6upqBCDLhGruZAGGsCOwAiIq8",
         "scope" : "GOOGLE",
         "types" : [
            "restaurant",
            "travel_agency",
            "food",
            "point_of_interest",
            "establishment"
         ],
         "vicinity" : "32 The Promenade, King Street Wharf 5, Sydney"
      },
      {
         "geometry" : {
            "location" : {
               "lat" : -33.870943,
               "lng" : 151.190311
            }
         },
         "icon" : "http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/place_api/icons/bar-71.png",
         "id" : "e644f7f34cf875b9919c6548f1b721947362850a",
         "name" : "Lunch Cruise with Jazz on Sydney Harbour",
         "opening_hours" : {
            "open_now" : false,
            "weekday_text" : []
         },
         "photos" : [
            {
               "height" : 292,
               "html_attributions" : [
                  "\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/views/profile/105423912060796272053\"\u003eFrom a Google User\u003c/a\u003e"
               ],
               "photo_reference" : "CmRdAAAAR4bqFTKYWdBwZwdBdON_JRD7V_joTwwIPwRUpZIZWkSSd8GQ3P2O-_aQbUJdL2RhoAyzCUIF0f--DI4oXFneTpj5zZfFq-iFiT7i_x0tjnDveIY8tJv-6o0uWSSjYqabEhCKqQWZqrKAoddjDcc64N48GhQZ2T1_ntPzNKCooHpZzlYQ7AxFOA",
               "width" : 438
            }
         ],
         "place_id" : "ChIJLfySpTOuEmsRPCRKrzl8ZEY",
         "reference" : "CoQBewAAAFd2fO_YWGTiT4RzXWb5tsOuOt7YyV_ScQOwm0tqJSrAyACCczeOzV-P_mgZLro1oKP_34Nt0nVC_1OEKAQUcd7cUm7xmAMSX-EkbSWiD0kOWGgGgKuDRtb0t_8qsxBGU_izugWCyK7SRWezTxELYNdkS0OEiSWPnvhxvXuQktBBEhAAtEe7fagW2kUR14T1QpVsGhQBO7YpIyYSPvo4zUJuL_bX30nJZw",
         "scope" : "GOOGLE",
         "types" : [ "bar", "restaurant", "food", "point_of_interest", "establishment" ],
         "vicinity" : "37 Bank St, Pyrmont"
      }
   ],
   "status" : "OK"
}

The below example returns a list of hospitals near London, England.

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/json?location=51.503186,-0.126446&radius=5000&types=hospital&key=API_KEY

For more details please refer here .

Answer 2

Follow this link, it has all explained out,

in the String type='grocery_or_supermarket' replace it to be 'hospital' and you'll be good to go:

http://androidmastermind.blogspot.co.ke/2016/06/android-google-maps-with-nearyby-places.html

Answer 3

 private void loadNearByPlaces(double latitude, double longitude)

//YOU Can change this type at your own will, e.g hospital, cafe, restaurant.... and see how it all works
{


    mMap.clear();
    Intent i = getIntent();
    String type = hospital;

    StringBuilder googlePlacesUrl =
            new StringBuilder("https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/json?");
    googlePlacesUrl.append("location=").append(latitude).append(",").append(longitude);
    googlePlacesUrl.append("&radius=").append(PROXIMITY_RADIUS);
    googlePlacesUrl.append("&types=").append(type);
    googlePlacesUrl.append("&sensor=true");
    googlePlacesUrl.append("&key=" + GOOGLE_BROWSER_API_KEY);

    JsonObjectRequest request = new JsonObjectRequest(googlePlacesUrl.toString(),
            new Response.Listener<JSONObject>() {
                @Override
                public void onResponse(JSONObject result) {

                    Log.i(TAG, "onResponse: Result= " + result.toString());
                    parseLocationResult(result);
                }
            },
            new Response.ErrorListener() {
                @Override
                public void onErrorResponse(VolleyError error) {
                    Log.e(TAG, "onErrorResponse: Error= " + error);
                    Log.e(TAG, "onErrorResponse: Error= " + error.getMessage());
                }
            });

    AppController.getInstance().addToRequestQueue(request);
}

This will load the near by hospital according to your location.

Answer 4

Follow below code:

private static final String TAG_RESULT = "predictions";
JSONObject json;


ArrayList<String> names;
ArrayAdapter<String> adapter;
String browserKey = "Google API key";
//------------------------AutoComplete code--------------  
  public void updateList(String place) {
        String input = "";

        try {
            input = "input=" + URLEncoder.encode(place, "utf-8");
        } catch (UnsupportedEncodingException e1) {
            e1.printStackTrace();
        }

        String output = "json";
        String parameter = input + "&types=geocode&sensor=true&key="                + browserKey;

        url = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/autocomplete/"                + output + "?" + parameter;

        JsonObjectRequest jsonObjReq = new JsonObjectRequest(Request.Method.GET, url,
                null, new Response.Listener<JSONObject>() {

            @Override            public void onResponse(JSONObject response) {
                System.out.println("response"+response);
                try {

                    JSONArray ja = response.getJSONArray(TAG_RESULT);

                    for (int i = 0; i < ja.length(); i++) {
                        JSONObject c = ja.getJSONObject(i);
                        String description = c.getString("description");
                        System.out.println("description"+description);
                        names.add(description);
                    }

                    adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
                            getApplicationContext(),
                            android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1, names) {
                        @Override                        public View getView(int position,
                                            View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
                            View view = super.getView(position,
                                    convertView, parent);
                            TextView text = (TextView) view
                                    .findViewById(android.R.id.text1);
                            text.setTextColor(Color.BLACK);
                            return view;
                        }
                    };
                    edittext_signup_city.setAdapter(adapter);
                    adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
                } catch (Exception e) {
                }
            }
        }, new Response.ErrorListener() {
            @Override            public void onErrorResponse(VolleyError error) {
            }
        });
        AppController.getInstance().addToRequestQueue(jsonObjReq, "jreq");
    }