How to display the results of nearbysearch in android using Google Places API?

Question

I'm developing an android application in which I can get the user's current location and display certain places around that location. For my app, the places I'm looking for are hospitals so the search URL is :

String placesSearchStr = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/" +
                "json?location="+lat+","+lng+
                "&radius=1000&sensor=true" +
                "&types=hospital|health"+
                "My_API_KEY_HERE";

The problem I'm facing is in displaying the places, I run the app on my phone and it works and shows my location but nothing else (I'm using different markers for each location).

I tried using the Text Search Requests and I get the same result.

This is the MainActivity class:

package com.location.test;

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import org.apache.http.HttpEntity;
import org.apache.http.HttpResponse;
import org.apache.http.StatusLine;
import org.apache.http.client.HttpClient;
import org.apache.http.client.methods.HttpGet;
import org.apache.http.impl.client.DefaultHttpClient;
import org.json.JSONArray;
import org.json.JSONException;
import org.json.JSONObject;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.CameraUpdateFactory;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.GoogleMap;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.BitmapDescriptorFactory;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.LatLng;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.Marker;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.MarkerOptions;
import android.location.Location;
import android.location.LocationListener;
import android.location.LocationManager;
import android.os.AsyncTask;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Context;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.Menu;

public class MyMapActivity extends Activity implements LocationListener {

    //instance variables for Marker icon drawable resources
    private int userIcon, foodIcon, drinkIcon, shopIcon, otherIcon;

    //the map
    private GoogleMap theMap;

    //location manager
    private LocationManager locMan;

    //user marker
    private Marker userMarker;

    //places of interest
    private Marker[] placeMarkers;
    //max
    private final int MAX_PLACES = 20;//most returned from google
    //marker options
    private MarkerOptions[] places;

    @SuppressLint("NewApi") @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_my_map);

        //get drawable IDs
        userIcon = R.drawable.yellow_point;
        foodIcon = R.drawable.red_point;
        drinkIcon = R.drawable.blue_point;
        shopIcon = R.drawable.green_point;
        otherIcon = R.drawable.purple_point;

        //find out if we already have it
        if(theMap==null){
            //get the map
            theMap = ((MapFragment)getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.the_map)).getMap();
            //check in case map/ Google Play services not available
            if(theMap!=null){
                //ok - proceed
                theMap.setMapType(GoogleMap.MAP_TYPE_NORMAL);
                //create marker array
                placeMarkers = new Marker[MAX_PLACES];
                //update location
                updatePlaces();
            }

        }
    }

    //location listener functions

    @Override
    public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
        Log.v("MyMapActivity", "location changed");
        updatePlaces();
    }
    @Override
    public void onProviderDisabled(String provider){
        Log.v("MyMapActivity", "provider disabled");
    }
    @Override
    public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {
        Log.v("MyMapActivity", "provider enabled");
    }
    @Override
    public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {
        Log.v("MyMapActivity", "status changed");
    }

    /*
     * update the place markers
     */
    private void updatePlaces(){
        //get location manager
        locMan = (LocationManager)getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
        //get last location
        Location lastLoc = locMan.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);
        double lat = lastLoc.getLatitude();
        double lng = lastLoc.getLongitude();
        //create LatLng
        LatLng lastLatLng = new LatLng(lat, lng);

        //remove any existing marker
        if(userMarker!=null) userMarker.remove();
        //create and set marker properties
        userMarker = theMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
        .position(lastLatLng)
        .title("You are here")
        .icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory.fromResource(userIcon))
        .snippet("Your last recorded location"));
        //move to location
        theMap.animateCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLng(lastLatLng), 3000, null);

        //build places query string
        String placesSearchStr = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/" +
                "json?location="+lat+","+lng+
                "&radius=1000&sensor=true" +
                "&types=hospital|health"+
                "API_KEY";//ADD KEY

        //execute query
        new GetPlaces().execute(placesSearchStr);

        locMan.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100, this);
    }

    private class GetPlaces extends AsyncTask<String, Void, String> {
        @Override
        protected String doInBackground(String... placesURL) {
            //fetch places

            //build result as string
            StringBuilder placesBuilder = new StringBuilder();
            //process search parameter string(s)
            for (String placeSearchURL : placesURL) {
                HttpClient placesClient = new DefaultHttpClient();
                try {
                    //try to fetch the data

                    //HTTP Get receives URL string
                    HttpGet placesGet = new HttpGet(placeSearchURL);
                    //execute GET with Client - return response
                    HttpResponse placesResponse = placesClient.execute(placesGet);
                    //check response status
                    StatusLine placeSearchStatus = placesResponse.getStatusLine();
                    //only carry on if response is OK
                    if (placeSearchStatus.getStatusCode() == 200) {
                        //get response entity
                        HttpEntity placesEntity = placesResponse.getEntity();
                        //get input stream setup
                        InputStream placesContent = placesEntity.getContent();
                        //create reader
                        InputStreamReader placesInput = new InputStreamReader(placesContent);
                        //use buffered reader to process
                        BufferedReader placesReader = new BufferedReader(placesInput);
                        //read a line at a time, append to string builder
                        String lineIn;
                        while ((lineIn = placesReader.readLine()) != null) {
                            placesBuilder.append(lineIn);
                        }
                    }
                }
                catch(Exception e){ 
                    e.printStackTrace(); 
                }
            }
            return placesBuilder.toString();
        }
        //process data retrieved from doInBackground
        protected void onPostExecute(String result) {
            //parse place data returned from Google Places
            //remove existing markers
            if(placeMarkers!=null){
                for(int pm=0; pm<placeMarkers.length; pm++){
                    if(placeMarkers[pm]!=null)
                        placeMarkers[pm].remove();
                }
            }
            try {
                //parse JSON

                //create JSONObject, pass stinrg returned from doInBackground
                JSONObject resultObject = new JSONObject(result);
                //get "results" array
                JSONArray placesArray = resultObject.getJSONArray("results");
                //marker options for each place returned
                places = new MarkerOptions[placesArray.length()];
                //loop through places
                for (int p=0; p<placesArray.length(); p++) {
                    //parse each place
                    //if any values are missing we won't show the marker
                    boolean missingValue=false;
                    LatLng placeLL=null;
                    String placeName="";
                    String vicinity="";
                    int currIcon = otherIcon;
                    try{
                        //attempt to retrieve place data values
                        missingValue=false;
                        //get place at this index
                        JSONObject placeObject = placesArray.getJSONObject(p);
                        //get location section
                        JSONObject loc = placeObject.getJSONObject("geometry")
                                .getJSONObject("location");
                        //read lat lng
                        placeLL = new LatLng(Double.valueOf(loc.getString("lat")), 
                                Double.valueOf(loc.getString("lng")));  
                        //get types
                        JSONArray types = placeObject.getJSONArray("types");
                        //loop through types
                        for(int t=0; t<types.length(); t++){
                            //what type is it
                            String thisType=types.get(t).toString();
                            //check for particular types - set icons
                            if(thisType.contains("hospital")){
                                currIcon = foodIcon;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if(thisType.contains("health")){
                                currIcon = drinkIcon;
                                break;
                            }
                            else if(thisType.contains("doctor")){
                                currIcon = shopIcon;
                                break;
                            }
                        }
                        //vicinity
                        vicinity = placeObject.getString("vicinity");
                        //name
                        placeName = placeObject.getString("name");
                    }
                    catch(JSONException jse){
                        Log.v("PLACES", "missing value");
                        missingValue=true;
                        jse.printStackTrace();
                    }
                    //if values missing we don't display
                    if(missingValue)    places[p]=null;
                    else
                        places[p]=new MarkerOptions()
                    .position(placeLL)
                    .title(placeName)
                    .icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory.fromResource(currIcon))
                    .snippet(vicinity);
                }
            }
            catch (Exception e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
            if(places!=null && placeMarkers!=null){
                for(int p=0; p<places.length && p<placeMarkers.length; p++){
                    //will be null if a value was missing
                    if(places[p]!=null)
                        placeMarkers[p]=theMap.addMarker(places[p]);
                }
            }

        }
    }

    @Override
    protected void onResume() {
        super.onResume();
        if(theMap!=null){
            locMan.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100, this);
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected void onPause() {
        super.onPause();
        if(theMap!=null){
            locMan.removeUpdates(this);
        }
    }

}

The layout:

<fragment xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:map="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:id="@+id/the_map"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:name="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment"
    map:cameraTilt="45"
    map:cameraZoom="14"

    />

And the Manifest.xml :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.location.test"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="8"
        android:targetSdkVersion="22" />

    <permission
    android:name="com.location.test.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
    android:protectionLevel="signature" />
    <uses-permission android:name="com.location.test.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

    <uses-feature
    android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
    android:required="true"/>

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity
            android:name=".MyMapActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <meta-data
            android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
            android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version" />

        <meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
    android:value="API_KEY" />
    </application>

</manifest>

As for the markers, they are just 4 markers in the drawble folder. Anyone knows how to fix this?

This might help: http://stackoverflow.com/a/30162174/4409409 — Daniel Nugent, May 19 '15 at 22:02
Is there a particular reason you aren't use the [Places API for Android](https://developers.google.com/places/android/)? It is considerably easier to work with than trying to use the web API. — ianhanniballake, May 19 '15 at 22:18
@ianhanniballake Do you have a working example I can fallow? — Hadh, May 20 '15 at 18:38
@Hadh - other than the [documentation on the site I linked](https://developers.google.com/places/android/current-place)? — ianhanniballake, May 20 '15 at 18:44

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited May 21 '15 at 00:04

I think its ok to use the Google Places API Web Service instead of the Android SDK, because the PlaceFilter from Android SDK can only filter by openNow and placeID. The advantage of Web Service is that it can also filter the results by radius, minPrice and maxPrice etc.

There are several issues in your code.

First your request URL missed the &key=, so it should be

String placesSearchStr = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/" +
                "json?location="+lat+","+lng+
                "&radius=1000&sensor=true" +
                "&types=hospital|health"+
                "&key=YOUR_API_KEY";

Second you should use HTTPURLConnection class instead of the old HttpGet class, so you should revise your doInBackground method like below:

      @Override
      protected String doInBackground(String... placesURL) {
            //fetch places
            StringBuilder placesBuilder = new StringBuilder();
            for (String placeSearchURL : placesURL) {
                try {

                    URL requestUrl = new URL(placeSearchURL);
                    HttpURLConnection connection = (HttpURLConnection)requestUrl.openConnection();
                    connection.setRequestMethod("GET");
                    connection.connect();
                    int responseCode = connection.getResponseCode();

                    if (responseCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK) {

                        BufferedReader reader = null;

                        InputStream inputStream = connection.getInputStream();
                        if (inputStream == null) {
                            return "";
                        }
                        reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(inputStream));

                        String line;
                        while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {

                            placesBuilder.append(line + "\n");
                        }

                        if (placesBuilder.length() == 0) {
                            return "";
                        }

                        Log.d("test", placesBuilder.toString());
                    }
                    else {
                        Log.i("test", "Unsuccessful HTTP Response Code: " + responseCode);
                    }
                } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
                    Log.e("test", "Error processing Places API URL", e);
                } catch (IOException e) {
                    Log.e("test", "Error connecting to Places API", e);
                }
            }
            return placesBuilder.toString();
        }

Third, you put the locMan.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100, this); inside your updatePlaces() method, you should remove it, because it will keep looping the updatePlaces() method, bad for your app and API quota limit. Also remove the updatePlaces() method inside your onCreate() method, and put these two line instead:

locMan = (LocationManager)getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
                locMan.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100, this);

So your updated onCreate() and updatePlaces() should be like this:

onCreate():

@SuppressLint("NewApi") @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_my_map);

        //get drawable IDs
        userIcon = R.drawable.yellow_point;
        foodIcon = R.drawable.red_point;
        drinkIcon = R.drawable.blue_point;
        shopIcon = R.drawable.green_point;
        otherIcon = R.drawable.purple_point;

        //find out if we already have it
        if(theMap==null){
            //get the map
            theMap = ((SupportMapFragment)getSupportFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.the_map)).getMap();
            //check in case map/ Google Play services not available
            if(theMap!=null){
                //ok - proceed
                theMap.setMapType(GoogleMap.MAP_TYPE_NORMAL);
                //create marker array
                placeMarkers = new Marker[MAX_PLACES];
                //update location
                locMan = (LocationManager)getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
                locMan.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER, 30000, 100, this);
            }
        }
    }

updatePlaces():

 private void updatePlaces(){
        //get location manager
        //get last location
        Location lastLoc = locMan.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);
        double lat = lastLoc.getLatitude();
        double lng = lastLoc.getLongitude();
        //create LatLng
        LatLng lastLatLng = new LatLng(lat, lng);

        //remove any existing marker
        if(userMarker!=null) userMarker.remove();
        //create and set marker properties
        userMarker = theMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
                .position(lastLatLng)
                .title("You are here")
                .snippet("Your last recorded location"));
        //move to location
        theMap.animateCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLng(lastLatLng), 3000, null);

        //build places query string
        String placesSearchStr = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/nearbysearch/" +
                "json?location="+lat+","+lng+
                "&radius=1000&sensor=true" +
                "&types=hospital|health"+
                "&key=YOUR_API_KEY";//ADD KEY

        //execute query
        new GetPlaces().execute(placesSearchStr);
    }

You can also see the updated code snippet. (I extends the FragmentActivity here, because I use the SupportMapFragment instead)

You can also view the image with markers here. (I dont have your marker images, so i just use the default marker image here)

enter image description here

@hadh are you able to resolve your issue yet? or does my answer help you? Thanks. — ztan, May 27 '15 at 21:46

How to display the results of nearbysearch in android using Google Places API?

1 Answers1