csv_based_animation.py

old_poor_csv_animation.py

import bpy
import time
from mathutils import Vector
# purposely coded verbosely in places. relax :)

'''
about the data being processed here:
we have 11 elements per line. Per particle snapshot they inform us about:
Element[0] = track num
Element[1] = timestamp = num * 0.35ms (from the start)
Element[2,3,4] = Position Px,Py,Pz
Element[5,6,7] = Velocity in Vx, Vy, Vz
Element[8,9,10] = Acceleration in Ax,Ay,Az

'''

# setup reading location, and global variables
data_directory = '/home/yourname/Downloads/Physics/' # linux
# data_directory = 'C:/Users/yourname\Downloads/' # windows
datafile = 'test_data_trkflag_timestamp_1.txt'
lpt_name = "LPT_REP" # name of object for scene

# optional, use these to look at a subset of the data
skip_value = 6 # default 1, is full set 
use_tokens = True # True = set a cutoff point, False = entire dataset
start_token = 00000 # start importing from this line, 0 for start
break_token = 80000 # don't import beyond this line or until dataset ends.


def printTimeStamp():
    # divider + timestamp
    print("\n" + "="*19 + time.ctime() + "="*19) 

'''
def printVectorList(vec_list):
    for item in vec_list:
        print(item)
'''

def CreateMesh(num_param, data_set):
    # debug prints, for flow control
    debug_string = "num_param = " + str(num_param)
    debug_string += " & data_set length = " + str(len(data_set))
    print("Reaching CreateMesh with data: " + debug_string)
    
    # make new mesh, add vertices using coordinates
    Verts = []
    for data_segment in data_set:
        xfloat = float(data_segment[2])
        yfloat = float(data_segment[3])
        zfloat = float(data_segment[4])
        unique_vertex = Vector((xfloat, yfloat, zfloat))
        Verts.append(unique_vertex)
    
    test_mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new("LPT_DATA")
    test_mesh.from_pydata(Verts, [], [])
    test_mesh.update()
    
    new_object = bpy.data.objects.new(lpt_name, test_mesh)
    new_object.data = test_mesh
    
    scene = bpy.context.scene
    scene.objects.link(new_object)
    new_object.select = True


# looks like i could refactor CreateMesh and CreateWireBounds     
def CreateWireBounds(box_coordinates):
    print("making wire bounding_box object")
    # printVectorList(box_coordinates)
    
    # hardcode some edges
    Edges = [   [0,1],[1,2],[2,3],[3,0],
                [4,5],[5,6],[6,7],[7,4],
                [0,4],[1,5],[2,6],[3,7]]
    
    b_mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new("WIRE_BOX_DATA")
    b_mesh.from_pydata(box_coordinates, Edges, [])
    b_mesh.update()
    
    box_object = bpy.data.objects.new("WIRE_BOX", b_mesh)    
    box_object.data = b_mesh

    scene = bpy.context.scene
    scene.objects.link(box_object)
    box_object.select = True

    
def ConstructBoundingBox():
    bpy.context.scene.update() # necessary sometimes
    box_Vector = bpy.data.objects[lpt_name].dimensions
    print(box_Vector)

    # make bounding box 3dGrid
    box_coordinates = bpy.data.objects[lpt_name].bound_box
    CreateWireBounds(box_coordinates)
    return


def MakeHistogram(pnum, ldata):
    print("Entering MakeHistogram function:")
    print("--Total data points stored: ",len(ldata))
    # print number of unique tracks
    # find longest track
    # find shortest track
    # print histogram of tracks & lengths
    return


def InitFunction():
    
    def isBeyondToken(line_num):
        if use_tokens == False: return True
        if line_num <= break_token: return True
        else: return False
                
    num_lines = 0
    line_checking_list = [] # list to check for consistency
    line_data_list = [] # list to append the various data values onto
    
    dataset = open(data_directory + datafile)

    # should be rewritten, it's not very pretty
    for line in dataset:
        if not isBeyondToken(num_lines): break # stop importing if beyond
        if num_lines % skip_value == 0:
            if (num_lines >= start_token) or use_tokens == False:
                items = line.split(",")
                line_checking_list.append(len(items))
                line_data_list.append(items)
        num_lines += 1
    dataset.close() # to be polite.
       
    # detect anomalies first, before getting hopes up.
    set_check = set(line_checking_list)
    if len(set_check) == 1: # means no variation
        printTimeStamp()
        print("Number of lines in original dataset: ",num_lines)
        print("Skipping every",skip_value, "lines")
        num_parameters = list(set_check)[0] # gives parameters per line
        MakeHistogram(num_parameters, line_data_list)
        CreateMesh(num_parameters, line_data_list)
        ConstructBoundingBox() # manually for grid drawing
    else: 
        print("There exists variance in the data, won't proceed")
        print("At least one line contains unexpected data")
        return

    return

InitFunction()

Fantastic! (I know is 3 years old but still...Fantastic!)
I'm rather new in blender, and and my line of work is far from this field but this is inspirational for something I've wanted to do for some time. I would like to animate movements along roads (In my case animal transport movements from farm to farm). Would be possible in blender make the particles follow a path with a given id imported from SVG (the roads) starting with a given time at a given velocity between coordinates (batch starting time, road speed limits) imported from a CSV? Or do you have any experience in animating GIS data that you could give some tips on how to approach that? The end result wouldn't have to be so impressive as this (https://vimeo.com/110348926) but that is the general idea.
Keep up the good work!