Programming Tools for Visualization of GIS Data
Garret Suen
Wednesday, March 5, 2003CPSC601.82 –Advanced Algorithms in GIS and Scientific Applications
Outline
Introduction – Visualization in GIS– Application Areas
Specific Problems in Application Areas Survey of Programs and Programming Tools Future of Visualization in GIS Conclusion and Summary
Introduction
Visualization in GIS deals with displaying information regarding geographical data
Challenges include accuracy, integrity, and visibility
Commercial and Specialty software and programming tools exist that focus on visualizing geographical information in specific areas of GIS
General Challenges in GIS Visualization Moving from photos/data to digital images Displaying such information in a way that
makes sense Manipulating data easily Creating databases of GIS information that
are useful Level of detail (coarse vs. fine-grain)
Application Areas
The area of GIS focuses on specific areas that require specialized visualization needs.
The areas we will focus on today include:1. Geological Information (Oil, Gas, Mining)
2. Climate Information (Weather Prediction)
3. Residential Information (Maps)
Geological Information
This area specializes in visualization geological information.
This includes minerals, precious metals, oil and gas deposits.
Courtesy of: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/calgary/labs/geologic1_e.html
Challenges in Geo Visualization
Geological Visualization attempts to abstract information regarding the earth’s strata from surface information
Problems in Visualization deal with:– Volume representation (e.g. mountains)– Layer representation (boundaries)– Accuracy (from picture to digital images)
Geological Visualization Programs Many companies make use of their own in-
house software. However, there are many commercial
software packages that are used as well. The most common package is the ArcView
group of programs
ArcView and Geology
Programming Tools
ArcView is an interactive product that allows for customization.
It provides a host of built-in tools for geological information visualization.
It allows for the creation of application specific scripts and macros
It also allows for the creation and linking of spatial databases to information visualization.
Climate Information Used extensively by weather forecasters,
these systems attempt to model climate patterns.
This includes air current, precipitation, temperature, and dew point information.
Courtesy of: http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/prism_new.html
Challenges in Climate Visualization Dynamic updates from databases Representation of many aspects of climate
over the same area Extrapolation of weather conditions over
time Tracking weather changes over time
Climate Visualization Programs
For the most part, climate visualization deal with static maps that attempt to convey climate information.
Numerous companies exist that provide climate and weather maps for regions and areas.
We will consider one such commercial product popular with weather forecasters: Digital Atmosphere 2000.
Digital Atmosphere 2000
Digital Atmosphere 2000 Features This program allows you to import almost
any map in a format accepted by the World Meteorological Organization
It allows you to create scripts and run simulations over time of weather patterns
Allows hook-up to digital satellite photos so you can see the weather as it is happening.
Provides ways to view all types of climate information.
DA2000 – Digital Satellite Photos
Residential Information This focuses on visualizing man-made
structures such as roads. Used in a variety of areas such as urban
development, residential planning, and GPS Navigation.
Courtesy of: http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/
Challenges in Residential Visualization Focus (coarse vs. fine grain) Information Representation Intelligent Navigation (GPS) Intelligent Search (Databases) Simulation (e.g. Traffic Planning)
Residential Visualization Programs Most commercial applications in this area
simply provide maps for residential development.
One of the leading companies that deals with residential information is Autodesk.
The Autodesk Map software package is run on an AutoCAD base.
The main advantage of AutoDesk Map is its ability to incorporate satellite photos and directly manipulate them.
AutoDesk Map 2002
AutoDesk Map 2002 Features
Easy creation of spatial databases. Direct manipulation of maps, aerial, and satellite
photos. Automatic coordinate geometry information
extracted from maps. Ability to add spatial information (polygons) and
convert polygons/polylines into polyobjects for export into spatial databases.
Basic Algorithms: shortest-path, network tracing, and polygon overlay.
Future of GIS Visualization
The future of GIS Visualization will ultimately be based on new paradigms of visualization.
Current traditional models work on bringing the 3D to the 2D.
Future visualization will work on allowing information to be visualized on the 3D level (CAVE!).
Working Towards the Future
Terrain model – a CAVE Perspective @ the University of Illinois – Urbana, Champagne
Summary
GIS Visualization is specific to the application area that is being applied to.
Each area faces different challenges in understanding their own types of information.
We have looked at the problems involved in 3 different GIS Areas: Geological, Climate, and Residential.
Summary (cont.) Various commercial software solutions are
available for the GIS practitioner. Each software solution provides a wide array of
functions and tools for manipulating and displaying information.
As our understanding of GIS information increases, software will move towards providing the tools necessary.
Programming tools are generally in the form of scripting tools that allow for specific manipulation of data.
References
ArcView: – http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/features/index.html
AutoDesk Map 2002: – http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/section/0,,2260583-123112,00.html
Digital Atmosphere 2000: – http://www.weathergraphics.com/da/
CAVE: – http://www.gis.uiuc.edu/research/hpgis/cave.htm
Questions? Comments?