Virtual Reality as an Interface for 3D-GISVirtual Reality as an Interface for 3D-GIS

Rick Germs, Gert van Maren, Edward Verbree & Erik Jansen

Department of Information Technology & Systems

Department of Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Delft University of Technology

ASCI’99 Conference, June 15-17, Heijen, The Netherlands

3D-GIS & Virtual Reality Project3D-GIS & Virtual Reality Project

• LWI-funded project

• developers:– Delft University of Technology

– CrossWorlds, TNO-FEL, SARA

• end-users:– Holland Railconsult

– Rijkswaterstaat

3D-GIS & Virtual Reality Project3D-GIS & Virtual Reality Project

• Goal: “To enable (infrastructure) designers to

interactively visualise, manipulate and analyse (changes in) the landscape and the urban environment with 3D GIS & VR.”

OverviewOverview

• Geographic Information Systems

• Virtual Reality

• Planning process

• Views

• Implementation

• Future Research

Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems

• Spatial data:– geometric (points, lines, polygons)

• more and more 3D GIS and CAD information

– thematic (name/address, type, statistics)• more and more data from analysis and simulation

• Spatial analysis:– Network analysis (finding routes)– Spatial queries (finding nearest objects)

Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

ResponsiveWorkbench

Desktop VR

CAVE

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

• Infrastructure Design:

Plan ViewPlan View

• 2D symbolic visualisation

• Simple GIS functions

• VR `map’ tool:– Orientation

– Navigation

Model ViewModel View

• 3D symbolic visualisation

• Modelling– arrangement of objects

– geographic constraints

• Virtual Workbench

World ViewWorld View

• 3D “realistic” visualisation

• Presentation– non-experts

• immersive VR:– CAVE

– ImmersaDesk

Implementation “Karma”Implementation “Karma”

• Components:– VR: WorldToolKit– GIS: Spatial Database Engine

• Platforms:– PC– SGI, CAVE, Responsive Workbench

Current StatusCurrent Status

• 2-way coupling VR and 3D GIS realized.

• Manipulation of GIS objects– rotate, translate, delete

• GIS analysis– query, spatial query, identify

• End-users will test the system in real-life applications

Future ResearchFuture Research

• Performance– dynamic loading– level of detail (GIS and 3D models)

• Modelling– geographic constraints– data enrichment

• Linking existing datasources– visualising analysis calculations

Delft in the year 1660...Delft in the year 1660...