Web-based Interaction with 3D Environmental Data Sets using Virtual Reality Modeling Language Nancy Soreide, NOAA/PMEL Christopher Moore, NOAA/JISAO Cathy Lascara, Old Dominion University Glen Wheless, Old Dominion University AMS/IIPS, January 11-15, 1999, Dallas, TX Sponsored by NOAA’s HPCC program

Background Computational power is increasing Observational systems sample the environment more densely Environmental data and model outputs have become increasingly large Newly emerging Virtual Reality technologies allow us to view, analyze and interact with data in new ways

Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) VRML is a file format which allows users to access, navigate, explore and interact with environmental data in 3D on the Web VRML is scalable across platforms ranging from PCs to high-end workstations Viewers or plug-ins are freely available for popular Web browsers, such as Netscape FOR MORE INFO...

VRML Objects and Worlds VRML objects mimic the real environment –Examples: Contour slices, color-coded poly-filled contours, surfaces, vectors, bathymetry, topography –VRML Objects can be touched, rotated, animated Users interact with the objects A VRML World consists of VRML objects –Created by: Inserting the VRML graphical objects into a Virtual World Specifying user interactions with the Virtual World

Project Objective Create Web-based interface that supports interactive visualization of oceanographic data Construct Virtual Worlds with oceanographic data Initial focus on data from NOAA’s El Niño/La Niña monitoring buoys in the Tropical Pacific Other datasets included as time and resources allow FOR MORE INFO...

3D El Niño/La Niña VRML World –Surface winds, Sea Surface Temperature, temperatures beneath the sea surface, dynamic topography, depth of the 20 C isotherm Surfaces or objects can be selected for display Visualization can be zoomed, rotated, animated FOR MORE INFO D visualization of near-realtime data from El Niño/La Niña monitoring buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean

3D Fisheries-Oceanography Model Outputs –Model bathymetry with sea surface height and temperature for May 15, 1997 –Top surface is the sea surface height (without tides) colored by temperature at 10m depth - blue is cold, red is hot –Surface representing sea floor is colored by depth - red is shallow, blue is deeper Spiky protrusions out of the sea surface are the Aleutian Island chain to the South (right), the Pribolof Islands to the North (left). FOR MORE INFO D Virtual Ocean from a biological- physical oceanography regional model of the Southeast Bering Sea From a viewpoint in the Bering Sea, looking towards the East

How VRML benefits the user Scientists and researchers –VRML lets the scientist touch the data, move into it, and see it from different viewpoints Scientists affirm that use of VRML discloses features of their data and model outputs which were undiscovered with standard visualization techniques. –With VRML, a scientist can share these insights with colleagues Widens audience for scientific data and information –Government administrators and decision makers –Educators and students –General public

What you will find at our Web site VRML objects and one or more Virtual Worlds created from TAO El Niño/La Niña data VRML objects and/or Virtual Worlds from other NOAA/PMEL datasets Web pages providing the methodology and technology used in creating VRML objects (e.g., toolkits available on-line) White Paper documenting Lessons Learned in the creation of Virtual Worlds Links to professional society meeting presentations of results

Conclusions & Future Directions Virtual Reality helps the scientist and the lay person understand complex datasets and relationships Web based Virtual Reality is widely accessible Web based Virtual Reality can be shared –Including interactions between multiple users across networks –People sharing virtual worlds can see, talk, and interact with one another e.g., multi-user VRML interaction Faster network speeds will be achieved with Next Generation Internet (NGI), etc. Supported by NOAA/HPCC