1. Virtual 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

2. 3D-GIS & Virtual Reality Project LWI-funded project developers: –Delft University of Technology –CrossWorlds, TNO-FEL, SARA end-users: –Holland Railconsult –Rijkswaterstaat

3. 3D-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.”

4. Overview Geographic Information Systems Virtual Reality Planning process Views Implementation Future Research

5. Geographic 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)

6. Virtual Reality ResponsiveWorkbench Desktop VR CAVE

7. Planning Process Infrastructure Design:

8. Plan View 2D symbolic visualisation Simple GIS functions VR `map’ tool: –Orientation –Navigation

9. Model View 3D symbolic visualisation Modelling –arrangement of objects –geographic constraints Virtual Workbench

10. World View 3D “realistic” visualisation Presentation –non-experts immersive VR: –CAVE –ImmersaDesk

11. Implementation “Karma” Components: –VR: WorldToolKit –GIS: Spatial Database Engine Platforms: –PC –SGI, CAVE, Responsive Workbench

13. Current 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

14. Future Research Performance –dynamic loading –level of detail (GIS and 3D models) Modelling –geographic constraints –data enrichment Linking existing datasources –visualising analysis calculations

15. Delft in the year 1660...