| NEARC 2001
Gary Smith 3D in GIS - Issues, Techniques, Tips and Trends The traditional, two dimensional map presentation associated with GIS has served the community well and is not in jeopardy of extinction any time soon. However, with the rapid growth in graphic handling of today’s PC’s and associated graphic cards, the ability to transition to 3D presentations is now being realized. The 3D presentation offers the opportunity to create a more realistic presentation that facilitates data interpretation by a much wider audience. Making the most of this new “environment” is the subject of this presentation. Optimizing the presentation is often critical to obtaining suitable performance. Addition of 3D features and incorporation of Levels of Detail (LOD) can substantially enhance a presentation. The array of data formats that has complicated GIS systems for years is enlarged in the 3D “world” with the introduction of the “multi-patch”, the 3D Shapefile and “Open Flight” data sets, to name just a few. Construction of 3D features introduces the creation of wire frames, texture mapping and display optimization considerations. As we look ahead, we can expect the technology to include regular use of 3D goggles and perhaps a holographic display. The goal of this paper is to expose the user to the issues, opportunities and design consideration of the 3D environment and to help accelerate the use of a “virtual” environment. |