A Formalized 3D Geovisualization Illustrated to Selectivity Purpose of Virtual 3D City Model

Abstract

Virtual 3D city models act as valuable central information hubs supporting many aspects of cities, from management to planning and simulation. However, we noted that 3D city models are still underexploited and believe that this is partly due to inefficient visual communication channels across 3D model producers and the end-user. With the development of a formalized 3D geovisualization approach, this paper aims to support and make the visual identification and recognition of specific objects in the 3D models more efficient and useful. The foundation of the proposed solution is a knowledge network of the visualization of 3D geospatial data that gathers and links mapping and rendering techniques. To formalize this knowledge base and make it usable as a decision-making system for the selection of styles, second-order logic is used. It provides a first set of efficient graphic design guidelines, avoiding the creation of graphical conflicts and thus improving visual communication. An interactive tool is implemented and lays the foundation for a suitable solution for assisting the visualization process of 3D geospatial models within CAD and GIS-oriented software. Ultimately, we propose an extension to OGC Symbology Encoding in order to provide suitable graphic design guidelines to web mapping services.

Identification of the Best 3D Viewpoint within the BIM Model: Application to Visual Tasks Related to Facility Management

“…In this research, the 3D geometric object is in three dimensions and the projection surface is plane. Then, a 3D viewpoint of the object can be produced based on the configuration of three parameters [20]: The camera position, orientation, and the focal length. The camera position and orientation are 3D vectors that, respectively, represent a 3D location and a 3D viewing direction into the world coordinate system.…”

3D Viewpoint Management and Navigation in Urban Planning: Application to the Exploratory Phase

“…However, based on the review in [20], 3D geovisualization is commonly performed arbitrarily. Whilst 3D viewers provide a lot of tools for visualizing 3D geospatial data (e.g., type of projection, view controls, and transparency) [21], they still do not incorporate design instructions to assist end users.…”

“…For instance, the shadow cast from a new building onto the neighborhood is not always easy to assess and we do believe that this situation is essentially due to the failure to assist users in the visualization of 3D geospatial data. Consequently, we defined in [20] a 3D geovisualization framework that connects visualization techniques and defines their consistency according to four kinds of connections: compatibility, incompatibility, potential incompatibility, and consequence. Effective visual combinations, i.e., without any graphical conflicts, can thus be found, leading to addressing the visualization of 3D geospatial models in a comprehensive and integrated way.…”

“…In this paper, we enhance the 3D geovisualization framework of [20] with a theoretical and operational solution to manage occlusion in virtual 3D city models. Whilst this latter is one of the most fundamental depth cues [22], it can also make the representativeness of features and their spatial relationships more complex [23].…”

Automation of Building Permission by Integration of BIM and Geospatial Data

“…Besides the issue of LOD, there is also an issue of which visualisation technique (visual variables) to use. In a recent study, Neuville et al [40] defined a set of graphic design guidelines for specific tasks using a mathematical formalism; the aim of the guidelines are, among others, to define the degree of transparency, shadow, shading, etc. as well as colour hue of objects.…”