A ubiquitous knowledgeable data representation model (UKRM) for three-dimensional geographic information systems (3D GIS)

Abstract

In the face of complicated, diversified three-dimensional world, the existing 3D GIS data models suffer from certain issues such as data incompatibility, insufficiency in data representation and representation types, among others. It is often hard to meet the requirements of multiple application purposes (users) related to GIS spatial data management and data query and analysis, especially in the case of massive spatial objects. In this study, according to the habits of human thinking and recognition, discrete expressions (such as discrete curved surface (DCS), and discrete body (DB)) were integrated and two novel representation types (including function structure and mapping structure) were put forward. A flexible and extensible ubiquitous knowledgeable data representation model (UKRM) was then constructed, in which structurally heterogeneous multiple expressions (including boundary representation (B-rep), constructive solid geometry (CSG), functional/parameter representation, etc.) were normalized. GIS's ability in representing the massive, complicated and diversified 3D world was thus greatly enhanced. In addition, data reuse was realized, and the bridge linking static GIS to dynamic GIS was built up. Primary experimental results illustrated that UKRM was overwhelmingly superior to the current data models (e.g. IFC, CityGML) in describing both regular and irregular spatial objects.

Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Toxic Metals in the Agricultural Soil around a Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting Area in Southwest China

“…Geographical information system (GIS) has been widely applied in the research fields of environmental monitoring, source identification and risk evaluation, the majority of which have been reported using plain visualization or bi-dimensional figures to display the results [ 4 , 12 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. As geo-information technology has advanced, three-dimensional visualization and 3D GIS technology have matured and it is inevitable to expand current GIS applications into three-dimensional presentations with more realistic and intuitive features [ 22 , 23 ]. However, few studies have introduced tridimensional methods into the research field of toxic metal pollution in soil.…”

Urban 3d Modelling Methods: A State-of-the-Art Review

“…CSG uses primitive objects only, and they are combined by Boolean operators. B-rep is more flexible and has reduced data redundancy compared to CSG (Zhang et al, 2016). Voxel uses a single data point in the regularly-shaped grid in 3D space.…”

GIS Application to Regional Geological Structure Relationship Modelling Considering Semantics

“…To further understand this process, many geologists have performed detailed research on models of geological geometric features [9,10]; these models can be divided into several types: wire-frame models, surface models, voxel models, constructive solid geometry (CSG) models, boundary representation (B-rep) models, and hybrid models. Triangular irregular networks (TIN) [11], Tetrahedral network (TEN) [12], B-rep [13], and Generalized tri-prism (GTP) [14] models are commonly used for the fast and accurate geometrical construction [15] of specialized geological phenomena, although difficulties still exist in building spatial relationships between geometric objects. These models mainly focus on the geometry modelling of geological phenomena [16], and a few of them consider the relationships of geological phenomena in strata, but it cannot fully describe the geological relationships [17] between folds, faults, and strata, and it lacks corresponding description of geological semantics [18,19] for geometric elements in the modelling process.…”