Building 3D GIS data models using open source software

Scianna, A.

doi:10.1007/s12518-013-0099-3

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The VI-Suite source code can be viewed and checked out from a Github repository 6 , and as the VI-Suite is written in Python the source code is also available within each release. Zip files containing Blender, VI-Suite, Radiance and EnergyPlus for Windows and macOS systems can be found at the main project website 7 along with a comprehensive manual [1].…”

Section: Availability and Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It includes a mesh-based 3D modeller, advanced materials and texture specification, animation system, a physically based renderer and a deeply integrated Python 2 Application Programming Interface (API) amongst other features. Some of these features have made Blender an increasingly popular host application for a range of scientific visualisation and analysis tools [2][3][4][5] including GIS data processing 3 and other GIS related visualisation applications [6][7][8]. These key features include:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The VI-Suite: a set of environmental analysis tools with geospatial data applications

Southall

Biljecki

2017

Open geospatial data, softw. stand.

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Background:The VI-Suite is a free and open-source addon for the 3D content creation application Blender, developed primarily as a tool for the contextual and performative analysis of buildings. Its functionality has grown from simple, static lighting analysis to fully parametric lighting, shadowing, and building energy analyses. It adopts a flexible, mesh geometry based approach to the specification of calculation points and this has made it suitable for certain types of 3D geospatial analyses and data visualisation. Results: As this is the first academic paper to discuss the VI-Suite, a history of its development is presented along with a review of its capabilities of relevance to geospatial analysis. As the VI-Suite combines the functionality of 3D design software with performance simulation, some of the benefits of this combination are discussed including aspects that make it suitable for the processing and analysis of potentially large geospatial datasets. Example use cases with a 3D city model of the Hague are used to demonstrate some of the geospatial workflows possible and some of the result visualisation options. Conclusions:The free and open-source nature of the VI-Suite, combined with the use of Blender mesh geometry to define calculation points, has encouraged usage scenarios not originally intended by the authors, for example large scale urban shadow and radiation analyses. The flexibility inherent in this mesh based approach enables the analysis of large geospatial datasets by giving the user refined control over the distribution of calculation points within the model. The integration of GIS analysis into a digital design package such as Blender offers advanced geometry/material editing and specification, provides tools such as ray casting and BVH tree generation to speed up the simulation of large datasets, and enhanced visualisation of GIS simulation data including animated city fly-throughs and high quality image production. The VI-Suite is part of a completely open-source tool chain and contributions from the community are welcome to further enhance its current geospatial data capabilities.

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Section: Availability and Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The VI-Suite: a set of environmental analysis tools with geospatial data applications

Southall

Biljecki

2017

Open geospatial data, softw. stand.

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“…Besides, writing the models inside the geospatial database requires the availability of a dedicated graphic editor (i.e. Blender software and some scripts) that should allow storing the 3D model inside the geospatial database, according to predefined conceptual model (Scianna, 2013b). If for the built environment there exist different kinds of conceptual models like CityGML, GIANT, on the other side the proposition of a global conceptual model for the description and the building of CH has not been fully defined; this last aspect is a complex issue, especially considering archaeological remains.…”

Section: Sharing Of Cultural Heritage On Webmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sharing on Web 3d Models of Ancient Theatres. a Methodological Workflow

Scianna

Guardia

Scaduto

2016

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:In the last few years, the need to share on the Web the knowledge of Cultural Heritage (CH) through navigable 3D models has increased. This need requires the availability of Web-based virtual reality systems and 3D WEBGIS. In order to make the information available to all stakeholders, these instruments should be powerful and at the same time very user-friendly. However, research and experiments carried out so far show that a standardized methodology doesn't exist. All this is due both to complexity and dimensions of geometric models to be published, on the one hand, and to excessive costs of hardware and software tools, on the other. In light of this background, the paper describes a methodological approach for creating 3D models of CH, freely exportable on the Web, based on HTML5 and free and open source software. HTML5, supporting the WebGL standard, allows the exploration of 3D spatial models using most used Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer. The methodological workflow here described has been tested for the construction of a multimedia geo-spatial platform developed for three-dimensional exploration and documentation of the ancient theatres of Segesta and of Carthage, and the surrounding landscapes. The experimental application has allowed us to explore the potential and limitations of sharing on the Web of 3D CH models based on WebGL standard. Sharing capabilities could be extended defining suitable geospatial Web-services based on capabilities of HTML5 and WebGL technology.

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“…Third spatial dimension has become a real need for many technical and scientific tasks (Scianna and Ammoscato, 2010). Frequently it has been used as an attribute or as additional information attached to geographic features to enable further spatial analysis.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Modeling for Cities of the Future. State-of-the Art and Virtual Modeling for Cities of the Future. State-of-the Art An

Valencia

Muñoz-Nieto²,

Rodríguez‐Gonzálvez

2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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3D virtual modeling, visualization, dissemination and management of urban areas is one of the most exciting challenges that must face geomatics in the coming years. This paper aims to review, compare and analyze the new technologies, policies and software tools that are in progress to manage urban 3D information. It is assumed that the third dimension increases the quality of the model provided, allowing new approaches to urban planning, conservation and management of architectural and archaeological areas. Despite the fact that displaying 3D urban environments is an issue nowadays solved, there are some challenges to be faced by geomatics in the coming future. Displaying georeferenced linked information would be considered the first challenge. Another challenge to face is to improve the technical requirements if this georeferenced information must be shown in real time. Are there available software tools ready for this challenge? Are they useful to provide services required in smart cities? Throughout this paper, many practical examples that require 3D georeferenced information and linked data will be shown. Computer advances related to 3D spatial databases and software that are being developed to convert rendering virtual environment to a new enriched environment with linked information will be also analyzed. Finally, different standards that Open Geospatial Consortium has assumed and developed regarding the three-dimensional geographic information will be reviewed. Particular emphasis will be devoted on KML, LandXML, CityGML and the new IndoorGML.

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Building 3D GIS data models using open source software

Cited by 22 publications

References 3 publications

The VI-Suite: a set of environmental analysis tools with geospatial data applications

The VI-Suite: a set of environmental analysis tools with geospatial data applications

Sharing on Web 3d Models of Ancient Theatres. a Methodological Workflow

Virtual Modeling for Cities of the Future. State-of-the Art and Virtual Modeling for Cities of the Future. State-of-the Art An

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