Spherical Visualization Database Prototype for Education and Scientific Research: Designing and Managing

Abstract

The article describes methods for spherical visualizing of data as global geophysical, environmental, atmospheric processes on the surface of planets and different kinds of processes on the surface of spherical bodies. Such data can be demonstrated through virtual globes and spherical screens. Volumetric visualization significantly increases the degree of visibility, comprehension and assimilation of the demonstrated content and may be used in the scientific and educational process. The main goal of this research is to develop database requirements for spherical visualization. The requirements are based on the modern educational and science research representation approaches. The following tasks have been formed and accomplished: a strict classification of data; a convenient way to interact at the stage of adding data to the database and analyzing; their representativeness; introduction of additional data classifications; the possibility of individual user navigation and a high degree of inter-activity. For the proposed model, the basic functions of the database management system are described. Requirements to a basic hierarchical data model were substantiated. The main object of hierarchical data model is a spherical Slide representing a separate topic of particular discipline. The superstructure is used above the hierarchical model in the form of an individual route map representing a directory with links to the main database.

Graphic File Formats for Web Virtual Globe

“…The Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GC RAS) is successfully developing ISV web platform [1], which inherits the main features from hardware-software complex (HSC) "Orbus" [2] and provides access to the spherical slides for an expanding list of software clients: "OrbusTouch" spherical projection screen, "OrbusWeb" virtual globe, "OrbusAR" augmented reality applications.…”