Studying Social Uses of 3D Geovisualizations: Lessons Learned from Action-Research Projects in the Field of Flood Mitigation Planning

Abstract

Risk management seeks more and more the mobilization of all citizens, including elected representatives and inhabitants. Three-dimensional (3D) geovisualizations have been used between 2009 and 2017 in order to associate citizens to flood mitigation policies along the river Rhône. We focused our studies on the effects 3D geovisualizations can have on the communication and understanding of information and their ability to foster exchanges between heterogeneous actors as well as participation of the grand public to planning processes. Facing both discrepancies in scientific studies of the uses of 3D geovisualizations and a lack of validated theoretical elements, we resorted to an exploratory method based on grounded theory and ethnographic observation in order to produce empirical knowledge on the uses of 3D geovisualizations in collective settings, including heterogeneous actors (risk managers, elected representatives, citizens). Observation showed that 3D geovisualizations can be useful for the dissemination of information about flood risk. Many observed effects were not anticipated during the production of 3D geovisualizations. Qualitative analysis of empirical data through actor–network theory and from a communication studies perspective shed light on some factors influencing the roles of 3D geovisualizations and help put into perspective existing and sometimes contradictory scientific works on 3D geovisualizations’ uses.

Impact of Digital and Non-Digital Urban Participatory Approaches on Public Access Conditions: An Evaluation Framework

“…Besides these 2D digital mediums, Virtual Geographic Environments (VGE) and their third dimension have the potential to strongly impact the practice of urban participatory approaches. This additional dimension has many advantages, as described in the literature, including more accessible communication, intuitive representation, a better understanding of volumes, and increased immersion [46][47][48]. A better self-projection within a future urban project facilitates its overall understanding; therefore, VGEs appear to be an asset for achieving democratized citizen participation.…”

Visual Analysis of Inconsistencies in Hydraulic Simulation Data

“…3D geovisualizations can allow for a better understanding of a spatial phenomenon, especially visualized on top of a 3D representation of the territory (Brasebin et al, 2016). 3D geovisualizations have already been used in flood mitigation planning with citizens, shedding light on their ability to support understanding of flood risks, because it enhances relief and water flows volume perception (Jacquinod, Bonaccorsi, 2019). Visualizing hydraulic data on top of a 3D cartographic representation of the territory based on simple GIS data (DTM, aerial images and schematic 3D buildings) has proven to be useful for hydraulic specialists and risk managers to evaluate the quality of their data and the potential damage flood could impose on this territory (Jacquinod, 2014).…”

“…However, the objectives and the case studies considered here highly differ, for instance in terms of range of scales of analysis (varying here from a very large to very small scale), and of nature of information to be visualized (including internal model variables). Furthermore, as far as 3D geovisualizations are concerned, there is no consensus over which level of detail is relevant for a particular use (Bishop, Lange, 2005, Jacquinod, Bonaccorsi, 2019. Moreover 3D geovisualizations of technical data are often proposed, sometimes tested on a use case with users, but user studies necessary to generalize findings are rarely conducted (Sheppard, 2005, Kemec et al, 2010, Patel et al, 2013, Leskens et al, 2017.…”

Designing Geovisual Analytics Environments and Displays with Humans in Mind

“…Jacquinod and Bonaccorsi (2019) [29] also examine 3D geovisualizations, yet in another context. Thanks to sociological theories and from a communication studies' perspective, this article analyzes the possibilities provided by 3D geovisualizations to risk managers and citizens, in the context of flood mitigation planning.…”