TerraVision II: visualizing massive terrain databases in VRML

Author

Reddy, Martin ; Leclerc, Yvan ; Iverson, Lee ; Bletter, Nat

Author_Institution

SRI Int., Menlo Park, CA, USA

Volume

19

Issue

2

fYear

1999

Firstpage

30

Lastpage

38

Abstract

To disseminate 3D maps and spatial data over the Web, we designed massive terrain data sets accessible through either a VRML browser or the customized TerraVision II browser. Although not required to view the content, TerraVision II lets the user perform specialized browser level optimizations that offer increased efficiency and seamless interaction with the terrain data. We designed our framework to simplify terrain data maintenance and to let users dynamically select particular sets of geo-referenced data. Our implementation uses Java scripting to extend VRML´s base functionality and the External Authoring Interface to offer application-specific management of the virtual geographic environment

Keywords

cartography; data visualisation; geographic information systems; information resources; information retrieval; online front-ends; spatial data structures; virtual reality languages; 3D map dissemination; External Authoring Interface; GIS; Java scripting; VRML browser; World Wide Web; application-specific management; cartography; customized TerraVision II browser; geo-referenced data; massive terrain data sets; massive terrain database visualization; seamless interaction; spatial data; specialized browser level optimizations; terrain data maintenance; virtual geographic environment; Data visualization; Geometry; Geoscience; Global Positioning System; Image resolution; Java; Navigation; Spatial databases; Switches; Visual databases;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer Graphics and Applications, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1716

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/38.749120

Filename

749120