Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place

Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA)University College London, 1-19 Torrington PlaceLondon WC1E 6BT, UK

MSc in GIS: Lecture to the Monday Morning Class whose title I think might be Spatial Analysis11th December 2000

Visualisation, VR and 3D Visualisation, VR and 3D

GIS in Spatial AnalysisGIS in Spatial Analysis

Michael BattyMichael Batty

www.casa.ucl.ac.ukwww.casa.ucl.ac.uk

This morning, I want to give you a totally impressionistic view of what is going on in the area of visualisation, and its extensions within GIS. I will also talk quite a bit about 3D GIS which is quite a hot topic at present. Internet GIS, the other twin development, is also important and we will mention it although I assume others will talk about it in later courses.

Jeremy has also asked me to set a question on 3D GIS in the exam paper so at least if you are interested in this area, then you have a clue that there is something on it.

I will if I have time show you very quickly some more material on 3D GIS but what I will do is put these power point slides on the web under so you can access them. I will email you the address but for the moment, here it is

You can get the slides later tomorrow from

http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/mike/MSc.ppt

and

http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/mike/3Dexamples.ppt

What is Visualisation ?

We are talking about digital data and media, and ways of making this graphic in some sense - the graphics are usually bit not always on the 2dimensional screen, and usually we mean the display of some numeric data set in semi-real or abstract ways. It could extend to holographs - 3D screens -

a subset of all this is ‘scientific visualisation

What is VR - Virtual Reality

This is digital visualisation but with some means for the user to ‘interact’ or ‘enter’ the visualisation - there are many different types

a. immersive VR - headmounted display, single users usually - touch and feel devices - video games

b. semi-immersive VR - CAVES, holobenches, low end VR theatres

c. non-immersive VR: scaled up visualisation in low-end VT theatres - VR across the net with 3D visualisation and remote log on and remote interaction - 3D internet gaming and virtual worlds

d. augmented reality - various kinds of VR plus real world interaction - e.g. car mechanics wearing 3D specs which throw up the car manual into the corner of their eyes as they are working on the real thing - the movies - X-men, The Matrix, Jordie (Next Generation)

What is 3D GIS ?

Adding the third dimension to GIS but it is not CAD - CAD or rather CAAD - computer aided architectural design - is geometry without data

3D GIS is geography and geometry with data, like 2D GIS, but it also includes some functionality - some spatial analysis which deals with the third dimension

APPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS AND EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

1. UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS1. UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS Maps, GIS, mathematical models, dataMaps, GIS, mathematical models, data

2. DESIGN, SKETCH PLANNING2. DESIGN, SKETCH PLANNING Decision support, optimization, CAD,Decision support, optimization, CAD,

3. COMMUNICATION-PARTICIPATION3. COMMUNICATION-PARTICIPATION GIS and CAD, the netGIS and CAD, the net

PUTTING TOGETHER VR, VIS, 3D GIS AND APPLICATIONS

UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSISAND ANALYSIS

DESIGNDESIGNSKETCH SKETCH

PLANNINGPLANNING

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATIONPARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

VISUALISATIONVISUALISATION

VRVR

3D GIS3D GIS

UnderstandingUnderstandingand Analysis:and Analysis:

Data, Models, &Data, Models, &Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis

Interfaces to Interfaces to AnalysisAnalysis

Mathematical Models: Mathematical Models: Extended Extended

Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis

Design & SketchDesign & SketchPlanning:Planning:

The 3rd DimensionThe 3rd Dimension

The Collaborative Design Studio (CDVS) has beendeveloped by CASA in association with Online Planningand the VENUE Project to explore the use of VirtualWorlds for planning and design.

As the users interact with the Virtual World variouspowers of "modification" can be permitted such aschanging building colours or textures, altering size andplot position, or removing buildings and objects (likestreet furniture), to creating completely new structures andlayouts. Permissions can also be set in order to determinewho has the power to make certain changes to the model(Development Control).

Communication &Communication &Participation:Participation:

InteractiveInteractiveDecision SupportDecision Support

Summing Up:Summing Up:ConclusionsConclusions