Preparing and evaluating geospatial data models using X3D encodings for web 3D geovisualization services

Abstract

There is an increasing demand of 3D geospatial models on the Web, representing geospatial data that consists of terrain elevation, buildings, vegetation, roads, and other spatial features. This paper presents an approach to support and improve the united effort of Web interoperability and 3D geospatial portrayal. Specifically, we focus on the method to generate 3D models using X3D encodings of both terrain and building geospatial data and how to efficiently and effectively visualize those 3D geospatial models together on a Web platform. In addition, we examine the advantages and disadvantages of various X3D encodings of geospatial data by conducting a performance evaluation using our functional Web 3D service. From the results of this evaluation, we distill guidelines for the generation of 3D geospatial models for Web 3D services. Through two case scenarios, we demonstrate how our Web 3D service can be integrated with other services; we show the integration of geo-referenced inventory data, geocoding and reverse geocoding information, and text-based or image-based annotations in ourWeb 3D service.