Moving Towards An Integrated 3D World

What is needed from the field of computer graphics is an integrated tool for urban planners and geographers which incorporates geospatial data, 3D content, simulation tools, and the ability to manipulate or change data in a database without altering the scene graph. All software packages have their limitations, but the fragmentation of scientific visualization software is disheartening.

Not even the EPA can show us innovation or collaboration among geographers and software engineers to assist with environmental sciences decision making. It seems widespread adoption of planning visualization software has not come very far since the late 1990’s. Why?

Perhaps one reason is that it has not been cost effective due to a number of constraints. Computing power (processing power), broadband networking, lack of collaboration and communication of needs between engineers and planners, and the general cost to obtain data can prohibit the progress of a visualization tool or system.

There are a number of tools to accomplish certain tasks. It can be debated how successful these tools actually are.

What is initially needed is a way to create a 3D scene of the built environment rapidly. This can be done if we only want to represent boxes by extruding polylines in AutoCAD. Or building simple boxes in SketchUp. Boxes can be placed on a map to “represent” buildings.

We can add texture maps to the boxes to represent our buildings as they appear in real space.

Contextual data and site specific features such as landscaping, etc. can be added. The end result is something rigidly engineered. This is only a simulation. No manipulation of the environment such as user interactivity with a particular site is generally allowed.

The aesthetic vision is to obtain a degree of realism. This actually has a counter effect on the audience because it is hard to respond to a computer generated environment that does not contain people living and breathing there. Therefore, an artistic element must be incorporated into the simulation to appeal to the emotions. Additionally, audio and interactivity add to the experience, reality, and sensory perception.

Because it takes a great deal of effort to generate a 3D simulation, it would be beneficial to the planners if interactivity was well integrated as well as manipulation outputs and visible data. An integrated system of fiscal costs tied to the realignment of a street are far more beneficial to a planner than only observing the visual impacts of such an alignment.

The software could be further beneficial if it is database driven. If an engineer could set up a city with a visualization tool and the planner could maintain or update it through a GUI (graphic user interface). This could be accomplished with an object-oriented database allowing for the “swapping” of 3D models as the built environment is altered.

The simulation and data integration program becomes further important when we consider all aspects of the visualization tool. Not only are we creating a visual toolkit, but we are creating a communication network. This program will incorporate the above within a networked environment. Planners, engineers, architects all living in different cities should be able to simultaneously enter into the environment and interact with each other in addition to the environment. This can easily be accomplished with video/voice conferencing.

The virtual environment allows for heightened opportunities within the space through the creation of a customizable browser window which corresponds to the content displayed. If we want to talk about a sign ordinance in a particular corridor, we should be able to select from a library of appropriate signs for our district and replace the signage on the buildings in our corridor. If we are rezoning a district or creating overlays, we should be able to show visually, with a semi-transparent colored box, the height restrictions within a corridor. One step further, we should be able to build consensus by viewing how people respond to the changes as they happen within the environment in real time.