Session Information
| Session | Poster Session | | Date | Monday (2008-04-07) | | Time | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | | Room | Grand Terrace |
Presentation Information
| Presenter | Matthew Gregory | | Title | Innovative, immersive and interactive techniques for visualizing, querying, and understanding regional maps of forest vegetation | | Affiliation | Oregon State University | | Authors | Matthew Gregory, Janet Ohmann, Timothy Holt | | Keywords | 3D visualization, Gradient Nearest Neighbor, Regional vegetation modeling, Serious games | | Presentation Type | Poster | Abstract:
Traditional methods of technology transfer for spatial information, such as map products, metadata and research publications, are not always effective media for resource managers, policy specialists, or the general public. To improve communication about landscape maps, we have created a tool for visualizing and browsing spatial information that is a unique hybrid experience between GIS, Google Earth, and a computer game. We modified state-of-the-art gaming technology to create 3D visualization environments of three large study regions: northeastern Washington, the coastal province of Oregon and the west slope and foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada. The regions are populated with detailed mapped data on forest composition and structure developed using the Gradient Nearest Neighbor (GNN) method. The GNN method populates each map pixel with a complete list of tree species, sizes, and densities. Trees are rendered as three-dimensional models and can be placed on top of draped GIS layers, such as ownership, to intuit spatial relationships. The visualization environment allows a user to fly or walk through the modeled landscape, using simple keystrokes to navigate in three-dimensional space. The visualization can be run in single- or multi-user mode. In the multi-user mode, users from physically remote locations can visualize the same landscapes together, communicate through chat channels, and leave in-game markers that persist between sessions. The visualization environment was designed to accept a variety of spatial formats for mapped input data and the methodology for creating this visualization environment can be extendable to other locations and mapping methods. We believe this platform holds huge promise for visualizing and simulating landscape patterns and dynamics for a variety of purposes. |
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