Programming Tools for Visualization of GIS Data

Garret Suen

Wednesday, March 5, 2003CPSC601.82 –Advanced Algorithms in GIS and Scientific Applications

Outline

Introduction – Visualization in GIS– Application Areas

Specific Problems in Application Areas Survey of Programs and Programming Tools Future of Visualization in GIS Conclusion and Summary

Introduction

Visualization in GIS deals with displaying information regarding geographical data

Challenges include accuracy, integrity, and visibility

Commercial and Specialty software and programming tools exist that focus on visualizing geographical information in specific areas of GIS

General Challenges in GIS Visualization Moving from photos/data to digital images Displaying such information in a way that

makes sense Manipulating data easily Creating databases of GIS information that

are useful Level of detail (coarse vs. fine-grain)

Application Areas

The area of GIS focuses on specific areas that require specialized visualization needs.

The areas we will focus on today include:1. Geological Information (Oil, Gas, Mining)

2. Climate Information (Weather Prediction)

3. Residential Information (Maps)

Geological Information

This area specializes in visualization geological information.

This includes minerals, precious metals, oil and gas deposits.

Courtesy of: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/calgary/labs/geologic1_e.html

Challenges in Geo Visualization

Geological Visualization attempts to abstract information regarding the earth’s strata from surface information

Problems in Visualization deal with:– Volume representation (e.g. mountains)– Layer representation (boundaries)– Accuracy (from picture to digital images)

Geological Visualization Programs Many companies make use of their own in-

house software. However, there are many commercial

software packages that are used as well. The most common package is the ArcView

group of programs

ArcView and Geology

Programming Tools

ArcView is an interactive product that allows for customization.

It provides a host of built-in tools for geological information visualization.

It allows for the creation of application specific scripts and macros

It also allows for the creation and linking of spatial databases to information visualization.

Climate Information Used extensively by weather forecasters,

these systems attempt to model climate patterns.

This includes air current, precipitation, temperature, and dew point information.

Courtesy of: http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/prism_new.html

Challenges in Climate Visualization Dynamic updates from databases Representation of many aspects of climate

over the same area Extrapolation of weather conditions over

time Tracking weather changes over time

Climate Visualization Programs

For the most part, climate visualization deal with static maps that attempt to convey climate information.

Numerous companies exist that provide climate and weather maps for regions and areas.

We will consider one such commercial product popular with weather forecasters: Digital Atmosphere 2000.

Digital Atmosphere 2000

Digital Atmosphere 2000 Features This program allows you to import almost

any map in a format accepted by the World Meteorological Organization

It allows you to create scripts and run simulations over time of weather patterns

Allows hook-up to digital satellite photos so you can see the weather as it is happening.

Provides ways to view all types of climate information.

DA2000 – Digital Satellite Photos

Residential Information This focuses on visualizing man-made

structures such as roads. Used in a variety of areas such as urban

development, residential planning, and GPS Navigation.

Courtesy of: http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/

Challenges in Residential Visualization Focus (coarse vs. fine grain) Information Representation Intelligent Navigation (GPS) Intelligent Search (Databases) Simulation (e.g. Traffic Planning)

Residential Visualization Programs Most commercial applications in this area

simply provide maps for residential development.

One of the leading companies that deals with residential information is Autodesk.

The Autodesk Map software package is run on an AutoCAD base.

The main advantage of AutoDesk Map is its ability to incorporate satellite photos and directly manipulate them.

AutoDesk Map 2002

AutoDesk Map 2002 Features

Easy creation of spatial databases. Direct manipulation of maps, aerial, and satellite

photos. Automatic coordinate geometry information

extracted from maps. Ability to add spatial information (polygons) and

convert polygons/polylines into polyobjects for export into spatial databases.

Basic Algorithms: shortest-path, network tracing, and polygon overlay.

Future of GIS Visualization

The future of GIS Visualization will ultimately be based on new paradigms of visualization.

Current traditional models work on bringing the 3D to the 2D.

Future visualization will work on allowing information to be visualized on the 3D level (CAVE!).

Working Towards the Future

Terrain model – a CAVE Perspective @ the University of Illinois – Urbana, Champagne

Summary

GIS Visualization is specific to the application area that is being applied to.

Each area faces different challenges in understanding their own types of information.

We have looked at the problems involved in 3 different GIS Areas: Geological, Climate, and Residential.

Summary (cont.) Various commercial software solutions are

available for the GIS practitioner. Each software solution provides a wide array of

functions and tools for manipulating and displaying information.

As our understanding of GIS information increases, software will move towards providing the tools necessary.

Programming tools are generally in the form of scripting tools that allow for specific manipulation of data.

References

ArcView: – http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/features/index.html

AutoDesk Map 2002: – http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/section/0,,2260583-123112,00.html

Digital Atmosphere 2000: – http://www.weathergraphics.com/da/

CAVE: – http://www.gis.uiuc.edu/research/hpgis/cave.htm

Questions? Comments?