ISPRS WG II/6 - Geographical Visualisation and Virtual Reality

ISPRS Technical Commission II
Theory and Concepts of Spatio-Temporal Data Handling and Information

Chair	Co-Chair	Scientific Secretary
Dr Chris Pettit Strategic Implementation Coordinator, AURIN The University of Melbourne E-mail: cpettit@unimelb.edu.au	Dr Andy Hudson-Smith Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis University College London 1-19 Torrington Place London WC1E 7HB UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 1782 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7813 2843 E-mail: asmith@geog.ucl.ac.uk	Dr Jean Philippe Aurambout Department of Primary Industries Victoria Australia Tel.: +61 (3) 83412407 Fax: +61 (3) 93476056 E-mail: jeanphilippe.auramabout@dpi.vic.gov.au

Terms of Reference

• Enhanced communication of geographical data, information, and knowledge
• Geovisualization (including the Web)
• Novel methods and tools for exploring geographical decision spaces
• Exploration of tools and techniques for visualizing space and time
• Usability testing of geographical visualization and virtual reality
• Development and application of immersive and semi-immersive virtual reality

Status of Science and Technology

Tools for Geographical Visualization (GeoViz) provide for different methods of geovisualization access and use. Different and innovative mapping systems have developed and products have been produced to show 2D, 3D and (4D), plus n-dimensional data elements both real and fictitious geographies. Recently there has been a digital convergence, and relatively inexpensive tools exist to develop and provide a plethora of (geo) information exploration devices, including: digital globes (Google Earth….) virtual worlds (second life), computer gaming engines. Also sensory input and viewing devices such as touch tables, stereo glasses, and wearable computing provide exciting ways for viewing and interacting with geographical information. Tools and techniques are readily available, and methods need to be developed to deliver effective information consumption tools to promote enhanced learning and facilitate knowledge management for dealing with critical global problems such as climate change. As geographical visualization technologies begin to stabilized, there now exists a real need to explore not just how these tools can be best employed, but also the development of a new theory related to contemporary geographical visualization. Also the convergence of geographical visualization and virtual reality warrants further investigation.

Geographical Visualisation of a landscape

Planned Events

2009	Landscape Visualization in Support of Management Decisions In conjunction with MODSIM Congress 2009 Stream – Environment and Ecology, Session 9 (external link) Cairns, Australia

Related Links

Landscape Analysis and Visualisation Book (external link)
VCCAP e-Resource Centre & Visualisation
CRC – Spatial Information Visualisation Research Program (external link)
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (external link)
Digital Urban (external link)
Malte Clasen (external link)
Biosphere3D (external link)
Lenné3D (external link)
Landscape Visualization (external link)
University of East Anglia (external link)

Page Top