Earthscape, A multi-Purpose interactive 3d globe viewer for hybrid data visualization and analysis

Abstract

The hybrid visualization and interaction tool Earth Scape is presented here. The software is able to display simultaneously LiDAR point clouds, draped videos with moving footprint, volume scientific data (using volume rendering, isosurface and slice plane), raster data such as still satellite images, vector data and 3D models such as buildings or vehicles. The application runs on touch screen devices such as tablets. The software is based on open source libraries, such as Open Scene Graph, osgEarth and Open CV, and shader programming is used to implement volume rendering of scientific data. The next goal of Earth Scape is to perform data analysis using ENVI Services Engine, a cloud data analysis solution. Earth Scape is also designed to be a client of Jagwire which provides multisource geo-referenced video fluxes. When all these components will be included, Earth Scape will be a multi-purpose platform that will provide at the same time data analysis, hybrid visualization and complex interactions. The software is available on demand for free at france@exelisvis.com.