A framework for databasing 3D synthetic environment data

Abstract

Since 1994 the Digital Mapping, Charting and Geodesy Analysis Program at the Naval Research Laboratory has been developing an objectoriented spatial and temporal database, the Geographic Information Database (GIDBTM). Recently, we have expanded our research in the spatial database area to include three-dimensional synthetic environment (3D SE) data. This work has focused on investigating an extension to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's (NIMA’s) current Vector Product Format (VPF) known as VPF+. This paper overviews the GIDB and describes the data structures of VPF+ and a prototyped 3D synthetic environment using VPF+. The latter was designed as a 3D Geographic Information System (3D-GIS) that would assist the U.S. Marine Corps with mission preparation and also provide onsite awareness in urban areas.