Integrating Levels of Detail in a Web-based 3D-GIS

Abstract

3D spatial data are of increasing interest in urban areas. Especially the WWW offers new application areas for communication and interaction between planners and concerned citizens and clients. Using a data model which supports both 3D geometry and 3D topology, we have developed a 3D-GIS including a web-based user interface implemented in Java and VRML. However, handling the 3D city models' large amount of data is critical. Therefore we are using several levels of detail for visualization. In a distributed environment, not only the rendering time is critical, but also the data transfer time. In our web-based approach, we are using a load on demand paradigm for transferring the scene data. Additionally, we progressively stream the VRML scene, giving the user an impression as fast as possible.