Requirements for Topology in 3D GIS

Topology and its various benefits are well understood within the context of 2D Geographical Information Systems. However, requirements in three-dimensional (3D) applications have yet to be defined, with factors such as lack of users' familiarity with the potential of such systems impeding this process. In this paper, we identify and review a number of requirements for topology in 3D applications. The review utilises existing topological frameworks and data models as a starting point. Three key areas were studied for the purposes of requirements identification, namely existing 2D topological systems, requirements for visualisation in 3D and requirements for 3D analysis supported by topology. This was followed by analysis of application areas such as earth sciences and urban modelling which are traditionally associated with GIS, as well as others including medical, biological and chemical science. Requirements for topological functionality in 3D were then grouped and categorised. The paper concludes by suggesting that these requirements can be used as a basis for the implementation of topology in 3D. It is the aim of this review to serve as a focus for further discussion and identification of additional applications that would benefit from 3D topology. © 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Determining geometric primitives for a 3D GIS : easy as 1D, 2D, 3D?

Acquisition techniques such as photo modelling, using SfM-MVS algorithms, are being applied increasingly in several fields of research and render highly realistic and accurate 3D models. Nowadays, these 3D models are mainly deployed for documentation purposes. As these data generally encompass spatial data, the development of a 3D GIS would allow researchers to use these 3D models to their full extent. Such a GIS would allow a more elaborate analysis of these 3D models and thus support the comprehension of the objects that the features in the model represent. One of the first issues that has to be tackled in order to make the resulting 3D models compatible for implementation in a 3D GIS is the choice of a certain geometric primitive to spatially represent the input data. The chosen geometric primitive will not only influence the visualisation of the data, but also the way in which the data can be stored, exchanged, manipulated, queried and understood. Geometric primitives can be one-, two- and three-dimensional. By adding an extra dimension, the complexity of the data increases, but the user is allowed to understand the original situation more intuitively. This research paper tries to give an initial analysis of 1D, 2D and 3D primitives in the framework of the integration of SfM-MVS based 3D models in a 3D GIS

Archaeological 3D GIS

Archaeological 3D GIS provides archaeologists with a guide to explore and understand the unprecedented opportunities for collecting, visualising, and analysing archaeological datasets in three dimensions. With platforms allowing archaeologists to link, query, and analyse in a virtual, georeferenced space information collected by different specialists, the book highlights how it is possible to re-think aspects of theory and practice which relate to GIS. It explores which questions can be addressed in such a new environment and how they are going to impact the way we interpret the past. By using material from several international case studies such as Pompeii, Çatalhöyük, as well as prehistoric and protohistoric sites in Southern Scandinavia, this book discusses the use of the third dimension in support of archaeological practice. This book will be essential for researchers and scholars who focus on archaeology and spatial analysis, and is designed and structured to serve as a textbook for GIS and digital archaeology courses

Preliminary Investigations into the Usability of 3D Environments for 2D GIS Users

Although the need for 3D GIS is growing, migrating from traditional 2D to 3D GIS can be frustrating due to the familiarity of users with 2D. This paper describes a preliminary investigation into the problems that users encounter when migrating from 2D to 3D environments from a theoretical perspective and via two usability evaluation tests: Cognitive Walkthrough and User Testing. As expected, the results demonstrate the influence of 2D perceptions when interacting with 3D GIS and that users experienced more difficulties interacting in 3D, resulting in lower confidence and satisfaction

The mathematical approach for proximity analysis for 3D GIS

Next generation of GIS software would highly depend on 3D analysis in solving geographic problems. 3D analysis is a very important component for GIS as it defines as decision making tools for geographic features. One would like to query about geographic object from numerical calculation or propose optimum solutions for GIS applications. Such desired components in future software or system are to deal with the 3D analytical solutions. This paper presents a portion of the problems, which are 3D solid buffering for 3D GIS. This analytical solution is very important for 3D spatial analysis. The discussion related to the implementation of buffering model for solid object is the main concern in the research, where the primitive objects of point, line, and face will be taken in consideration for the development of 3D solid bufferin

Archaeological 3D GIS

"Archaeological 3D GIS provides archaeologists with a guide to explore and understand the unprecedented opportunities for collecting, visualising, and analysing archaeological datasets in three dimensions. With platforms allowing archaeologists to link, query, and analyse in a virtual, georeferenced space information collected by different specialists, the book highlights how it is possible to re-think aspects of theory and practice which relate to GIS. It explores which questions can be addressed in such a new environment and how they are going to impact the way we interpret the past. By using material from several international case studies such as Pompeii, Çatalhöyük, as well as prehistoric and protohistoric sites in Southern Scandinavia, this book discusses the use of the third dimension in support of archaeological practice. This book will be essential for researchers and scholars who focus on archaeology and spatial analysis, and is designed and structured to serve as a textbook for GIS and digital archaeology courses.

Archaeological 3D GIS

Archaeological 3D GIS provides archaeologists with a guide to explore and understand the unprecedented opportunities for collecting, visualising, and analysing archaeological datasets in three dimensions. With platforms allowing archaeologists to link, query, and analyse in a virtual, georeferenced space information collected by different specialists, the book highlights how it is possible to re-think aspects of theory and practice which relate to GIS. It explores which questions can be addressed in such a new environment and how they are going to impact the way we interpret the past. By using material from several international case studies such as Pompeii, Çatalhöyük, as well as prehistoric and protohistoric sites in Southern Scandinavia, this book discusses the use of the third dimension in support of archaeological practice. This book will be essential for researchers and scholars who focus on archaeology and spatial analysis, and is designed and structured to serve as a textbook for GIS and digital archaeology courses

The urban heritage characterization using 3D geographic information systems. The system of medium-sized cities in Andalusia

The primary objective of this paper is to approach the use of the 3D Geographic Information Systems (3D GIS), as an instrumental tool that allows us to deal efficiently with the extensive amount of information that characterises a large part of the research carried out in the field of Urbanism and Regional Planning. Specifically, the study focuses on medium-sized cities in Andalusia, the most populous and the second largest region in Spain. The Andalusian urban system is substantially characterised by the historical importance of this type of cities within its territorial organisation, which dates back to more than two thousand years, and whose potential as sustainable and balanced stands out. In particular, it is intended to address features related to urban characterisation as medium-sized cities that have been declared as heritage sites, as well as, the integration of the cultural heritage into urban development planning as an active strategy by the cultural administration of the regional and local governments. In detail, this paper will analyse data relating to the development experienced, their characterisation through urban indicators or the evolution and traceability of their protection. In this sense, the use of 3D GIS will not only allow the efficient recording and the graphical representation of a significant amount of data resulting from the quantitative and qualitative analysis carried out but also model them using the third dimension to facilitate a cross analysis among the cities under study. Definitely, the aim is to demonstrate the suitability use of this technology in this type of scientific research.Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain HAR2016-79788-