Innovative Approaches to 3D GIS Modeling for Volumetric and Geoprocessing Applications in Subsurface Infrastructures in a Virtual Immersive Environment

As subsurface features remain largely ‘out of sight, out of mind’, this has led to challenges when dealing with underground space and infrastructures and especially so for those working in GIS. Since subsurface infrastructure plays a major role in supporting the needs of modern society, groups such as city planners and utility companies and decision makers are looking for an ‘holistic’ approach where the sustainable use of underground space is as important as above ground space. For such planning and management, it is crucial to examine subsurface data in a form that is amenable to 3D mapping and that can be used for increasingly sophisticated 3D modeling. The subsurface referred to in this study focuses particularly on examples of both shallow and deep underground infrastructures. In the case of shallow underground infrastructures mostly two-dimensional maps are used in the management and planning of these features. Depth is a very critical component of underground infrastructures that is difficult to represent in a 2D map and for this reason these are best studied in three-dimensional space. In this research, the capability of 3D GIS technology and immersive geography are explored for the storage, management, analysis, and visualization of shallow and deep subsurface features

Remote sensing and data fusion of cultural and physical landscapes

This dissertation is written as part of the three-article option offered by the Geography Department at UNC Greensboro. Each article addresses specific research issues within Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, and three-dimensional modeling related structural and subsurface remote sensing of historic cultural landscapes. The articles submitted in this dissertation are both separate study sites and research questions, but the unifying theme of geographic research methods applies throughout. The first article is titled Terrestrial Lidar and GPR Investigations into the Third Line of Battle at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Guilford County, North Carolina is published in the book Digital Methods and Remote Sensing in Archaeology: Archaeology in the Age of Sensing. Forte, Maurizio, Campana, Stefano R.L. (Eds.) 2016. The results of the research demonstrate the successful exportation of GPR data into three-dimensional point clouds. Subsequently, the converted GPR points in conjunction with the TLS were explored to aid in the identification of the colonial subsurface. The second article submitted for consideration is titled “Three-Dimensional Modeling using Terrestrial LiDAR, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Digital Cameras at House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site, Sanford, North Carolina.” There are two different research components to this study, modeling a structure and the landscape. The structure modeling section compares three different remote sensing approaches to the capture and three-dimensional model creation of a historic building. A detailed comparison is made between the photogrammetric models generated from digital camera photography, a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS). The final article, “Geophysical Investigations at the Harper House Bentonville Battlefield, NC State Historic Site” submitted focuses on the Harper House located in at the Bentonville Civil War battlefield. UNCG conducted a geophysical survey using a ground penetrating radar and gradiometer. The findings from the data were used to determine and pinpoint areas of interest for subsequent excavation

Construction safety and digital design: a review

As digital technologies become widely used in designing buildings and infrastructure, questions arise about their impacts on construction safety. This review explores relationships between construction safety and digital design practices with the aim of fostering and directing further research. It surveys state-of-the-art research on databases, virtual reality, geographic information systems, 4D CAD, building information modeling and sensing technologies, finding various digital tools for addressing safety issues in the construction phase, but few tools to support design for construction safety. It also considers a literature on safety critical, digital and design practices that raises a general concern about ‘mindlessness’ in the use of technologies, and has implications for the emerging research agenda around construction safety and digital design. Bringing these strands of literature together suggests new kinds of interventions, such as the development of tools and processes for using digital models to promote mindfulness through multi-party collaboration on safet

Developing an interoperable cloud-based visualization workflow for 3D archaeological heritage data. The Palenque 3D Archaeological Atlas

In archaeology, 3D data has become ubiquitous, as researchers routinely capture high resolution photogrammetry and LiDAR models and engage in laborious 3D analysis and reconstruction projects at every scale: artifacts, buildings, and entire sites. The raw data and processed 3D models are rarely shared as their computational dependencies leave them unusable by other scholars. In this paper we outline a novel approach for cloud-based collaboration, visualization, analysis, contextualization, and archiving of multi-modal giga-resolution archaeological heritage 3D data. The Palenque 3D Archaeological Atlas builds on an open source WebGL systems that efficiently interlink, merge, present, and contextualize the Big Data collected at the ancient Maya city of Palenque, Mexico, allowing researchers and stakeholders to visualize, access, share, measure, compare, annotate, and repurpose massive complex archaeological datasets from their web-browsers

Technologies for safe and resilient earthmoving operations: A systematic literature review

Resilience engineering relates to the ability of a system to anticipate, prepare, and respond to predicted and unpredicted disruptions. It necessitates the use of monitoring and object detection technologies to ensure system safety in excavation systems. Given the increased investment and speed of improvement in technologies, it is necessary to review the types of technology available and how they contribute to excavation system safety. A systematic literature review was conducted which identified and classified the existing monitoring and object detection technologies, and introduced essential enablers for reliable and effective monitoring and object detection systems including: 1) the application of multisensory and data fusion approaches, and 2) system-level application of technologies. This study also identified the developed functionalities for accident anticipation, prevention and response to safety hazards during excavation, as well as those that facilitate learning in the system. The existing research gaps and future direction of research have been discussed

Real-Time Visualization for Prevention of Excavation Related Utility Strikes.

An excavator unintentionally hits a buried utility every 60 seconds in the United States, causing several fatalities and injuries, and billions of dollars in damage each year. Most of these accidents occur either because excavator operators do not know where utilities are buried, or because they cannot perceive where the utilities are relative to the digging excavator. In particular, an operator has no practical means of knowing the distance of an excavator’s digging implement (e.g. bucket) to the nearest buried obstructions until they are visually exposed, which means that the first estimate of proximity an operator receives is often after the digging implement has already struck the buried utility. The objective of this dissertation was to remedy this situation and explore new proximity monitoring methods for improving the spatial awareness and decision-making capabilities of excavator operators. The research pursued fundamental knowledge in equipment articulation monitoring, and geometric proximity interpretation, and their integration for improving spatial awareness and operator knowledge. A comprehensive computational framework was developed to monitor construction activities in real-time in a concurrent 3D virtual world. As an excavator works, a geometric representation of the real ongoing process is recreated in the virtual environment using 3D models of the excavator, buried utilities and jobsite terrain. Data from sensors installed on the excavator is used to update the position and orientation of the corresponding equipment in the virtual world. Finally, geometric proximity monitoring and collision detection computations are performed between the equipment end-effector and co-located buried utility models to provide distance and impending collision information to the operator, thereby realizing real time knowledge-based excavator operation and control. The outcome of this research has the potential to transform excavator operation from a primarily skill-based activity to a knowledge-based practice, leading to significant increases in construction productivity and safety. This is turn is expected to help realize tangible cost savings and reduction of potential hazards to citizens, improvement in competitiveness of U.S. industry, and reduction in life cycle costs of underground infrastructure.PHDCivil EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96133/1/stalmaki_1.pd

A new WebGIS approach to support ground penetrating radar deployment

En raison de l’agglomération complexe des infrastructures souterraines dans les grandes zones urbaines et des préoccupations accrues des municipalités ou des gouvernements qui déploient des systèmes d’information foncière ou des industries qui souhaitent construire ou creuser, il devient de plus en plus impératif de localiser et de cartographier avec précision les pipelines, les câbles d’énergie hydroélectrique, les réseaux de communication ou les conduites d’eau potable et d’égout. Le géoradar (Ground Penetrating Radar ou GPR) est un outil en géophysique qui permet de produire des images en coupe du sous-sol desquelles de l’information utile sur les infrastructures souterraines peut être tirée. Des expériences antérieures et une analyse documentaire approfondie ont révélé que les logiciels disponibles pour réaliser des levés GPR qui sont utilisés directement sur le terrain et hors site ne reposent pas ou très peu sur des fonctionnalités géospatiales. En outre, l’intégration de données telles que la visualisation de données GPR dans des espaces géoréférencés avec des orthophotos, des cartes, des points d’intérêt, des plans CAO, etc., est impossible. Lorsque disponible, l’ajout d’annotations ou l’interrogation d’objets géospatiaux susceptibles d’améliorer ou d’accélérer les investigations ne proposent pas des interfaces conviviales. Dans ce projet de recherche, une nouvelle approche est proposée pour déployer le GPR et elle est basée sur quatre fonctionnalités issues du Web et des systèmes d’information géographique (WebGIS) jugées essentielles pour faciliter la réalisation de levés GPR sur le terrain. Pour démontrer la faisabilité de cette nouvelle approche, une extension de la plate-forme logicielle existante GVX (conçue et vendue par Geovoxel) appelée GVX-GPR a été développée. GVX-GPR propose aux utilisateurs d’instruments GPR quatre fonctionnalités soit 1) intégration de cartes, 2) géo-annotations et points d’intérêt, 3) géoréférencement et visualisation de radargrammes et 4) visualisation de sections GPR géoréférencées. Afin de tester l’approche WebGIS et GPXGPR, deux sites d’étude ont été relevés par deux professionnels différents, un expert et un non-expert en géophysique, ont été sélectionnés. Une première expérimentation réalisée sur le campus de l’Université Laval à Québec prévoyait l’identification de trois objets enterrés soit un câble électrique, une fibre optique et un tunnel dont leur position XYZ était connue. Le deuxième essai s’est passé à l’Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brésil), avec un professionnel expert en géophysique. Ce 2e site cherchait à reproduire un environnent plus réaliste avec une quantité inconnue d’objets enterrés. Les quatre fonctionnalités proposées par GVX-GPR ont donc été testées et leur intérêt discuté par les deux utilisateurs GPR. Les deux utilisateurs GPR se sont dits très intéressés par l’outil GVX-GPR et ses nouvelles fonctionnalités et ils aimeraient pouvoir l’intégrer à leur travail quotidien car ils y voient des avantages. En particulier, l’approche et GVX-GPR les a aidés à découvrir de nouvelles cibles, à délimiter le territoire à couvrir, à interpréter les données GPR brutes en permettant l’interaction entre les données géospatiales (en ligne) et les profils de données GPR, et finalement pour la cartographie à produire tout en respectant la norme CityGML (donc utile au partage éventuel des données). De même, une fois le système maitrisé, GVX-GPR a permis d’optimiser la durée du levé. Ce projet de maitrise a donc permis d’élaborer une nouvelle approche pour effectuer des levés GPR et proposer un outil logiciel pour tester la faisabilité de celle-ci. Une première étape de validation de la faisabilité et de l’utilité a été réalisée grâce aux deux tests effectués. Évidemment, ces deux tests sont des premiers pas dans une phase plus large de validation qui pourrait s’effectuer, et ils ont ouvert la porte à des ajustements ou l’ajout d’autres fonctionnalités, comme la manipulation des outils de visualisation 3D et l’ajout de filtres et traitement de signal. Nous estimons néanmoins ces premiers tests concluant pour ce projet de maîtrise, et surtout ils démontrent que les instruments GPR gagneraient à davantage intégrer les données et fonctionnalités géospatiales. Nous pensons également que nos travaux vont permettre à des communautés de non spécialistes en géophysique de s’intéresser aux instruments de type GPR pour les levés d’objets enfouis. Notre approche pourra les aider à préparer les données géospatiales utiles à la planification, à effectuer le levé terrain et à produire les cartes associéesDue to the complex agglomeration of underground infrastructures in large urban areas and accordingly increased concerns by municipalities or government who deploy land information systems or industries who want to construct or excavate, it is imperative to accurately locate and suitability map existing underground utility networks (UUN) such as pipelines, hydroelectric power cables, communication networks, or drinking water and sewage conduits. One emerging category of instrument in geophysics for collecting and extracting data from the underground is the ground penetrating radar (GPR). Previous experiments and a thorough literature review revealed that GPR software used in and off the field do not take advantage of geospatial features and data integration such as visualization of GPR data in a georeferenced space with orthophotographies, map, point of interest, CAD plans, etc. Also missing is the capability to add annotation or querying geospatial objects that may improve or expedite the investigations. These functions are long-lived in the geospatial domain, such as in geographic information system (GIS). In this research project, a new approach is proposed to deploy GPR based on four core WebGIS-enabled features, used to support field investigations with GPR. This WebGIS is based on an existing platform called GVX, designed and sold by Geovoxel as a risk management tool for civil engineering projects. In this proposed approach, a generic guideline based on GVX-GPR was developed which users can follow when deploying GPR. This approach is based on four core features which are missing on most GPR software, (1) map integration, (2) geo-annotations and points of interest, (3) radargram georeferencing and visualization, and (4) georeferenced slice visualization. In order to test the designed WebGIS-based approach, two different professionals, an expert in geophysics and a person without any background in geophysics, used the proposed approach in their day-to-day professional practice. The first experiment was conducted at Université Laval (Québec – Canada) when the subject undertook an area to a survey in order to identify 3 possible targets premapped. The second, with a Geophysics-specialist, took place in Rio de Janeiro, at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro’s campus. This study covered an area counting on an unknown number of buried objects, aiming at reproducing a realistic survey scenario. Four new feature were added and discussed with GPR practitioners. Both GPR user declared to be very interested by the proposed by the tool GVX-GPR and its features, being willing to apply this software on their daily basis due to the added advantages. Particularly, this approach has aided these professionals to find new buried objects, delimit the survey area, interpret raw GPR data by allowing geospatial data interaction and GPR profiles, and, finally, to produce new maps compliant with standards such as CityGML. Also, once mastered, the technology allowed the optimization of survey time. This project enabled the development of a new approach to leverage GPR surveys and proposed a new tool in order to test the approach’s feasibility. A first step into the validation of this proposal has been taken towards a feasibility and utility evaluation with two tests accomplished. Unmistakably, these are the first steps of a likely larger validation process, opening up new possibilities for the continuity of the project such as the addition of signal processing techniques and 3D data handling. We nevertheless consider these conclusive for this master’s project, above all demonstrating the value add by geospatial data integration and functions to GPR instruments. This work is also intended to the community of newcomers, or interested in GPR, to further explore this technology, since this approach shall facilitate the preparation, execution, and post-processing phases of a GPR survey

Métodos de representação virtual e visualização para informação arquitetónica e contextual em sítios arqueológicos

This work seeks to outline some guidelines in order to improve the use of 3D visualization applied to archaeological data of diverse nature and at different scales. One difficulty found in this process is related to the still frequent two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional archaeological reality. Aware that the existence of data of two-dimensional nature is fundamental in the archaeological process and that they result, on the one hand, from the manual archaeological recording processes and, on the other hand, from the intense analysis and interpretation activity of the archaeological investigation team, we seek to ensure an adequate 3D representation based on 3D acquisition methods mostly available to the archaeology teams. Archaeological visualization in three-dimensional support is an increasingly frequent and necessary practice, but it continues to show some difficulties. These are substantiated in the reduced number of visualization techniques used, the use of visualization tools that are not very customized for the archaeological needs and the privileged use of visual features of the models during the archaeological process phases. Thus, the main objective of this work is to design and evaluate appropriate methods for visualizing archaeological data. To determine which visualization methods are most used during the phases of the archaeological process, an online user-survey was carried out, which allowed consolidating the 3D representation methodologies used, as well as to propose a visualization model that also categorizes the appropriate visualization techniques which increase the visual perception and understanding of the archaeological elements. Three prototypes are defined according to the different 3D data acquisition methodologies presented and visualization methodologies are designed in order to, on the one hand, take into account the scale and diversity of the archaeological elements and, on the other hand, to account for the need to ensure visualization methods which are easily assimilated by archaeologists. Each prototype was evaluated by two archaeologists with different professional background. They were proposed, through a set of previously determined tasks, to assess the interaction with 3D models and with the visualization methods and the satisfaction of the visualization results regarding the archaeological needs. The evaluation of the prototypes allowed to conclude that the presented visualization methods increase the perception of 3D models which represent archaeological elements. In addition, it was also possible to produce new objects that reveal elements of archaeological interest. It is suggested to make these methodologies available on a web-based application and on mobile platforms.Este trabalho procura esboçar algumas diretrizes no sentido de melhorar a utilização da visualização 3D aplicada aos dados arqueológicos de natureza diversa e a escalas distintas. Uma dificuldade encontrada neste processo prende-se com a, ainda frequente, representação bidimensional da realidade arqueológica tridimensional. Ciente de que a existência de dados de natureza bidimensional são fundamentais no processo arqueológico e que resultam, por um lado, dos processos manuais de registo arqueológicos e, por outro, da intensa atividade de análise e interpretação da equipa de investigação arqueológica, procuramos assegurar uma representação 3D adequada, com base em metodologias de aquisição de dados 3D geralmente disponíveis às equipas de arqueologia. A visualização arqueológica em suporte tridimensional é uma prática cada vez mais frequente e necessária, mas que continua a evidenciar algumas dificuldades. Estas substanciam-se no reduzido número de técnicas de visualização usadas, na utilização de ferramentas de visualização pouco adaptadas às necessidades arqueológicas e na utilização preferencial de características visuais dos modelos durante as fases do processo arqueológico. Assim, o objetivo primordial deste trabalho é desenhar e avaliar métodos adequados à visualização de dados arqueológicos. Para determinar que métodos de visualização são mais utilizados durante as fases do processo arqueológico realizou-se um questionário online que permitiu consolidar as metodologias de representação 3D usadas, bem como propor um modelo de visualização que também categoriza as técnicas de visualização adequadas para aumentar a perceção e a compreensão visual dos elementos arqueológicos. Definem-se três protótipos de acordo com as distintas metodologias de aquisição de dados 3D apresentados e são desenhadas metodologias de visualização que, por um lado, têm em conta a escala e a diversidade dos elementos arqueológicos e, por outro, a necessidade de assegurar métodos de visualização facilmente assimilados pelos arqueólogos. Cada protótipo foi avaliado por dois arqueólogos com experiências profissionais distintas. O que lhes foi proposto, através de um conjunto de tarefas previamente estabelecidas, foi aferir da facilidade de interação com os modelos 3D e com os métodos de visualização e adequação dos resultados de visualização às necessidades dos arqueólogos. A avaliação dos protótipos permitiu concluir que os métodos de visualização apresentados aumentam a perceção dos modelos 3D que representam elementos arqueológicos. Para além disso foi possível produzir também novos objetos que revelam elementos com interesse arqueológico. É sugerida a disponibilização destas metodologias em ambiente web e plataformas móveis.Programa Doutoral em Informátic