Camara, A.

Dekkers, J.E.C.

Scholten, H.J.

van de Velde, R.J.

English

Velde, R.J. van de

DSpace at VU

GEOSPATIAL  VIRTUAL  ENVIRONMENTS,
TOWARDS A NEW PARADIGM IN GEOVISUALISATION
Scholten, Henk(1);Dekkers, Jasper♣(1); Camara, Antonio(2) and ;Van de Velde, Rob(1, 3)
(1) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Depart. Regional Economics / SPINLAB (NL)
(2) Environmental Systems Analysis group, New University of Lisbon / YDreams (P).
(3) Government Service for Land and Water Management (NL)
Abstract
Most of the research in the field of Virtual reality and Visualization of environments has been done on the technical
side, focusing on the technical limitations and trying to build systems that just work efficiently. But the nowadays
availability of powerful computing machines and a variety of software packages (from 3D GIS to 3D computer games
production) does not limit our imagination and meets our needs. We propose a methodology for geographic information
visualization in virtual environments for participatory plan preparation. The methodology was tested in a virtual reality
prototype, Virtual Landscape viewer, developed for a project that will significantly change the landscape in an area in
the north of the Netherlands, the Meerstad project. The prototype integrates different geospatial datasets and the
stakeholders are able to fly over the landscape and to “zoom in” to access detailed and different georeferenced data. In
“landscape change projects”, the stakeholders group is numerous and heterogeneous by nature, with different
sensibilities and with different interests and concerns about the project. It is fundamental to display the correct
information in a correct way to assure that all have the same understanding of the goals and consequences of the
project. Geospatial Virtual Environments provides an effective way of presenting large amounts of complex
information to a wide audience, including those with no Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or mapping experience.
The system was designed taking into consideration cognitive principles and is able to integrate high quality mapping of
the current situation, 3D representations of the future and (geo)multimedia (regarding real world information). The
people involved can understand the proposed plans and proposed changes. This new approach was built based on a geo-
information infrastructure which supports open plan processes and participation and is able to integrate all available sets
of data.
                                                          
♣ Corresponding author:
jdekkers@feweb.vu.nl
Mailing address:
Jasper Dekkers
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
FEWEB - Depart. Regional Economics / SPINLAB
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands


Geospatial Virtual Environments, Towards a new Paradigm in Geovisualisation

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VU Research PortalGeospatial Virtual Environments, Towards a new Paradigm in GeovisualisationScholten, H.J.; Dekkers, J.E.C.; Camara, A.; van de Velde, R.J.published inAbstractbook Digital Earth Conference on Information Resources for Global Sustainability2003document versionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of recordLink to publication in VU Research Portalcitation for published version (APA)Scholten, H. J., Dekkers, J. E. C., Camara, A., & van de Velde, R. J. (2003). Geospatial Virtual Environments,Towards a new Paradigm in Geovisualisation. In Abstractbook Digital Earth Conference on InformationResources for Global Sustainability Brno.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright ownersand it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.            • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.            • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain            • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ?Take down policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediatelyand investigate your claim.E-mail address:vuresearchportal.ub@vu.nlDownload date: 26. May. 2021GEOSPATIAL  VIRTUAL  ENVIRONMENTS,TOWARDS A NEW PARADIGM IN GEOVISUALISATIONScholten, Henk(1);Dekkers, Jasper♣(1); Camara, Antonio(2) and ;Van de Velde, Rob(1, 3)(1) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Depart. Regional Economics / SPINLAB (NL)(2) Environmental Systems Analysis group, New University of Lisbon / YDreams (P).(3) Government Service for Land and Water Management (NL)AbstractMost of the research in the field of Virtual reality and Visualization of environments has been done on the technicalside, focusing on the technical limitations and trying to build systems that just work efficiently. But the nowadaysavailability of powerful computing machines and a variety of software packages (from 3D GIS to 3D computer gamesproduction) does not limit our imagination and meets our needs. We propose a methodology for geographic informationvisualization in virtual environments for participatory plan preparation. The methodology was tested in a virtual realityprototype, Virtual Landscape viewer, developed for a project that will significantly change the landscape in an area inthe north of the Netherlands, the Meerstad project. The prototype integrates different geospatial datasets and thestakeholders are able to fly over the landscape and to “zoom in” to access detailed and different georeferenced data. In“landscape change projects”, the stakeholders group is numerous and heterogeneous by nature, with differentsensibilities and with different interests and concerns about the project. It is fundamental to display the correctinformation in a correct way to assure that all have the same understanding of the goals and consequences of theproject. Geospatial Virtual Environments provides an effective way of presenting large amounts of complexinformation to a wide audience, including those with no Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or mapping experience.The system was designed taking into consideration cognitive principles and is able to integrate high quality mapping ofthe current situation, 3D representations of the future and (geo)multimedia (regarding real world information). Thepeople involved can understand the proposed plans and proposed changes. This new approach was built based on a geo-information infrastructure which supports open plan processes and participation and is able to integrate all available setsof data.                                                          ♣ Corresponding author:jdekkers@feweb.vu.nlMailing address:Jasper DekkersVrije Universiteit AmsterdamFEWEB - Depart. Regional Economics / SPINLABDe Boelelaan 11051081 HV AmsterdamThe Netherlands

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Geospatial Virtual Environments, Towards a new Paradigm in Geovisualisation

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