Tangible GIS: New HumanComputer Interface For Geospatial Modeling

1
Tangible GIS New Human-Computer Interface For
Geospatial Modeling
Helena Mitasova and Lubos Mitas, NCSU Carlo
Ratti, Hiroshi Ishii and Jason Alonso,
MIT Russell S. Harmon, ARO
2
Background
New technologies are combining easy to
interpret 3d physical models of landscape with
geospatial data to facilitate communication and
collaboration STIR 6 month collaborative
project between MIT and NCSU (June 2005 start)
explores new approach that combines GIS, virtual
and physical landscape models in two-way
interactive mode
3
One-way Coupling of GIS and 3D Models
Computer
Physical model
projector
color attributes
GIS
surface elevation
projector
color attributes
GIS
3D shaper
surface elevation
4
Current commercial options
GIS2MAP3D
XenoVision Mark III
5
Motivation
In one-way systems re-designing terrain or its
features is complex, mouse and GUI
task MouseGUI we need to make a connection
between our hand and the image on the screen Can
we work with GIS in such a way that we can look
at what we are doing and use the physical
model as a tangible interface?
6
Two-way coupling with GIS
asynchronous
projector
color attributes
GIS/IC
3D scanner
project with delay
surface elevation
compute DEM and its parameters
scan and stop
modify by hand
synchronous- real-time response
compute DEM, parameters instantly
scan continuously
modify by hand
7
Two-way system Illuminating Clay
MIT patents pending
8
Working with Illuminating Clay
Combines virtual representation with solid
model and 2D images Re-computes and displays
terrain parameters in near-real-time
9
Test case study

• explore how IC-GIS can be used to solve
  real-world problems common at communities
  and installations
• investigate what new development is needed to
  make the practical applications feasible

20 ha area at SECREF sediment and local flood
control design
10
3D landscape model
low budget flexible clay landscape model
1mm res. DEM of 12000 scale model
Original 2m res. DEM
Approximated in GRASS by RST modified by hand
0 300m
11
MINOLTA VIVID 900 physical model
scan approximated in GRASS GIS into 1mm
resolution DEM
Airborne laser altimetry real-world terrain
scan approximated into 2m resolution DEM
N
1993
2001
0 300m
12
Model as Illuminating Clay
all parameters change in real-time while the
surface is modified
Aspect Slope Shadow Elevation
Slope
Profile
13
Flow in synchronnous mode computed by IC in
near-real-time
Flow computed in GRASS from the scanned model in
asynchronnous mode several minutes
14
Methods for two-way coupling
Synchronous mode requires specially designed
algorithms that are fast, approximate but that
preserve important properties Some code in GRASS
GIS can be adapted to IC needs to enhance the
results Direct asynchronous coupling with
GRASS provides important extension of TanGIS
capabilities
15
original IC IC GRASS original
data
deg 15 10 5 0
physical model
real-world data
16
Modifying surface
adding a checkdam creating a depression while
watching the flow to change
17
Coupling with numerical models
m
N
18
Synchronous coupling with numerical models
- display evolution of flow while computation
is being performed (also useful for
debugging numerical models) - display resulting
flow with gradualy increasing accuracy and
resolution - update flow only downstream from
the location
19
Future Systems
Full two-way coupling for both surface and color
Computer
Physical model
projector
color attributes
GIS Real-time data from Terrestrial sensors And
satellites
3D scanner
surface elevation
3D shaper
20
Conclusion Initial experiments demonstrate
that tangible physical models can become a
powerful extension of GIS capabilities The
proposed concept is scalable, from simple low
cost one-way system towards full two-way real
time interaction
21
Future Coupling with dynamic models and
real-time data Explore innovative materials and
methods for creating a physical model using
digital elevation data Explore materials and
image processing methods for real-time
interaction with surface properties
22
(No Transcript)