Tangible GIS for Realtime Interactive Landscape Modeling

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Tangible GIS for Real-time Interactive Landscape
Modeling

• Helena Mitasova,
• Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
• North Carolina State University
• Lubos Mitas, Department of Physics, NCSU
• Russell S. Harmon, Army Research Office
• Carlo Ratti, SENSEableCity Laboratory, MIT

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Motivation
Improve understanding of terrain change impact on
landscape processes sustainable land
management, effective disaster prevention and
mitigation, environmental efficiency Important
short term topographic change Natural
forceshurricanes, floods, landslides,
Anthropogenic construction, agriculture,
military
Construction reduced slopes, impermeable areas
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Impact on processes
land cover
49 forest
construction 24 forest
overland water flow
discharge m3/s
How should we change the terrain to compensate
for vegetation removal?
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Terrain change analysis and design
Traditional approach maps good face to face
collaboration, limited data, computer screens
flexibility, remote collaboration
Emerging technologies combine easy to interpret
3d physical models of landscape with digital
geospatial data facilitate face-to-face
communication and collaboration
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Current commercial options
GIS2MAP3D
XenoVision Mark III TerrainTableTM includes
TouchTable capabilities
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Illuminated Clay 3D interaction
Laser scanner Projector
developed by MIT Media Lab and SENSEable City lab
Combines virtual representation with solid model
and computes and displays terrain parameters in
near-real-time
Traditional GIS design with mouseGUI need to
make a connection between hand and the image on
the screen Illuminated Clay hand and eye works
with the same object (physical model) freeing the
brain for more creative thinking
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Two-way coupling with GIS
projector
color attributes
GIS/IC
3D scanner
continuous loop
surface elevation
compute DEM and parameters
scan continuously or
modify by hand
scan and stop
Landscape surface
Volume model Phoxel Space
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Test study
explore how TanGIS 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 NCSU exp. farms sediment and flood
control
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Analysis using a physical model
Data
Flow computed by Illuminated Clay in
synchronous mode
Aspect Slope
Physical Model
Shadow Elevation
Scanned phys. model
Slope and flow computed in GRASS in
asynchronous mode
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Analysis and design with TanGIS
Instant feedback adding a checkdam or tilted
plane, creating a depression, while watching the
flow and slope to change
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Building TanGIS at VISSTA lab
VIVID 910 laser scanner 1 scan/
0.3sec real-time interaction higher accuracy than
needed IR sensors cheaper, smaller need to be
tested
Multipurpose facility at VISSTA Lab at ECE NCSU
Prof. Hamid Karim
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Real-world and model DEMs
photogr.-based 2m DEM 1993
scanned model-based 1mm (2m) DEMs with various
modifications
lidar-based 2m DEM 2001
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Exploring runoff with TanGIS
Simulating flow over modified surface testing
algorithms exploring impacts
50cm
braided flow
Water depth 60cm
30cm
Smoothed real-world data
modified models
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Future TanGIS
Physical model
Computer
color attributes
projector
GIS Real-time data from Terrestrial sensors and
satellites
3D scanner
surface elevation
3D shaper
Desktop or large collaborative systems for
education, land use planing, disaster management,
research.
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Acknowledgment

This project has been supported by US Army
Research Office, NC WRRI and North Carolina
Sediment Control Commission
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