West Virginia University Sees Immediate Results with Mechdyne Integrated Software and Display Solution
by Dr. Trevor Harris
Chair, Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Geo-visualization has always been critical to Geographic Information Systems. The focus on digital maps as the mainstay of cartographic representation has of course now been extended considerably to include contemporary web-based mapping technologies. In addition, while traditional cartographic representations have been predominantly two dimensional, recently a group of multi-dimensional geobrowsers have come to the forefront. These geobrowsers, including ESRI’s ArcScene and ArcGlobe, present the data in a form that assists users in the interpretation of the available information in a more intuitive and innovative manner. Simultaneously, the browsers offer interactive and dynamic navigation tools that greatly facilitate rapid data exploration. Recently these trends have been augmented through initiatives led by Dr. Trevor Harris and D. Vic Baker in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University by the addition of state-of-the-art immersive technologies and the coupling of GIS with these powerful visualization technologies.
In August 2006, the GeoVirtual Laboratory, housed within the Department of Geology and Geography at WVU, working with Mechdyne Corporation subsidiaries Fakespace Systems Inc. and VRCO, Inc., completed the installation of a four-wall immersive visualization system. The FLEX™ system is a room-sized interface consisting of rear-projected front, left and right walls and a ceiling-mounted floor projection. This stereoscopic immersive system is a descendent of the initial Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE®) structures introduced in the mid-1990s. The FLEX was the world's first commercial, re-configurable visualization solution for users who’s viewing, collaboration, and presentation requirements could not be met within the confines of a single, fixed visualization environment such as a PowerWall™ or CAVE. The FLEX's innovative hinged wall design allows a single person to quickly reconfigure the space as a long flat wall display, an angled immersive theater, or an immersive room. As part of the installation, VRCO Inc. linked ESRI’s ArcScene and ArcGlobe to their Conduit™ middleware that enables desktop applications to operate natively on PC cluster computers and within large scale virtual reality environments, without any change to the desktop application.
Researchers at WVU are now taking full advantage of the advanced immersive and interactive display capabilities provided within the system. Proprietary spatial software has been written to work within the CAVE, yet having access to ESRI’s commercially available software enables rapid development of GIS visualization content. Furthermore, users across the WVU campus are able to generate content without the need for direct access to the system that is in high demand. Interaction with the spatial data in the immersive environment is very intuitive. A wireless motion tracking system monitors the user’s position and changes the on-screen images in real time to maintain proper viewing perspective. Navigation through the data scene is accomplished effortlessly using a wireless, handheld virtual wand.
The vision of the GeoVirtual Laboratory is to pursue research that draws extensively upon the tight coupling of the spatial analytic capabilities of GIS with the powerful visual and immersive capabilities provided through the FLEX display system. The unique experiential nature of the immersive display system and the feeling of ‘being there’ and immersed in the data scene provides powerful insights into complex spatial data and landscape forms. Examining the viewsheds and potential visual intrusion of cell towers or electrical transmission lines becomes so much more powerful when explored by users immersed in the virtual landscape and able to navigate freely through the landscape as if in a helicopter. Similarly, recreating historic landscapes and historic urban centers using a combination of historic maps and photographic evidence is relatively easily achieved and displayed in the FLEX such that users may immerse themselves in the three-dimensional scene and interactively access data through the GIS interface. Such capabilities seem a long way from the traditional two dimensional map. Furthermore, the immersive space supports multiple users simultaneously and provides a powerful collaborative decision-making environment that is immersive, dynamic and interactive and a long way from the single screen display of most GIS users.
Utilizing COTS applications with advanced visualization displays it is possible to shift time and focus from the development of proprietary applications to the creation of rich content, dynamic interaction, and a powerful interpretive environment. With the pending release of ESRI’s ArcGIS 9.2, we expect continued integration of ArcGIS Explorer and ArcGIS Server with immersive visualization to allow for rapid spatial analysis and interpretation within a collaborative virtual environment.
For more information, contact Trevor Harris, Chair, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, or Vic Baker, Director, GeoVirtual Laboratory, Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University.
