Design Alternatives for Computer-generated 3d Maps Inspired by Hand-painted Panoramas
Summary
Visualizing topographic information in an easily comprehensible way is a common challenge for any discipline working with spatial landscape data. The computer-generated 3D map is a new type of maprelated representation that emerged very recently with the availability of geographical data in digital form and good resolution for most of the earthŠs surface. With strong resemblance to the way we perceive and mentally picture space, the 3D map harbours great potential to become a very effective and entertaining medium to clarify spatial circumstances, especially to the general public. Yet, cartographers struggle with a number of problems when digitally generating 3D maps. We hope to help establish and promote this promising new type of cartographic representation by improving its design and production process with unconventional solutions. Our approach to finding these solutions is to deduce them from the techniques used in hand-painted panoramas. Today, three-dimensional landscape representations are created using standard 3D rendering and modelling software. These programs lack specialized cartographic functionalities that support the process of cartographic abstraction. Challenges typically encountered comprise: problems related to the occlusion of map elements; problems related to emphasizing important and deemphasizing irrelevant map objects; problems related to inappropriate level-of-detail of geometry and texture; and challenges related to disturbingly artificial and monotone 3D map appearance.
Refined through the experience of centuries, the techniques of panorama painters depict landscapes in a very aesthetic and naturalistic way. The named design problems with which 3D cartography struggles have been creatively solved by panorama painters. Their works of cartographic art are an extremely well suited source of inspiration to improve 3D map design. Many professionals could profit from the traditional heritage of the panorama painters, if their creative concepts were available as computer algorithms. Also a part of the know-how of this disappearing profession could be preserved. We propose to deduce, adapt, enrich and implement a selection of such graphics algorithms to make an important contribution to the computer generation of better readable, aesthetic 3D maps. The resulting prototype will offer easy to manipulate, specialized cartographic functionalities deduced from handpainted panorama maps. The production of 3D maps will become less time-consuming and thus less cost-intensive because semi-automatic approaches and time-saving structures to manipulate entire landscape units will be available. Different exemplary 3D maps will be created with the developed prototype to assess the value of the panorama paintersŠ techniques for computer-generated 3D map production. We also hope to stimulate the discussion on guidelines for quality 3D map production by presenting our innovative design alternatives for 3D maps to
the scientific community.
Project period
01.10.2007 – 31.08.2011
Researchers
Lead: Hurni, Lorenz
Internal: Jenny, Helen Mirja
Funding source
ETH internal grant
Partner
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Web
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Publications
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