John Breckenridge

Real-World Issues and Applications for Real-Time Geographic Information Systems (RT-GIS)

Many issues related to incorporating real-time spatial information within Geographic Information Systems (GIS) need to be investigated. It can be established that the concept of real-time in relation to the input, analysis, display, and output of complex spatial information depends directly on specific user applications. This dependency has been evident throughout the Naval Research Laboratorys development of a real-time GIS for hydrographic surveys. This paper contrasts the issues and requirements observed for this application with those of vector moving-map displays for high-speed aeronautical applications. It also attempts to quantify the influence of various factors and impacts affecting real-time response to specialised applications like vector moving-map displays.

A Framework for Databasing 3D Synthetic Environment Data

Since 1994 the Digital Mapping, Charting and Geodesy Analysis Program at the Naval Research Laboratory has been developing an object-oriented spatial and temporal database, the Geographic Information Database (GIDB™). Recently, we have expanded our research in the spatial database area to include three-dimensional synthetic environment (3D SE) data. This work has focused on investigating an extension to the National Imagery and Mapping Agencys (NIMAs) current Vector Product Format (VPF) known as VPF+. This paper overviews the GIDB and describes the data structures of VPF+ and a prototyped 3D synthetic environment using VPF+. The latter was designed as a 3D Geographic Information System (3D-GIS) that would assist the U.S. Marine Corps with mission preparation and also provide onsite awareness in urban areas.

Adding the third dimension to digital mapping

The Digital Mapping, Charting & Geodesy Analysis Program (DMAP) at the Naval Research Laboratory has been developing the distribution of geographic data over the Web through its Geospatial Information Database. While this work has primarily included digital mapping information from a variety of formats, DMAP has also been working on 3D synthetic environment data delivery. This chapter describes DMAP’s work to provide a three-dimensional representation of geographic data. We provide an overview of the data structures used to reconstruct 3D synthetic environments and to store full 3D topology. We also describe a prototype that supplements traditional 2D digital-mapping output with a 3D interactive synthetic environment.