Three-dimensional urban GIS for Atlanta

Georgia Tech has developed a prototype system for the demonstration of the concepts of a Virtual 3 D Geographic Information System (GIS) in an urban environment. The Virtual GIS integrates the technologies of GIS, remote sensing, and visualization to provide an interactive tool for the exploration of spatial data. A high density urban environment with terrain elevation, imagery, GIS layers, and three dimensional natural and manmade features is a stressing test for the integration potential of such a Virtual 3 D GIS. In preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games, Georgia Tech developed two highly detailed 3 D databases over parts of Atlanta. A 2.5 meter database was used to depict the downtown Atlanta area with much higher resolution imagery being used for photo-texture of individual Atlanta buildings. Less than 1 meter imagery data was used to show a very accurate map of Georgia Tech, the 1996 Olympic Village. Georgia Tech developed visualization software was integrated via message passing with a traditional GIS package so that all commonly used GIS query and analysis functions could be applied within the 3 D environment. This project demonstrates the versatility and productivity that can be accomplished by operating GIS functions within a Virtual GIS and multi-media framework.