Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2 3D Visualisation Development
4.2.1 Setting the Scene in 3D
To further enhance the capacity of the Google Earth KML based visualisation to
provide a spatial context to which users may relate, we embedded 3D landscape
objects and infrastructure (Pettit et al.
2009
) of the Demo Dairy farm precinct
(building, trees, fences), adding another level of reality to the normally available
aerial imagery (Fig.
4
). These 3D objects were created in 3D Studio Max 2008
from photographs, converted into KML format and manually placed on top of the
available aerial imagery using Google SketchUp.
4.2.2 Virtual Panorama and Fly-Over
Farming systems are particularly sensitive to climatic conditions. Climate change
is likely to impact a large number of variables that impact agricultural produc-
tivity. These variables include: temperature, rainfall, solar radiation, number of
extreme events, soil moisture and water availability.
The complexity of agricultural systems is such that communicating their overall
response can be very difficult through sets of simple graphs or tables. Dynamically
linking graphical and tabular information to a spatial polygon or centroid, through
a cartographic technique known as 'brushing' is one way to try and address the
difficulty of communicating the complexity of the system. Research from Wang
Baldonado et al. (
2000
) indicated this technique is useful for identifying statistical
outliers, clusters etc. However, in this research we endeavour to explore the use of
embedded
geographical
information
through
the
use
of
3D
photo-realistic
panoramas and fly-overs.
In order to provide a more holistic (multivariate) picture of how agricultural
systems may be influenced by climate change on the ground, we investigated the
use of two 3D photo-realistic landscape visualisation software products: 3D
Nature—Visual Nature Studio (VNS) and Autodesk 3DS Max. Both products
support the creation and display of a large number of variables (such as animal
stocking rates, crop type and crop phenological stage), which could be individually
controlled (size, colour, location) within a 3D landscape environment providing
high levels of realism.
The first application used the 3D Studio Max 2008 and Vue xStream 7.5
software packages to create a bird's eye view fly-over of a virtual representation of
the Demo Dairy farm (Fig.
5
a). This animation was developed by manually
organising 3D trees, cows, wheat crops (in Vue xStream 7.5) in combination with
previously developed farm infrastructure and overlaying them above existing
aerial imagery draped on a digital elevation model. This animation was then
published on YouTube and linked directly into the KML via a placemark.
