A variety of source data, hardware/software packages, methodology, and techniques exist for the capture, rendering, and navigation of complex three-dimensional (3D) urban terrain. This paper investigates issues, options, and concerns inherent in the movement from 2D to 3D visualization and finally to a display environment in advanced virtual worlds exhibiting four-dimensional (4D) urban terrain, the fourth dimension being time. Methodology options are presented as a matrix for 3D feature development. Proposals and recommendations as to future avenues of research in the subject arena are presented as a roadmap to meeting the challenges of visualization for urban operational planning. Applications include humanitarian, emergency, recovery and relief operations, force protection, threat assessment, pre- and post-incident response, mission planning and rehearsal, law enforcement, and Homeland Defense.

Date Published: 6 August 2002
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 4741, Battlespace Digitization and Network-Centric Warfare II, (6 August 2002); doi: 10.1117/12.478727

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4741:
Battlespace Digitization and Network-Centric Warfare II
Raja Suresh; William E. Roper; William E. Roper, Editor(s)