A Comparison of Monoscopic and Stereoscopic 3D Visualizations: Effect on Spatial Planning in Digital Twins

Lukáš Herman,Čeněk Šašinka,Jiří Chmelík,Zdeněk Stachoň,Dajana Snopková,Pavel Ugwitz,Tomáš Řezník,Vojtěch Juřík

doi:10.3390/rs13152976

Abstract

From the user perspective, 3D geospatial data visualizations are one of the bridges between the physical and the digital world. As such, the potential of 3D geospatial data visualizations is frequently discussed within and beyond the digital twins. The effects on human cognitive processes in complex spatial tasks is rather poorly known. No uniform standards exist for the 3D technologies used in these tasks. Although stereoscopic geovisualizations presented using 3D technologies enhance depth perception, it has been suggested that the visual discomfort experienced when using 3D technology outweighs its benefits and results in lower efficiency and errors. In the present study, sixty participants using 3D technologies were tested in terms of their ability to make informed decisions in selecting the correct position of a virtual transmitter in a digital twin and a digital terrain model, respectively. Participants (n = 60) were randomly assigned into two groups, one using 3D technology engaging stereoscopic shutter glasses and the second working with standard computer screen-based visualizations. The results indicated that the participants who used shutter glasses performed significantly worse in terms of response time (W = 175.0; p < 0.001, r = −0.524). This finding verifies previous conclusions concerning the unsuitability of stereoscopic visualization technology for complex decision-making in geospatial tasks.

Highlights

The pseudo-3D visualizations were more time efficient for accurate decision-making in spatial tasks
In contrast to the subto the subjectively perceived effectiveness of real-3D technology discussed in a previous jectively perceived effectiveness of real-3D technology discussed in a previous study by study by Kubicek et al [20], the effect discovered in the present study indicates that realKubicek et al [20], the effect discovered in the present study indicates that real-3D visu3D visualizations increased the task solution time and decreased the weighted efficiency alizations increased the task solution time and decreased the weighted efficiency perforperformance in the given tasks
We found that pseudo-3D visualization was in digital twins significantly better in general efficiency and in the economy of interactive movement

Summary

Introduction

Stereoscopic geovisualizations presented using 3D technologies enhance depth perception, it has been suggested that the visual discomfort experienced when using This finding verifies previous conclusions concerning the unsuitability of stereoscopic visualization technology for complex decision-making in geospatial tasks. With the use of technologies such as 3D shutter glasses, 3D monitors, Cave Automatic Virtual Environments (CAVE) or head-mounted displays (HMDs), 3D visualization is transferred to many geo-related disciplines All these VR technologies can improve people’s abilities to manage digital twins and/or complex systems [1,2]. Digital twins compose of a digital representation enabling data exchange containing models, simulations as well as algorithms related to their real-world counterpart and its behaviour and features [3] Such a statement demonstrates digital twins’ complexity as well as the need for informed, evidence-based decision making

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion