Design and Implementation of a 4D Web Application for Analytical Visualization of Smart City Applications

Syed Murshed,Ayah Al-Hyari,Jochen Wendel,Louise Ansart

doi:10.3390/ijgi7070276

Abstract

Contemporary development of computer hardware and software, WebGIS and geo-web services as well as the availability of semantic 3D city models, facilitate flexible and dynamic implementation of web applications. The aim of this paper is to introduce 4D CANVAS, a web-based application for dynamic visualization of 3D geospatial data for improved decision making in smart city applications. It is based on the Cesium Virtual Globe, an open-source JavaScript library developed with HTML5 and WebGL. At first, different data formats such as JSON, GeoJSON, Cesium Markup Language (CZML) and 3D Tiles are evaluated for their suitability in 4D visualization applications. Then, an interactive Graphical User Interface (GUI) is built observing the principle of cartographic standards to view, manage, understand and explore different simulation outputs at multiple spatial (3D surface of buildings) and temporal (hourly, daily, monthly) resolutions. In this regard, multiple tools such as aggregation, data classification, etc. are developed utilizing JavaScript libraries. As a proof of concept, two energy simulations and their outputs of different spatial and temporal resolutions are demonstrated in five Asian and European cities. Finally, the 4D CANVAS is deployed both in desktop and multi-touch screens. The proposed application allows easy integration of any other geospatial simulation results, thereby helps the users from different sectors to explore them interactively in 4D.

Highlights

Recent years have seen an immense increase in the appearance of smart city information and communication technologies (ICT) that include the development of software services, sensor systems and data standards
The 4D CANVAS web application was developed based on the open-source Cesium virtual globe
Multiple energy simulation results such as techno-economic PV potential or energy needs of the 3D buildings are dynamically visualized in the context of different Asian and European cities

Summary

Introduction

Recent years have seen an immense increase in the appearance of smart city information and communication technologies (ICT) that include the development of software services, sensor systems and data standards. A large topic in smart city related research lies in the field of energy, environment and sustainability that requires explorative analysis and visualization of multidimensional (2D, 2.5D, 3D and 4D) data. Such applications require granular visualization resolutions and are usually aggregated and illustrated at the building, building surface or building object levels (e.g., points or raster grids). In the case of the modelling of solar energy or PV potential, results could be aggregated at different temporal (hourly, daily, monthly, annual) resolutions This requires a higher granularity of visualization and 4D becomes a necessity [1,2].

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