Development of a Web-Based 3D Virtual Reality Navigation System

Abstract

Abstract This study develops 3D virtual reality technology which can be used to create a 3D navigation system of the Mackay Campus for environmental education and a digital cultural 3D navigation system for local historical sites in the Tamsui area. It is hoped that providing spatial information will help tourists navigate around historical sites. The integrated virtual reality technologies Auto CAD, Sketch Up, and SpaceEyes 3D software were used to construct the virtual reality and recreate historical sites located at Aletheia University, such as the House of Reverends, House of Maidens, MacKay's Residence and Missionary House. This novel technology is used to digitize the historical sites to enrich tourism navigation and environmental education. The platform established can indeed achieve the desired function of providing tourism information and historical site navigation. The interactive multimedia style and the presentation of the information allow users to obtain a direct information response. In addition to showing the external appearances of buildings, the navigation platform can also allow users to enter the buildings to view lifelike scenes and textual information related to the historical sites. The historical sites are designed according to their actual size, for a more realistic feeling. In terms of the navigation route, the navigation system does not force users along a fixed route, but instead allows them to freely control the path they would like to take.