<title>Hierarchical storage and visualization of real-time 3D data</title>

Abstract

In this paper 'real-time 3D data' refers to volumetric data that are acquired and used as they are produced. Large scale, real-time data are difficult to store and analyze, either visually or by some other means, within the time frames required. Yet this is often quite important to do when decision-makers must receive and quickly act on new information. An example is weather forecasting, where forecasters must act on information received on severe storm development and movement. To meet the real-time requirements crude heuristics are often used to gather information from the original data. This is in spite of the fact that better and better real-time data are becoming available, the full use of which could significantly improve decisions. The work reported here addresses these issues by providing comprehensive data acquisition, analysis, and storage components with time budgets for the data management of each component. These components are put into a global geospatial hierarchical structure. The volumetric data are placed into this global structure, and it is shown how levels of detail can be derived and used within this structure. A volumetric visualization procedure is developed that conforms to the hierarchical structure and uses the levels of detail. These general methods are focused on the specific case of the VGIS global hierarchical structure and rendering system,. The real-time data considered are from collections of time- dependent 3D Doppler radars although the methods described here apply more generally to time-dependent volumetric data. This paper reports on the design and construction of the above hierarchical structures and volumetric visualizations. It also reports result for the specific application of 3D Doppler radar displayed over photo textured terrain height fields. Results are presented results for the specific application of 3D Doppler radar displayed over photo textured terrain height fields. Results are presented for display of time-dependent fields as the user visually navigates and explores the geospatial database.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.