Authors:
Shaun Bangay
1
;
Adam P. A. Cardilini
2
;
Nyree L. Raabe
3
;
Kelly K. Miller
2
;
Jordan Vincent
4
;
Greg Bowtell
1
;
Daniel Ierodiaconou
5
and
Tanya King
3
Affiliations:
1
School of Information Technology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
;
2
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
;
3
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
;
4
Deakin Research Innovations, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
;
5
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Keyword(s):
Slippy Maps, Virtual Reality, Terrain Modelling, Level-of-Detail, Geospatial Data Visualization.
Abstract:
Map tile servers using the slippy map conventions provide interactive map visualizations for web applications. This investigation describes and evaluates a viewpoint sensitive level-of-detail algorithm that mixes slippy map tiles across zoom levels to generate landscape visualizations for table top VR/AR presentation. Elevation tiles across multiple zoom levels are combined to provide a continuous terrain mesh overlaid with image data sourced from additional tiles. The resulting application robustly deals with delays in loading high resolution tiles, and integrates unobtrusively with the game loop of a VR platform. Analysis of the process questions the assumptions behind slippy map conventions and recommends refinements that are both backward compatible and would further advance use of these map tiles for VR experiences. These refinements include: introducing tiles addressed by resolution, ensuring consistency between tiles at adjacent zoom levels, utilizing zoom values between the c
urrent integer levels and extending tile representations beyond the current raster and vector formats.
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