:: Publication Detail

* development of opportunities for ‘natural’ experience of virtual environments

Technology has provided many opportunities for visualisation of spatial data. In presentation of such visual representations to local people, however, a number of procedural and ethical questions emerge. The paper does not attempt to answer these questions but presents Sheppard’s proposal for an interim code of ethics (Sheppard, 2001). Other questions explored under this heading are:
§ what changes in the planning process may emerge as a result of advanced visualisation techniques?
§ what are the realism requirements under different circumstances and for different audiences?
§ how does visual simulation fit into multi-criteria decision making?

It has been suggested that effective virtual environments need to be: illustrative, immersive, interactive, intuitive and intensive. At the University of Melbourne we are pursuing research projects in support of effective visualisation for planning support. These include:
* techniques for automatic generation of illustrative 3D models from GIS data
* interactive and intuitive linkage between GIS and other data representations
* extension of GIS and visualisation into an immersive virtual environment and
* natural interaction within an intensive virtual environment to create a sense of presence.

Automatic generation of 3D models depends upon prior decisions about levels of detail and levels of precision in the output model. These decisions depend on the intended application. GIS data may not be sufficiently precise to properly locate every tree or even every building. The GIS will almost certainly not provide the correct texture for each building façade, or the 3D form of light poles or traffic lights. Some generalization and use of generic shapes and textures is necessary. If real-time exploration of the 3D environment is required then the number of polygons included in the model must be limited.

In any multi-criteria situation, other representations of the underlying data are also necessary. People from different disciplinary backgrounds or with different personal objectives may need information provided as tables, charts or diagrams as well as maps and 3D views. Our prototype application, called REX (Representation EXchange), demonstrates translations between four different representations: Map, Spreadsheet, Chart, and Picture. We start with map/table representation in the form of an ArcView shape file, and reflect these two representations into chart and 3D picture representations. Manipulation can be done either through the spreadsheet, chart or picture windows and changes will be reflected onto other representations.

At Melbourne, our immersion facility currently use three low end SGI O2 computers but we are also building a portable VR kit using, more powerful, PCs with fast graphics cards (e.g. Gforce 3). This approach also has the advantage of being scalable to as many computers and projectors as required. The key to successful low cost VR lies in the process of synchronisation. Our PA (object Animation with Performer) software links the 3 rendering computers. The three separate machines are controlled by a server program that is executed somewhere on the local area network. The client and server programs communicate by sending TCP/IP messages over the local network. ‘Natural’ interactivity is provided through PA by the use of a model file which specifies not only what geometry is in the scene but also the objects which can be moved, the paths on which they may move and the triggers that activate that movement. Each non-static object (called a TARGET) can have a number of states. Particular actions by the person(s) in the virtual environment can cause a target to change state and hence its behaviour. The triggering actions are performed on the action object, or some other object, and that object is called a TRIGGER.

Further software development involves alternative procedures for community input. These include input via the GIS through a ‘sketch’ mechanism (Hopkins et al, 2001), input via the 3D model, and collective input via hand-held wireless network devices such as pocketPCs. This last option will also include the need to:

§ implement on-screen questions which elicit preferences and values, the pocketPCs will also allow personal review of maps and data to support decision-making
§ devise strategies for blending multiple inputs to reflect consensus (or otherwise): this will include simple questions about acceptance or rejection of particular outcomes, or preferences for outcomes, or assessments of relative importance of criteria, the systems will be set to either accept majority rule or seek consensus through iterative procedures.

Local planning may then include interactive workshops in the local hall with people quite unfamiliar with GIS or VE technology. The processes should be sufficiently natural that users become unconcerned with the novelty of the process and will be able to make serious use of visualisation in support of community based planning.

REFERENCES

Hopkins, L.D., Ramanathan, R. and George, R.V. (2001) Interface for a planning workbench. Proceedings Computers in Urban Planning and Urban Management, Honolulu,HI.
(www.durp.hawaii.edu:591/CUPUM_Abstracts/First_Drafts/A_124.pdf)
Kwartler, M. and Bernard, R. N. (2001). CommunityViz: an integrated planning support system. Planning Support Systems: integrating geographic information systems and visualisation tools. R. K. Brail and R. E. Klosterman. Redlands, CA, ESRI Press: 285-308.
Lange, E. and Bishop, I. D. (2001) Our visual landscape: analysis, modeling, visualisation and protection. Special issues of Landscape and Urban Planning 54(1-4).
Liggett, R. and Jepson, W. (1995) An intergated environment for urban simulation. Environment and Planning B 22: 291-305.
Sheppard, S. R. J. (2001) Guidance for crystal ball gazers: developing a code of ethics for landscape visualisation. Landscape and Urban Planning 54: 183-200.

MOBILE, HAND-HELD, WIRELESS APPLICATIONS OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR CAPTURING FIELD DATA ABOUT THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND ITS NATURAL RESOURCES

James Hogg
School of Geography, University of Leeds
Leeds, LS2 9JT, England

ABSTRACT

The power of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for inventory, spatial analysis and monitoring of the biophysical environment and its natural resources depends on its functionality and data. Given the spectacular breadth of functionality in modern GIS, power is chiefly determined by the availability of data. As the adoption of GIS increases and spreads into different economic sectors, demand for environmental data will inevitably increase. Much of the current demand is being met by the flood of spatial data that has become available in recent years - topographic and thematic maps, satellite remote sensing images, orthophotographs, digital elevation models and the wealth of socio-economic data. In addition to spatial data however there is a need for capturing environmental data by measurement on the ground. In many cases, it is the paucity of ground data that is limiting the power of GIS for environmental research.

Scientists need to observe conditions on the ground, to measure selected environmental variables and to collect samples for analysis in laboratories. They need to view and capture the essence of variability that is typically found in the biophysical environment by measuring variables and deriving statistics. As the value of a GIS depends critically on having high-quality data for solving particular problems, scientists must focus on measuring variables that are germane to the problem being investigated. Although field data capture is labour intensive, time consuming and costly, some ground observations and measurements of biophysical variables are necessary for research, monitoring, ground truth and other purposes. Typically, the goal is to manage the balance between quality, speed and costs of field data capture. In this respect, hand-held, portable, wireless devices with the benefit of field programmability offer significant opportunities for improving management, collection and processing of field data.

Technological developments in surveying, mapping, remote sensing, GIS, the Internet and communications result from continual advances in electronics and computing. The pace of change continues to be swift. In the field of GIS, the traditional view of a scientist working on a stand-alone GIS is changing. New paradigms envisage access to GIS and other applications from anywhere and at any time. Such paradigms assume global communication and seamless connectivity between servers, desktops and portable hand-held wireless programmable devices. Smart telephones, palm computers, personal data assistants and programmable hybrid systems will not only change the way we live and work but will improve methods of managing and capturing data on the ground. Customised programmable systems already facilitate automatic and manual field data capture of environmental data, global communications between field sites and the rest of world and between workers in the field. Real-time management of personnel, field operations and field workers equipped with commodity programmable devices is likely to change the quality, speed and costs of ground data capture.

This paper describes a customised Pocket GIS for capturing data on the ground about the biophysical environment and its natural resources. It outlines the design and structure of the Pocket GIS, its key characteristics and applications for capturing, analysing and storing data. It also outlines methods of communication and transfer of data to and from workers, and from one worker to another, in the field.

The remainder of this paper has in five parts. The first reviews the continuing need for collecting data on the ground about the biophysical environment and its natural resources to supplement map, remote sensing and other sources of spatial data. The second part describes an approach using software component libraries to create a custom Pocket GIS on a programmable device running Windows CE. The third part reports results from using the prototype Pocket GIS in terms of its functionality, adaptability, extensibility, processing capabilities and benefits and shortcomings for capturing field observations, measurements and samples and ground truth of remote sensing images. The fourth part assesses results while the fifth draws conclusions from creating the prototype mobile, hand-held, wireless Pocket GIS in Windows CE and using it to capture and process data in the field.

A WEB-BASED QUERY TOOL FOR GRAM++

Amit Kotwal, B.K.Mohan and P.Venkatachalam
Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Powai, Mumbai – 400 076, India.

ABSTRACT

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are actively deployed on the World Wide Web, thanks to the developments in Internet technology. Prominent among them are MapObjects Internet Server, ArcView Internet Map Server, GeoMedia WebMap and MapXtreme. This paper describes a web-based query tool built around the GRAM++ GIS.
GRAM++ is a Geographic Information System developed at CSRE, IIT Bombay to run under various flavors of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The package supports data preparation tools such as import/export and editing scanned maps, data analysis tools such as attribute query, raster analysis, map algebra, watershed delineation, spatial statistics and visualization tools for vector and raster maps.
Among the tools built around GRAM++ is a web-based query tool to help view, query and render (in 2D/3D) various data sets using standard web browsers. This tool runs on the Windows NT/2000 platforms and requires IIS/PWS/Apache for serving the client requests. The structure of this tool is a set of components based on the GRAM++ GIS :

1. Map Engine
2. Scripts
3. Web Server

Each of these components is described below:

1. Map Engine
The Map Engine processes spatial data and queries. It accepts a query from the Scripts component or the web server, prepares a map accordingly and returns it to the web server. This map can be either an image (JPEG or PNG) or a vector graphics metafile which is rendered by the client browser. The Map Engine is implemented by the following COM objects:

1.1. WebControl
This is the main coordinating component. It keeps track of the map layers and the renderers associated with each layer. The final image is also rendered and stored by the WebControl component.

1.2. Renderers
A Renderer component, implementing the IRenderer interface, actually draws a single layer of the map in memory. Different components derived from this interface perform different drawing functions in response to user actions, as described below.

1.2.1. SimpleRenderer - Only draws the map
1.2.2. SelectionRenderer - Highlights selected elements
1.2.3. QueryRenderer - Highlights elements satisfying an SQL query
1.2.4. ClassRenderer - Renders elements based on the value of a field in their
table

1.3. CoordinateMapper
This component converts coordinates from the coordinate space of the map to the screen and vice versa. It also handles zooming and panning as part of the coordinate conversion.

2. Scripts
Scripts run in the Web Server and are interleaved with HTML. They control the Map Engine components and generate the final HTML output sent to the client browser. Scripts can also be used to pre-process queries or run nonspatial queries independent of the Map Engine.
Scripts are application-specific. They tie the various Map Engine components together and represent the application logic.

3. Web Server
The Web Server can be any web-server which supports server-side scripts. As the Scripts component uses ASP (Active Server Pages), ASP support is required. Some web-servers which support ASP are Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Server), Microsoft PWS (Personal Web Server) and Apache (using the Apache::ASP module or Chili!Soft ASP).

The web-based query tool for GRAM++ is a generic tool for querying maps over the web. The Map Engine components are customizable through ASP scripts for specific applications.

MULTIMEDIA BASED GIS TUTOR AROUND GRAM++

J.K.Suri, P.Venkatachalam, and B.Krishna Mohan
Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Bombay- 400076, INDIA

ABSTRACT

Most of the data used for resources planning and management are spatial in nature. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) today is one of the major decision making tools in the areas of resources planning and management. Integration of high resolution satellites remote sensing technology with Geographic Information Systems has widened the potential of both these technologies. Transfer of this technology from academic and research community to hard core planners is a major and complex task. Understanding the immense demand for remote sensing specialists and GIS professionals, many universities have introduced graduate level and doctoral level degree programmes in Remote Sensing and GIS. In additional to the conventional class room based education and training, there is a good demand for the demonstration kits and self-learning tutors. These tools can provide an effective way for putting across the spatial concepts, intrinsic analytical capabilities and a range of applications.

Public investment in GIS research such as the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) in USA and Regional Remote Sensing Laboratories in U.K. has helped to generate skilled manpower to handle GIS technology globally. The efforts of NCGIA are worth noting, as it is one of the few organizations that have attempted to establish and promote GIS education with core curriculum materials. Additionally, NCGIA is facilitating the development of the Secondary Education Project; a curriculum designed to develop and pool instructional materials and disseminate them through teacher workshops. Similar efforts have been undertaken by the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science to create a standardized GIS curriculum. Several technical books and self learning demonstration kits built around commercial packages are available to strengthen GIS education. This paper discusses about an attempt made by CSRE, IIT Bombay to build a multimedia based tutor for GIS training.

A number of GIS tutors working standalone or built around commercial GIS packages are available internationally. One of the early GIS tutors was ARCDEMO developed at Birkbeck College, London, U.K. This demonstrator worked around Arc/Info GIS package and illustrated the capabilities of map editing, projection changes, map overlay, buffering and network analysis. Map Analysis Package MAP was one of the earliest simple GIS tools demonstrating the raster based techniques in GIS. Many enhanced versions of MAP were released subsequently. IDRISI developed at Clark University, USA provided simple techniques to handle raster maps along with tutorials. IDRISI became one of the best training tools internationally for raster based GIS with recent upgrades to Windows platform. With the availability of PC based GIS packages in the Nineties, vendors started releasing self-learning demonstrators around commercial GIS products. The first comprehensive computer aided learning tool for GIS was created in the Department of Geography, Birkbeck College, London, U.K. and was named GISTutor. Geocube 1.5 is one of the well-developed GIS tutors in France at SIAGE SABM and Ted-Aliter in 1996. It provides an interactive introduction to GIS and gives a clear understanding of GIS technology. Geocal is a Windows based GIS tutor developed at Centre for Geography, Geology and Meteorology, Dept. of Geography at the University of Leicester, U.K. It is a good tutor for the beginners in the field of GIS.

Keeping into view the need for GIS training in India and the availability of indigenous GIS tool GRAM++, an attempt has been made to build a GIS training tool around GRAM++. Under the Natural Resources Data Management System project (NRDMS) launched by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, an indigenous GIS package GRAM++ (Georeferenced Area Management) has been developed to handle spatial and attribute data relating to resources management. GRAM++ works in Windows platform. Object oriented methodology has been adopted during the software design and visual programming tools are used for easier usage. GRAM++ package has the functionalities for data import/export, on screen digitization, topology creation, nonspatial data attachment, rasterization, vector query, raster analysis, terrain modelling, watershed mapping, network analysis, digital remote sensing data analysis and cartographic layout.

The GIS tutor has been designed taking into view the requirement of wide range of users. The system has been made fully interactive and the users can proceed step by step. GIS theory is explained through a series of technical topics. Under each technical topic, text materials are explained and supported by graphical illustrations, quiz and hands on exercises. Context sensitive help has been provided on technical words for understanding further details. A few GIS applications are given as show cases explaining the data used, methodology and the results. In addition to spatial theory, a few GIS functions such as network analysis, data base query etc. are explained through graphical animations. Macromedia Authorware 5.0 Attain has been used in the development of the training tool as it supports hyperlinks between topics, display of graphical images and text and embeds animations. The spatial data theory is categorized under 17 broad sections and each section has a series of subsections. At every level graphical illustrations and examples are given to enhance the presentation and understanding. The broad sections are introduction, representation of world in GIS, attributes of spatial data, spatial data model, data input, conversion, edit, viewing and tabular analysis, spatial analysis, terrain modeling, spatial statistics, network analysis , remote sensing, visualization, GPS, data quality and SDSS. Following the technical sections case studies on waters resources management, rural land management and spatio-temporal analysis are given as show cases. The tutor also covers a list of GIS journals, books, magazines and www GIS resources and a glossary on GIS terminology. Uniqueness of this tutor is that it provides interactive exercises around in-house developed vector and raster GIS, GRAM++. This development is funded by the UNDP project 'GIS Based Technologies for Local Level Development Planning' and Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

INITIATIVES OF NRDMS IN TRAINING FOR END-USER AWARENESS AND
NATIONAL LEVEL CAPACITY BUILDING

M. Prithviraj
NRDMS Division
Department of Science and Technology
New Delhi – 110 016, INDIA

ABSTRACT

Training is an important component while introducing a technology to be imbibed by a large user community on a wider scale. This becomes more pertinent while the attempt is to take a high-end technology that has its roots elsewhere, is to be implemented amongst a community totally unaware of the technology and have inhibitions and apprehensions about their capability to effectively use it. To overcome these doubts and win their confidence to accept and sustain the technology, there is a need for exposing them to the technology through sensitization workshops and demonstrative models specially designed for different categories of the user community. This scenario holds good even while the GIS technology, which is essentially computer based, is to be taken to the decision making community at the District and Sub-District level in India, which has not been exposed to the computer world. Nevertheless, to foster cooperation among the agencies and organizations involved, and to ensure that all parts of our community have an opportunity to take part in this revolution there is a need to promote awareness and encourage public participation at all levels of the user community. As we deal with a wide spectrum of user community the training needs also have to be different for different levels of users.

This paper briefly describes the initiatives taken by the NRDMS in different areas of capacity building through organization of specific training programmes and end user workshops and also dwells upon the training requirements in the coming years for sustainable implementation of the program.

Technology Adoption Trainings: Under the NRDMS programme, efforts are made to constantly upgrade the methods and applicability of GIS through R&D initiatives. In the last couple of years special emphasis was given to train selected researchers to upgrade their skills and knowledge in the relevant fields of their activity through specially designed training programmes at the leading institutions in different parts of the world. Scientists were deputed for training in the areas of – Database design, Spatial Querying, SDSS Development, Software development, Data generation using satellite technologies and in Modelling. Several group trainings / workshops were organized both with in India and abroad to specifically train the District NRDMS center personnel in data handling capabilities and in the use of GIS for application development.

Sensitisation Workshops: Regional level Sensitisation workshops were organized for Southern and Eastern Regions of the Country to apprise the Bureaucrats and other decision making authorities about the technology and its capabilities in local level decision making, to seek their co-operation for ensuring the successful implementation of the programme. Based on the overwhelming response, it is now being planned to hold State level workshops to intensify the interaction between the administrators and the technology providers.

Training on Use of Advanced Technology : At least 6 trainings of around 10 weeks duration were organized by the division in leading national institutions like Survey Training Institution & IIT for imparting training on – Digital cartography, Global Positioning System, SAR Interferometry and in the Concepts and Application potential of GIS. Nearly, 100 persons drawn from District GIS centres, active R&D teams and from leading institutions were trained in these trainings.

Training workshops by UNDP Consultants: During the course of execution of the UNDP project, several consultants were invited to India from some of the leading institutions spread over the world to interact with specific research groups to render guidance and advice. During their visit the consultants organized short duration training workshops to the NRDMS project personnel in the areas of – Database design, Ground & Surface water data organization and in Data Integration.

GRAM++ Training: GRAM++ is the software that has been developed by CSRE, IIT – B under the support of NRDMS. In order to ensure the usage of this software in implementing the programme at the district, a need was felt to impart training to the district staff of NRDMS and also selected users drawn from the line departments for adoption and use in their districts. Four trainings of 2 weeks duration were organized and the software was distributed to the users for receiving feedback on its utility. Around 10 to 12 candidates were trained in every training.

Future Training Requirements: In several locations, the project is nearing the end of demonstrative phase and entering into operational phase with the handing-over of the system to the respective State Governments for further support and sustainance. At this stage, the state governments have put up requests for training their staff drawn from the identified department on the concepts of GIS, use of GRAM++ software and in Database creation and maintenance. In order to cater to such needs and impart standardization, in all the NRDMS locations, the division is proposing to upgrade its training component. A proposal is also being contemplated by the NRDMS to establish a virtual center viz., Centre for Geographic Information and Analysis, with the involvement of several premier R&D institutions like IIT- Bombay, CEERI - Pilani; University of Poona, Pune; IIT-Delhi, NATMO Calcutta and Survey Training Institute Hyderabad. The main functions of this center is to impart training to different levels of users on the latest developments in methods and use of Models, Decision support systems etc. and pursue research in forefront areas related to Geographic Information Science and applications.