Augmenting aerial earth maps with dynamic information from videos

We introduce methods for augmenting aerial visualizations of Earth (from tools such as Google Earth or Microsoft Virtual Earth) with dynamic information obtained from videos. Our goal is to make Augmented Earth Maps that visualize plausible live views of dynamic scenes in a city. We propose different approaches to analyze videos of pedestrians and cars in real situations, under differing conditions to extract dynamic information. Then, we augment an Aerial Earth Maps (AEMs) with the extracted live and dynamic content. We also analyze natural phenomenon (skies, clouds) and project information from these to the AEMs to add to the visual reality. Our primary contributions are: (1) Analyzing videos with different viewpoints, coverage, and overlaps to extract relevant information about view geometry and movements, with limited user input. (2) Projecting this information appropriately to the viewpoint of the AEMs and modeling the dynamics in the scene from observations to allow inference (in case of missing data) and synthesis. We demonstrate this over a variety of camera configurations and conditions. (3) The modeled information from videos is registered to the AEMs to render appropriate movements and related dynamics. We demonstrate this with traffic flow, people movements, and cloud motions. All of these approaches are brought together as a prototype system for a real-time visualization of a city that is alive and engaging.     

基于Google Earth的增值服务研究

介绍基于Google Earth应用系统开发的基础知识和模式,分析了Google Earth增值业务架构,提出了基于J2EE的KMLServer增值服务器框架,并给出了一个KML Server应用范例。     

GGEarth:一种网络型空间数据应用服务系统设计与实现

本文提出并设计了GGEarth空间数据应用服务系统架构体系,给出了研究内容和关键实现技术;用以实现以原生GML空间数据库(以及GML文档、KML文档)为标准数据中心,以基于Google Earth内核之客户端为前端的的集数据显示、查询、更新、分析为一体的空间数据应用服务体系;以应用于数字城市、数字旅游及传统网络GIS应用领域。     

Google Earth在森林植被营养元素循环研究中的应用

森林植被营养元素循环是森林生态系统分析中的重要参数.将Google Earth应用在其研究过程中具有重要作用.阐述了Google Earth的主要原理和关键技术,重点分析了KML和Google EarthAPI;设计了Google Earth应用的数据处理流程和系统架构;最后实现了基于Google Earth的贵州龙里森林植被营养元素循环研究系统.     

Geographic Data Capturing Technique based on Google Maps API V3

Traditional remote sensing mapping methods,which need professionals to take long time and utilize specialized software to carefully cope with a lot of local and isolated remote sensing images to get their desired information,have serious limitations.This paper presents an interactive geographic data acquisition and mapping solution,which all based on Googles global high-resolution remote sensing image and Google Maps API V3.The solution is built into an application of B/S structure.It utilizes the Google Maps API listeners to pick the latitude and longitude coordinates of the special points in landmarks’ outlines and to progressively construct their graphics with customized geographic models.It also uses Ajax technology to accomplish the data communication between browser and server, and adopts Microsoft XMLDOM methods to store and process the data in KML files.The visualization of selecting and editing KML data is performed with the help of KML layer mouse event’s properties and a temporary KML layer.The technology application has a friendly user interface and can be used to produce the large-scale street map quickly.     

一个基于 Google Earth 的交互式空间体数据可视化系统

三维空间体数据的可视化既需要同时展示数据多个属性的特征,又需要结合数据周边复杂地理地貌的特征。体绘制是当前最有效的三维数据可视化方法之一,但现有的体绘制方法尚没有考虑到数据场周围复杂的地理地貌特征。本文提出了一种基于 Google Earth (简称 GE) 地理信息的空间数据体绘制可视化方法,其基本思想是首先由三维纹理算法出发,对数据做沿高度法向的切片,多层渲染后组合为最终的体绘制效果,然后将渲染结果转换为 GE 支持的 KML 数据格式,充分利用 GE 中的复杂地形和三维建筑群模型信息,最后加入体感控制和 WEB 呈现功能。这为三维空间数据的可视化提供了一种全新的思路,取得了更好的可视化效果。最后利用数值模拟的大气雾霾数据论证了技术的可行性。     

Virtual Globe visualization of ash-aviation encounters, with the special case of the 1989 Redoubt-KLM incident

The impact of natural hazards on the local environment causes major issues for those agencies responsible for warning and understanding of the risks. Analysis of past events can assist and improve future warning capabilities. Here, volcanic ash-aviation encounters are the focus, with an improved visualization allowing observers a prospective view of a high impact event in four dimensions, never before possible without high-performance computing. Volcanic ash is one of the major hazards from volcanic eruptions; with impacts include aircraft engine failure, building collapses, airport closures and associated health impacts. Across the North Pacific since 1970, there have been over 200 separate volcanic ash clouds that have reached aviation routes at 6 km above sea level or higher. Dispersion models are used to forecast the movement of ash clouds from impending and current volcanic events. Virtual Globes, with their three- and even four-dimensionality, provide the perfect tools to display these model predictions in their true form. Here, the Puff dispersion model is shown in four dimensions, in space and time. There have been many ash-aviation encounters worldwide, 8 with engine failures that are considered high severity encounters but fortunately so far, no crashes. Here, the encounter from Redoubt Volcano during the 1989-1990 eruptive period is shown, known as the Redoubt-KLM incident. This new visualization allows an improved understanding of the event, allowing the observer to interact with the encounter at a spatio-temporal scale never before possible. Through the volcanic ash-aviation event here, the next step in displaying multiple geophysical datasets in one seamless environment is possible. For volcanic activity, seismic, infrasound, lightning, dispersion modeling, and remote sensing datasets can be easily displayed with the additional ability of viewing all of them together in four dimensions.     

融合Google Earth的船舶监控与应急系统的设计

Google Earth的高分辨率卫星地图资源、三维虚拟环境和人机界面,可以为船舶监控与应急系统提供丰富的地理信息资源。在Google Earth的KML技术及其COMAPI的研究和扩展开发的基础上,对海洋船舶的位置监控、信息融合和救援服务地理信息系统进行分层设计,整体提升船舶信息管理水平。该系统应用在浙江省的渔政应急救援系统项目中,收到良好效果。     

Google Earth as a virtual globe tool for Earth science applications at the global scale: progress and perspectives

Research on global environmental change requires new data processing and analysis tools that can integrate heterogeneous geospatial data from real-time in situ measurement, remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GISs) at the global scale. The rapid growth of virtual globes for global geospatial information management and display holds promise to meet such a requirement. Virtual globes, Google Earth in particular, enable scientists around the world to communicate their data and research findings in an intuitive three-dimensional (3D) global perspective. Different from traditional GIS, virtual globes are low cost and easy to use in data collection, exploration and visualization. Since 2005, a considerable number of papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings from a variety of disciplines. In this review, we examine the development and applications of Google Earth and highlight its merits and limitations for Earth science studies at the global scale. Most limitations are not unique to Google Earth, but to all virtual globe products. Several recent efforts to increase the functionalities in virtual globes for studies at the global scale are introduced. The power of virtual globes in their current generations is mostly restricted to functions as a ‘geobrowser’; a better virtual globe tool for Earth science and global environmental change studies is described.     

基于GE和SU模型的动态侦察环境模拟方法

在传统无人侦察机模拟训练方法中,视景仿真环境逼真度不足,三维地形容易忽视动态目标.为此,提出一种基于谷歌地球(GE)和SketchUp(SU)模型的动态侦察环境模拟方法.通过GE场景建立三维仿真环境,利用SU制作三维模型,采用三次B样条插值方法对路径进行平滑处理,计算模型的姿态角,使用Keyhole标记语言和GE COM API,完成飞行视景仿真.实验结果表明,该方法能生成逼真的动态三维场景,减少建模工作和开发周期.     

基于GML／KML的空间数据库研究

空间数据库是当前GIS技术的一个热点,GML已经成为空间数据编码、传输、存储、发布的国际标准,而KML也已经成为一个OGC标准。以GML／KML为基础构架空间数据库,解决了传统GIS空间数据库存在的诸多问题。通过比较空间数据库管理模式,分析采用GML／KML技术建立空间数据库的优点,着重探讨GML／KML技术构建空间数据库的框架。最后通过“数字九寨沟”实例进行验证,得出结论GML和KML是进行空间数据库设计的理想技术。     

SINBAD automation of scientific discovery: From factor analysis to theory synthesis

Modern science is turning to progressively more complex and data-rich subjects, which challenges the existing methods of data analysis and interpretation. Consequently, there is a pressing need for development of ever more powerful methods of extracting order from complex data and for automation of all steps of the scientific process. Virtual Scientist is a set of computational procedures that automate the method of inductive inference to derive a theory from observational data dominated by nonlinear regularities. The procedures utilize SINBAD – a novel computational method of nonlinear factor analysis that is based on the principle of maximization of mutual information among non-overlapping sources, yielding higher-order features of the data that reveal hidden causal factors controlling the observed phenomena. The procedures build a theory of the studied subject by finding inferentially useful hidden factors, learning interdependencies among its variables, reconstructing its functional organization, and describing it by a concise graph of inferential relations among its variables. The graph is a quantitative model of the studied subject, capable of performing elaborate deductive inferences and explaining behaviors of the observed variables by behaviors of other such variables and discovered hidden factors. The set of Virtual Scientist procedures is a powerful analytical and theory-building tool designed to be used in research of complex scientific problems characterized by multivariate and nonlinear relations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大学体育场馆科学化管理思考

采用文献资料法、访谈法等研究方法,对大学体育场馆的利用与管理问题研究发现,目前大学体育场馆发展存在场馆数量不 充足、运动项目不足,场馆开放不够或过高,也存在资金短缺、缺乏有效维护机制等问题,尤其大众体育、素质教育和全民体育等要 求高等教育体系改革,以及节约与可持续发展理念都对大学体育场馆提出了新要求。因此,大学体育场馆科学化管理,应做好大学 体育场馆服务定位,建立健全大学体育场馆管理机制,选择合适的运营模式,实现大学体育场馆可持续化发展。     

A comparative study on radiometric normalization using high resolution satellite images

Remotely sensed multitemporal, multisensor data are often required in Earth observation applications. A common problem associated with the use of multisource image data is the grey value differences caused by non‐surface factors such as different illumination, atmospheric, or sensor conditions. Such differences make it difficult to compare images using the same colour metric system. Image normalization is required to reduce the radiometric influences caused by non‐surface factors and to ensure that the grey value differences between temporal images reflect actual changes on the surface of the Earth.A variety of image normalization methods, such as pseudoinvariant features (PIF), dark and bright set (DB), simple regression (SR), no‐change set determined from scattergrams (NC), and histogram matching (HM), have been published in scientific journals. These methods have been tested with either Landsat TM data, MSS data or both, and test results differ from author to author. However, whether or not existing methods could be adopted for normalizing high resolution multispectral satellite images, such as IKONOS and QuickBird, is still open for discussion because of the dramatic change in spatial resolution and the difference of available multispectral bands. In this research, the existing methods are introduced and employed to normalize the radiometric difference between IKONOS and QuickBird multispectral images taken in different years. Some improvements are introduced to the existing methods to overcome problems caused by band difference and to achieve more stable and better results. The normalized results are compared in terms of visual inspection and statistical analysis. This paper examined whether or not existing methods can be directly adopted for image normalization with high resolution satellite images, and showed how these methods can be modified for use with such images.     

An information integration framework for e-commerce

One of the main challenges for e-commerce infrastructure designers is to retrieve data from different sources and create a unified view that overcomes contradictions and redundancies. Virtual catalogs, such as the Momis project, can help synthesize data and present it in a unified manner to the customer.     

Toward self-describing and workflow integrated Earth system models: A coupled atmosphere-ocean modeling system application

The complexity of Earth system models and their applications is increasing as a consequence of scientific advances, user demand, and the ongoing development of computing platforms, storage systems and distributed high-resolution observation networks. Multi-component Earth system models need to be redesigned to make interactions among model components and other applications external to the modeling system easier. To that end, the common component interfaces of Earth system models can be redesigned to increase interoperability between models and other applications such as various web services, data portals and science gateways. The models can be made self-describing so that the many configuration, build options and inputs of a simulation can be recorded. In this paper, we present a coupled modeling system that includes the proposed methodology to create self-describing models with common model component interfaces. The designed coupled atmosphere-ocean modeling system is also integrated into a scientific workflow system to simplify routine modeling tasks and relationships between these tasks and to demonstrate the enhanced interoperability between different technologies and components. Later on, the work environment is tested using a realistic Earth system modeling application. As can be seen through this example, a layered design for collecting provenance and metadata has the added benefit of documenting a run in far greater detail than before. In this way, it facilitates exploration and understanding of simulations and leads to possible reproducibility. In addition to designing self-describing Earth system models, the regular modeling tasks are also simplified and automated by using a scientific workflow which provides meaningful abstractions for the model, computing environment and provenance/metadata collection mechanisms. Our aim here is to solve a specific instance of a complex model integration problem by using a framework and scientific workflow approach together. The reader may also note that the methods presented in this paper might be also generalized to other types of Earth system models, leading to improved ease of use and flexibility. The initial results also show that the coupled atmosphere-ocean model, which is controlled by the designed workflow environment, is able to reproduce the Mediterranean Sea surface temperature when it is compared with the used CCSM3 initial and boundary conditions.     

Consistent Viewing and Interaction for Multiple Users in Projection-Based VR Systems

In projection-based Virtual Reality (VR) systems, typically only one headtracked user views stereo images rendered from the correct view position. For other users, who are presented a distorted image, moving with the first user's head motion, it is difficult to correctly view and interact with 3D objects in the virtual environment. In close-range VR systems, such as the Virtual Workbench, distortion effects are especially large because objects are within close range and users are relatively far apart. On these systems, multi-user collaboration proves to be difficult. In this paper, we analyze the problem and describe a novel, easy to implement method to prevent and reduce image distortion and its negative effects on close-range interaction task performance. First, our method combines a shared camera model and view distortion compensation. It minimizes the overall distortion for each user, while important user-personal objects such as interaction cursors, rays and controls remain distortion-free. Second, our method retains co-location for interaction techniques to make interaction more consistent. We performed a user experiment on our Virtual Workbench to analyze user performance under distorted view conditions with and without the use of our method. Our findings demonstrate the negative impact of view distortion on task performance and the positive effect our method introduces. This indicates that our method can enhance the multi-user collaboration experience on close-range, projection-based VR systems.