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CITY VISION

It is an extension of DbMAP ASJ and easily allows to create 2D and 3D integrated Geographic Information Systems.

The innovative DbMAP Web 3D introduces an additional point of view in the use of bidimensional GIS data stored in centralised geodatabases and relying on distributed Spatial Data Infrastructures. It takes advantage of all DbMAP ASJ's features, and consequently of an existing Web-GIS application, in order to establish a connection with any geodatabases. DbMAP Web 3D allows users to manage, publish and consult, on the internet and in 3D, the total amount of territorial data that the database may offer. Users basically “fly” over a tridimensional model of land published on the web and they can query on it interactively or select layers for real-time rendering of information. The model can also be enriched with tridimensional buildings created from the bidimensional plan (3D extruded objects), or with pre-built 3D models.

To understand how DbMAP Web 3D works and how its features easily integrate in a Web-GIS application architecture to foster the Spatial Data Infrastructure contained information, a detailed description follows.

DbMAP Web 3D Builder, is the tool needed to generate a 3D dataset, starting from DTM (Digital Terrain Model) files of several formats. In this phase the users can achieve a noticeable realistic representation of tridimensional objects and buildings, starting from the bidimensional plan provided as a georeferred Shapefile including the height value (creation of 3D extruded objects). The new City Vision tool tightly integrates with the DbMAP 3D Builder to use images and orthophotos to texturise the sides of the extruded object. Also pre-existent 3D models created with advanced graphic editing softwares (3D Studio MAX, AutoCAD, etc.) can be used, having perfect reproductions of real buildings, like monuments. The Builder can incorporate the models in the dataset through the Poser tool.

DbMAP Web 3D City Vision is a brand new and innovative application within the DbMAP Web 3D suite. It perfectly integrates with the other components and allows to re-use all the bidimensional territorial data, either stored into an existing centralised geodatabase or available on a Spatial Data Infrastructure, to generate most of the textures needed to either represent an extremely realistic urban area, or the portion of a territory. DbMAP Web 3D Vision can manage orthophotos and Shapefile images (or even any Bitmaps or not-georeferred JPGs - digital pictures, 360° and perspective photos, etc.), which contain information about the height of the buildings and of the objects located on the portion of the land to show. The tool allows any developers to attach realistic textures to the facades of extruded buildings created by the Builder.

DbMAP Web 3D Poser, works strictly together with Vision to insert, pose and scale libraries of 3D models (monuments, bridges, projects, symbols, etc.) previously created with any type of 3D graphic editing tools (for example, 3D Studio MAX®); they are then converted into a file format compatible with Shockwave®, in a 3D dataset. Poser offers both a bidimensional and a tridimensional preview of the territory in order to ease the visual positioning of models.

DbMAP Web 3D Runtime Server, server component that interface with DbMAP ASJ Runtime Server, so with every geodatabase, and with 3D dataset created with Builder of DbMAP 3D, to provide functionality and data displayed in three dimensions using DbMAP Web 3D Flyer;

DbMAP Web 3D Flyer, the thin-client component to be added to a web page, works out in real time data from DbMAP Web 3D RuntimeServer, that in turn interface with DbMAP ASJ and dataset (terrain model, extruded objects, monuments and facade image);

picture 1:main architecture of a Web-GIS solution integrating 2D & 3D based on DbMAP ASJ and DbMAP Web 3D.

Picture 1 illustrates how DbMAP Web 3D integrates with the architecture of DbMAP ASJ, maintaining interoperability among data and applications. Here follows a brief description of DbMAP ASJ models:

DbMAP Developer Kit, SDK providing a multi-platform solution for the development of GIS applications interacting with a centralised geographic database accessible via web and taking advantage of the usual development environments already used for building applications. OCX, ActiveX and Java components and Java applets are available.

DbMAP ASJ Runtime Server, an extremely powerful server component offering Map and Image Server services (multi-source data), which allows the direct access to the GIS data sources to publish, whichever database they are contained in and whatever format the raster and vectorial files (ECW, TIFF and DWG) are.

DbMAP Viewer & Author, connect to the DbMAP server component via http (internet or intranet), allowing the maximum control on data, on the selection of the informative layers, on the services, on the web pages layout and on the editing of the geometries. It takes advantage of the existing spatial engine and ensures the interaction with the functionalities offered by the relational database used.

DbMAP Data Manager, connects with the existing centralised database to import and export Shape files, and to create and import background images in shape format.

DbMAP Web 3D Extension Kit is provided with a user licence per number of developers. Includes DbMAP 3D Builder S100 Version user licence and DbMAP Web 3D Runtime Server S100 user licence only for application development, test and demonstration. DbMAP Developer Kit not included.

DbMAP Web 3D Flyer is provided with free user licence specific for unlimited creation and distribution (Royalty Free) of the client applications produced. Those who have created the client applications produced and distributed on the web server must have their own DbMAP Web 3D Runtime Server user licence, supplied by the authorised developers themselves.

DbMAP Web 3D Runtime Server is provided with user licence per number of configurations of the web server on which it is installed and according to the area of territory to deal with (dimension of the 3D dataset). In both cases there will not be any direct dependences on the number of applications managed on the web server.

DbMAP 3D Builder is provided with user licence per number of workstations (number of users) and according to the area of territory to deal with (dimension of the 3D dataset).