GeospatialVR: A Web-based Virtual Reality Framework for Collaborative Environmental Simulations

Abstract:

Huge amounts of spatial data are being generated at an increasingly accelerating rate due to the advancements in remote sensing and availability of internet-enabled sensors. The complexity and variance of available parameters present challenges for informed decision-making in relevant geolocational context in the real-world, especially for environmental management and disaster response. As a solution, immersive visualizations and 3D modelling show a great potential to constitute the next-generation of map-based information systems where real-world locations can be recreated with in-situ spatiotemporal data displays and simulated event dynamics. This project introduces GeospatialVR, an open-source collaborative virtual reality framework to dynamically create 3D real-world environments that can be served on any web platform and accessed via desktop and mobile devices as well as virtual and augmented reality headsets. The framework is capable of generating realistic simulations of desired locations entailing the terrain, elevation model, structures (e.g. buildings, roads, bridges), dynamic visualizations (e.g. water and fire simulation), and information layers (e.g. disaster damages and extent, sensor readings, surveillance data, occupancy, traffic, weather). These layers serve the purpose of effective and in-situ visualization of useful data to aid public, scientists, officials, and decision-makers in acquiring a bird’s eye view of the current, historical, or forecasted condition of a community. The framework incorporates multiuser support to allow different stakeholders to remotely work on the same VR environment and observe other user’s actions and 3D positions via avatars in real-time, and thus, presenting the potential to be utilized as a virtual incident command center or a meeting room. The purpose of GeospatialVR is to augment existing web-based cyberinfrastructures that have geospatial components to constitute the next-generation of information systems and decision support systems powered by immersive technologies. To demonstrate the framework’s usage and benefits, case studies have been developed for flooding, wildfire, transportation, and active shooter response.