Developing a Novel Approach for 3D Visualisation of Tarland Chen Wang Information and Computational Sciences The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen, UK chen.wang@hutton.ac.uk David Miller Information and Computational Sciences The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen, UK david.miller@hutton.ac.uk Yang Jiang Jane Morrice Department of Creative Media Technology Information and Computational Sciences Northumbria University The James Hutton Institute Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Aberdeen, UK yang.jiang@northumbria.ac.uk jane.morrice@hutton.ac.uk Abstract—The objective of this paper is to report on the development of prototype models for use in raising public awareness of changes in rural areas, focusing on greenspaces, and testing responses to scenarios of change. Specifically, the focus is on the design of appropriate types and speeds of movement of features. This modelling is done using the Maya and ArcGIS software packages together in a novel combination of spatial and visualisation tools. The experiment results show evidence that different types of animation with interactive communication will influence participation and decision making in land use planning. Keywords-Virtual Environment, Land Use Planning, ArcGIS, Maya. I. INTRODUCTION Virtual reality is used as a tool in many aspects of urban design and rural planning to assist the various stakeholders’ better understanding and communicating for policy decisions [16][9]. Public participation is also important for engagement in decision making, planning and feedback. The impact on the planning process depends on the level of stakeholder involvement. This involvement can be divided into three aspects as shown in [9]. There are increasingly requirements for developing tools for decision making using interactive web [2], GIS and 3D virtual environment based platforms [4][13] Berry et al. [3] propose GIS approaches which include web-based survey design and development, and landscape visualization. However, the effectiveness of this method suffers from lack of scenario-choice, multi-criteria choice experiment techniques to enhance public participation. In support of large community planning processes, the interactive CommunityViz tool with the immersive lab facilities are employed to illustrate landscape planning [12]. To orient the participants and to familiarize them with basic 3D model and dynamic viewing capabilities, participants were provided with laser pens to highlight features on the screen during the discussion. The main drawback to the process was time limitations to comprehensively investigate the CommunityViz scenarios interactively. Today, 3D software programs such as Maya, 3D Max, Vega Prime, Octaga or specialized landscape tools Visual Nature Studio provide a high degree of visual realism for landscape, rendered both as images or animations [19][2][4][7]. Recently, Google Earth based visualization is growing rapidly as a method of sharing 3D environmental data by using combination of digital elevation models, satellite imagery, 3D buildings, trees and streets footprints [6][21][17]. In [8] , a dedicated multi-layered visualization of current and future land use is adopted through evaluation of three different visualization types: coloured raster cells, 2D icon and 3D icon. With closer viewpoints, 3D shapes and 3D icons can be seen. At more distant viewpoints, the 3D icons change into 2D icons and, finally, above an altitude of 1800m, 2D icons will switch into colour cells. Recently, there is a tread to create methods and tools for testing historical scenarios through the use of 3D modelling tools and virtual reality engines[25][26] . In [27] , 3D models, virtual reality and game engines are combined as a tool for reconstruction of cultural heritage [28] . It also includes artificial intelligence driven avatars. AI scripts is added to assign a set of predetermined actions and reactions which contains going for a walk or complex actions amounting to a defined daily timetable, or pre-defined dialogues. In order to let people immersed in computer models explore landscapes of the past, present and future, virtual reality labs with big screens are necessary to take the interactive roles. The first mobile unit of its kind in the United Kingdom is the Virtual Landscape Theatre (www.hutton.ac.uk/learning/exhibits/vlt), which is used for scientific research as well as engagement with the public on issues of landscape change. Other virtual theatres such as a landscape immersive lab [15] or a virtual reality suite (www.iri-vr.ncl.ac.uk) are able to perform the same functions. 2013 17th International Conference on Information Visualisation 1550-6037/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE DOI 10.1109/IV.2013.66 485 2013 17th International Conference on Information Visualisation 1550-6037/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE DOI 10.1109/IV.2013.66 499 2013 17th International Conference on Information Visualisation 1550-6037/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE DOI 10.1109/IV.2013.66 499 2013 17th International Conference on Information Visualisation 1550-6037/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE DOI 10.1109/IV.2013.66 499 2013 17th International Conference on Information Visualisation 1550-6037/13 $26.00 © 2013 IEEE DOI 10.1109/IV.2013.66 499