3D Geo's LandXplorer shines in OGC OWS-4 Test

30 August 2007, 12:59pm

Potsdam, 30.08.2007 - The LandXplorer-Technolgy of 3D Geo GmbH was implemented successfully for a scientific project. The 3D City GML Viewer prooves to be an outstanding platform to integrate different geo-file formats, with a particularly user-friendly interface.

The OpenGIS Web Service Initiative Phase 4, or OWS-4, strived to develop and set OGC-standards for web applications. The initiative was part of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), a non-profit organisation with the aim to improve the inter-operability of geo-data and-services based on common standards and protocols. The organisation is supported by over 300 firms. The OWS-4 programme expired on the 30th of April this year and was divided into seven different strands.

The CAD/GIS/BIM-strand was aimed to strengthen the inter-operability of urban data from different application areas. Data is taken from Computer Aided Designs (CAD), Building Information Systems (BIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Due to different file formats these coexisting data could not be combined in a single programme up to now. In future this will be directly possible with the LandXplorer standard products.

The software developing firm 3D Geo GmbH in Potsdam, a spinn-off of the renowned Hasso Platter Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, developed on the basis of the 3D CityGML Viewer Professional of the LandXplorer product family a software solution which is the world's only programme that can integrate and combine the different OGC services on one platform. The 3D CityGML Viewer Professional has an easily understood user interface. During the scientific OWS-4 project, which is headed by the HPI, the CityGML Viewer Professional could prove its strengths.

Using a catastrophe scenario, the programme was used to simulate the creation of a sick bay after a bomb exploded at an airport. To achieve this, a number of buildings had to be assessed for their suitability. The challenge was to combine different geo data formats. The 3D CityGML Viewer retrieved the data from a variety of different OGC web services. The terrain model was based on Web Map Services (WMS) or Web Coverage Services (WCS)-files. The WMS delivered the topographic as well. The building models were generated from data of the Web Feature Services (WFS). To facilitate
internal data exchange, 3D CityGML Viewer uses the CityGML file format.

After integrating the various geospatial and geo-referenced 2D and 3Dgeo data, it was possible to generate a virtual 3D model, using the interactive real-time 3D rendering of very big data quantities, which is the core functionality of the LandXplorer programme. With the extensive building specific exploration and analysing functions, it was possible to solve the assignment of finding a suitable building promptly. In a real emergency
situation the rapid identification of a suitable building can save lives.

Marc Hildebrandt, CEO of 3D Geo GmbH explains the significance of the successful test scenario:" The combination of heterogeneous OGC service data on one system platform makes new applications for 3d city models available.
The inter operability of the LandXplorer technology transforms 3D city models into 3D city information spaces - an important step when it comes to getting quick answers to essential questions. Using the example of homeland security this could be demonstrated."

At the Intergeo 2007 in Leipzig (25. - 27. September 2007) 3D Geo will present its entire product portfolio. The 3d Geo desktop products for the composition, presentation, exploration and analysis of geo data in real time can be inspected at stand 1.226 in hall 1.

Further information and a presentation of the products: www.3dgeo.de

www.3dgeo.de

Geo: International