Visualization of geographic data using VRML-an Internet client, for a geographic information system (GIS)

Abstract

For centuries, geographic data has been visualized and published in the form of static maps and displays. However with the advent of geographic information systems (GIS) it becomes possible to make use of new electronical means for both publishing and visualizing geographic data. The paper describes the concept of a World Wide Web client that can directly request data from a GIS, displaying it as a three dimensional VRML world. For an evaluation of this concept and for performance testing, a first prototype has been realized.