关键词: 虚拟环境技术, 地理环境模拟, 地学认知

Abstract:

This paper introduces a preliminary stage of this development with Cudgewa catchment in Northeast of Victoria, Australia as a case area: the building of the 3D models from GIS data sets, construction of different simulated environments, and a group survey of the cognitive verification of simulated environments Our research development involves the following major phases: 1) creation of geo database and texture library, 2) data processing, 3) 3D modeling, simulating and rendering, 4) interactive visualization and 5) effective testing In the PC environment, ArcView 3 2 (and more recently ArcGIS 8) with multi extensions is used for data format conversion, feature generation, two dimensional mapping and three dimensional visual analysis Smart Image and ERDAS Orthobase have been used for aerial photo processing, registration and mosaicing, and Photoshop 6 0 for texture creation and image format conversion The real time 3D system has been developed using Performer and OpenGL libraries under IRIX (Silicon Graphics) operating systems Immersion is provided by the use of three screens and three projectors to give a 135 degree field of view Further, we have undertaken an "acceptability of landscape simulation" survey Subjects with various backgrounds were included at different stages of survey Presently, 63 undergraduate and graduate students had responded They were exposed to pairs of static computer simulated images and real digital photographs These showed different combinations of fore, middle and background vegetation, buildings and fences The major tasks were inclusive of collecting sufficient data on the understanding of simulation, the perception of scenic beauty and the degree of realism A series of questions about the identification of features and cognitive understanding and level of ease of interpretation of images were asked The difference of cognitive aspects will be identified and explained As the tests develop, dynamic, interactive, semi immersive simulated environment in fly or drive mode will be provided with different settings of parameters to test the effectiveness and acceptability of construction of virtual landscapes

Key words: virtual environmental technology, geographic environmental simulation, geo cognition