There is a persistent need for improved tools and techniques to facilitate public involvement in transportation decision making.
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Journal Articles & Reports
General Literature on Visualization
Rural Landscape Visualization from GIS Databases: A Comparison of Approaches, Options and Problems
Description: As public participation in environmental decision-making becomes more prevalent, there is a growing need to communicate effectively with a non-expert audience. Visual presentation has been identified as an effective means of communicating landscape-related information, particularly due to the increasing ease with which computer visualization techniques can utilize GIS data
Citation: Appleton, Katy. "Rural landscape visualization from GIS databases: a comparison of approaches, options and problems." Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2002, Volume 26 (2-3).
The Digital Workshop: Exploring the Use of Interactive and Immersive Visualization Tools in Participatory Planning
Description: This paper examines the emerging role of digital tools in a collaborative planning process for British Columbia's Bowen Island. The goal of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 'digital workshop', combining the interactive CommunityViz tool with the immersive lab facilities at the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP). In support of the larger community planning process, tw3-h workshops were held at CALP's Landscape Immersion Lab. To facilitate collaborative exploration, the interactive landscape visualization and real-time data analysis capabilities of CommunityViz were employed to illustrate the possible outcomes of residential density policies for Bowen Island's Snug Cove community. The community planning workshops were structured to provide the 14 semi-expert participants with the opportunity to explore and discuss the contentious residential density components of the draft Snug Cove Village Plan. The abilities to dynamically explore the visualizations of the planning proposals, and to see real-time changes in indicator metrics were considered particularly informative, and appeared to increase participants' understanding of the plan. Written and verbal responses indicated, however, that there was insufficient time to examine and interact with the information during the workshop, suggesting a need to examine in greater depth how and when these tools might best be employed in collaborative settings. Current and future research relating to this project is discussed.
Citation: Salter, Jonathan. "The digital workshop: Exploring the use of interactive and immersive visualization tools in participatory planning." Journal of Environmental Management, 2009, Volume 90 (6).
The Ethics of Google Earth: Crossing Thresholds From Spatial Data to Landscape Visualization
Description: 'Virtual globe' software systems such as Google Earth are growing rapidly in popularity as a way to visualize and share 3D environmental data. Scientists and environmental professionals, many of whom are new t3D modeling and visual communications, are beginning routinely to use such techniques in their work. While the appeal of these techniques is evident, with unprecedented opportunities for public access to data and collaborative engagement over the web, are there nonetheless risks in their widespread usage when applied in areas of the public interest such as planning and policy-making?
Citation: Sheppard, Stephen. "The ethics of Google Earth: Crossing thresholds from spatial data to landscape visualization." Journal of Environmental Management, 2009, Volume 90 (6).
Developing a City Skyline for Hong Kong Using GIS and Urban Design Guidelines
Description: The objective of this research is to evaluate and redesign the city skyline of Hong Kong based on Urban Design Guidelines established by the Planning Department. The study makes use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and its 3-dimensional (3D) modeling functions to construct, assess, and analyze the city skyline
Citation: Mak, Ann Shuk-Hun. "Developing a City Skyline for Hong Kong Using GIS and Urban Design Guidelines." URISA Journal , 2005, Volume 17 (1).
Estimating Solar Gain in Buildings Through Direct Sunlight Visualization in GIS
Description: This paper supplements already explored capabilities of GIS in construction engineering by providing the methodology for direct sunlight visualization on buildings to utilize the solar gain. The proposed methodology for direct sunlight visualization calculates the solar angles and uses them for spatial distribution representation of the amount of sunlight received on different faces of a building by rendering it with color of varied gradients. The color gradient on any face of a building depends upon the amount of direct sunlight received. The solar gain is demonstrated through the multidimensional data visualization like sun angle variations with diurnal and annual cycles. GIS based methodology provides planner a way to control the natural lighting and solar gain on building.
Citation: Vansal, B.K. " Estimating Solar Gain in Buildings Through Direct Sunlight Visualization in GIS." Proceedings of International Conference on Energy and Environment, 2009.
Investigating Crime Hotspot Places and their Implication to Urban Environmental Design: A Geographic Visualization and Data Mining Approach
Description: Combined qualitative and quantitative research methodology was employed through extensive fieldwork and observation, geographic visualization with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and data mining. The paper discusses emerging geographic visualization and data mining tools and methodologies that can be used to generate baseline data for environmental initiatives such as urban renewal and rejuvenation. The study was able to demonstrate that crime hotspots can be computed and were seen to be occurring to some select places in the Central Business District (CBD) of BaguiCity.
Citation: Tabangin, Donna R. "Investigating Crime Hotspot Places and their Implication tUrban Environmental Design: A Geographic Visualization and Data Mining Approach." Proceedings of World Academy of Science: Engineering & Technology, 2008, Volume 36.
Customizing Visualization in Three-Dimensional Urban GIS Via Web-Based Interaction
Description: This paper presents research results of visualizing three–dimensional (3D) city models in a web explorer environment under the supports of the digital building model, the digital terrain model, large-scale true urban orthoimage, and actual building sidewall pictures. The results from the experiments demonstrated that this developed system is able to display and visualize 3D city data in a web environment for public accesses. The users can easily view the details of a specified building or/and the entire city in a moving 3D manner, and locate a specific building.
Citation: Zhou, Guoqing. "Customizing Visualization in Three-Dimensional Urban GIS via Web-Based Interaction." Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 2006, Volume 136 (2).