A Virtual Globe for the Interactive Display of OPeNDAP Data WE-MAV-01 (FY07)

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A Virtual Globe for the Interactive Display of
OPeNDAP DataWE-MAV-01 (FY07)

• Nancy Soreide1
• Albert J Hermann2
• Joseph Sirott1

1 NOAA/PMEL, Seattle, WA 98115 2
NOAA/PMEL/JISAO-University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195
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New technologies can promote public visualization
of NOAAs data assets

• 1) Virtual globe software (and Google Earth in
  particular) is steadily capturing the imagination
  of the public, as a natural interface for
  geospatial data.
• 2) A steadily increasing catalogue of NOAAs
  oceanographic and atmospheric data is available
  through OPeNDAP technology.
• 3) Low-cost immersive technology (e.g. the
  GeoWall) has proven its value in public education
  and scientific analysis, for the display of
  geospatial data.

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Google Earth

• GE is a free geospatial viewer with the popular
  appeal of a videogame experience
• GE has a simple scripting language KML (keyhole
  markup language) http//www.keyhole.com/kml/kml_tu
  t.html
• A free stereo viewer for GE is now available
  http//www.tridef.com/promotions/google-earth.html
  

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Google Earth topography in stereo
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We use model output to demonstrate oceanic
capabilities
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Accomplishments thus far

• Rendered simple objects in GE
• 2D plots
• Animated translucent 3D fog
• Animated 3D float tracks with bathymetry
• Utilized an openDAP server (DAPPER) to render
  isosurfaces in GE
• Assembled a portable geowall for immersive stereo
  rendering
• Demonstrated the system to a large audience

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Simple 2-D plot in GE using gif transparency
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Stacked translucent gifs create 3Dfog

• GE presently has no ocean depth so must build 3D
  worlds in to the sky.

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3D fog results from CGOA modeling

• Temperature of the top 100m of the ocean
• Jun 03- Jun 08 of 2001
• Red is hotter, Blue is colder
• Here, look directly down from above, through the
  fog

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June 03 2001
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June 04 2001
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June 05 2001
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June 06 2001
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June 07 2001
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June 08 2001
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Sample 3D float track with crude bathymetry
surface
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DAPPER server for display of surfaces in GE

• Interactive selection of region, time, isosurface
• Demo version hosts Eco-FOCI model output
• Generates kml file which is displayed by GE
• Uses COLLADA language for compact representation
  of surfaces

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Salinity isosurface (red) with bathymetry (blue)
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Visualize in stereo!
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Same surfaces from a different angle
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Equipment for portable stereo system

• Laptop with dual video output
• Small projectors (each size of a submarine
  sandwich)
• Medium-sized screen, easy to carry
• Polarized glasses

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A portable geowall in use

• Projectors are small!

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Issues for future work

• We anticipate GE will add ocean bathymetry
• This would allow a true 3D ocean in the ocean
• GE has high potential for interactive display
  from many sources
• Live Access Server has interactive refresh during
  navigation in GE
• Simultaneously compare model output with data
  from multiple servers