SuperMap New Technology for 3D Interaction and Output

1. 3D GIS Technology based on WebGL

1.1 SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL

SuperMap adopts advanced HTML5 WebGL and designs "No Client" 3D technology and develops corresponding product -- SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL. SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL is a lightweight 3D client development platform, it supports for cross-platform and diverse browsers and accelerated 3D hardware rendering technology, avoiding from 3D rendering dependence on plug-in. Users don't need to download and install the plug-in, they can efficiently browse 3D services. The technology improves the users’ experience on web development and terminal access. The accelerated hardware render provided by WebGL can display smooth 3D scenes and models in the browser with help of system graphics card, and Web developers can easily realize the Web 3D effect on the browser through WebGL technology. It has the following technology features:

1)          Supporting all data

At present, SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL have supported multiple data layers such as TIN, image, S3M, KML, dynamic layer and field layer. The S3M layer can load multi-source data such as oblique photography model, BIM, fine model, point cloud, vector, underground pipeline, TIN, dynamic water and field model.

SuperMap directly provides dynamic layers and supports the presentation of that. A dynamic layer contain multiple types of models, and each model contain multiple instances, and each instance refresh status information at certain intervals so as to achieve the dynamic effect. In the figure below, using dynamic layer expresses windmill.

Figure Dynamic Expression of Windmill

The instantiation technique eliminates the redundant storage of the model because the duplicate model is stored only once; it supports the dynamic creation, editing, modification, and deletion of the model flexibly and efficiently. As shown in the figure below, batch mapping and color modification operations can be implemented on the front terminal.

Figure Tree instanced expression

SuperMap provides field layers to support the display of field data, including wind field, gravitational field, electromagnetic field, water flow field and so on.

Figure Wind Field Visualization

SuperMap supports the visual display of vector tile layers, and follows the Mapbox vector tile standard. It has high creation efficiency, fast transmission and rendering speed, and independent data and style styles. It is not necessary to re-create tiles and change the display scheme for high-quality display. And it can support for high-resolution displays.

Figure Vector Tile

In terms of laser point cloud visualization, SuperMap supports EDL drawing mode. Without color and classification information, the point cloud uses ordinary drawing mode, it is difficult to identify the feature information, just a bunch of points. In EDL drawing mode, you can easily identify roads, buildings, vegetation, etc., at the same time, the three-dimensional sense of the point cloud has been enhanced.

Figure Laser Point Cloud Visualization

In terms of data update, for data with a model, the traditional method is to load a cache that is cut in advance, which is troublesome to update the data; Now, real-time dynamic loading can eliminate intermediate links and improve data update efficiency.

Figure Data Update

2)          Full functional support

At present, SuperMap has connected the functional bonds between Web and server and docked with the server, expanding the analysis function of SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL. SuperMap comprehensively supports four modules functional capabilities: spatial operation, spatial query, spatial analysis and rule modeling, which is convenient for users to build Web applications. SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL provides practical 3D measurement and 3D spatial analysis functions, including distance measurement and area measurement, sunshine analysis, profile analysis, contour analysis, slope analysis, flood analysis, visibility analysis, viewshed analysis, skyline analysis and other 3D spatial analysis functions.

3)          New visual experience

SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL supports to generate rich 3D special effects, contributing to a better visual experience for users. It is the most likely to restore the landscape of real world in every respect. For emergency drill, safety protection, meteorological simulation and other projects, 3D special effects play a unique role in showing natural elements, simulating character movement, expressing pipeline media flow direction and other aspects. It significantly improves the visual effect and sense of reality of 3D scenes. For example, it provides real-time water effect: different colors or static and sparkling water effect can be produced by setting 3D polygon filling symbol parameters, and shadow of buildings on the shore can be reflected in real time. Particle effects: it provides effects of fire, snow, rain, blast, Users use particle editor to customized particle effects and particle movement, so that they can make various of particle effects such as water column, cherry blossom rain. The function allows user to specify landing area for rain and snow, it is widely used in weather simulation, emergency drill, safety protection. And there are floodlight effect, roller blind, tail line, scan line and so on. Moreover, it also offers the sketch mode based on the edge drawing function in order to meet the application requirements of more industries, such as urban design.

Figure Sketch Mode

With the increase of users' requirements for visualization effects, the 3D WebGL client has added custom light source effects such as points, directional lights, and spotlights on the original basis; it also provides 3D special effects such as dynamic textures and self-illumination. Based on these post-processing effects, users can create urban night scene effects; and, SuperMap has added a physically based rendering-PBR material and a number of special effects such as transparent rendering. At the same time, the particle special effects system was optimized to build more realistic fireworks, flames, and fountain effects.

Figure Effects

At the same time, it is connected to the mainstream engine of Unity3D, and supports the display of 3D special effects produced in Unity3D on WebGL iClient through plug-ins, which meets users' needs for more advanced special effects, and is mostly used for the visual display of new smart cities and digital twin cities.

Figure Night Scene Special Effects of Smart City

4) Support large amount of data

The WebGL client's carrying capacity for large-scale scenes has been further improved, supporting TB-level terrain and image data loading and visual display; supporting the efficient real-time rendering of billion-scale vector data; supporting 500 square kilometers of fine-model data and TB-level tilt photography models data / laser point cloud data, etc.

Figure Support Large Amount of Data

5） Lightweight, Easy to Develop

SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL adopts the unified 3D mapping technology standard -- HTML5 WebGL, which enables it to overcome the limitation of operation system, device terminal and browser type. SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL is suitable for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, Android systems, and it supports IE, Chrome, FireFox and other browsers and runs on PC, notebook, tablet and mobile phone device terminal.

As a lightweight 3D client development platform, it provides javaScript-based API, which are easy to expand efficiently. Users can realize Web development and terminal access experience without downloading and installing plug-ins.

1.2 SuperMap iEarth

Based on API provided by SuperMap iClient3D for WebGL, SuperMap launched SuperMap iEarth for WebGL, an online App, which opened up a convenient online GIS service for users. Users can load data services or select local data sources to quickly build 3D visualization scenarios. At the same time, they support measurement functions and multiple rendering modes to provide visualization experience for big data. Users can enjoy free online GIS services without development costs. The specific technical features are as follows:

1)         Full Function

SuperMap iEarth currently provides five categories and fourteen sub-modules to achieve full function of WebGL. Mainly include: 1. Direct access to online base map services provided by third parties, such as Bing Maps, Map World, OpenStreetMap, STK World Terrain, etc. 2. The function supports BOX cutting, plane cutting, Cross cutting, polygon cutting, etc. 3. And it also offers spatial analysis, spatial measurement and other functions.

Figure SuperMap iEarth for WebGL

2)         New Experience

SuperMap iEarth provides a new user experience and easy-to-use applications without development or programming. The Webapp of SuperMap iEarth can be used directly to process online 3D spatial analysis and supports to load and browse in 3D scenes.

Figure SuperMap iEarth

3)         Open source, scalable

SuperMap iEarth are open source and easy to expand, and it reduces the difficulty for user 3D BS application development. The open source address is:

https://github.com/SuperMap/SuperMap-iEarth

2. Mobile 3D GIS Technology

With the rapid development of mobile Internet and cloud computing technology, the current market requirements for GIS applications have been extended from desktop and Web client applications to PC, Web and mobile multi-terminal applications. In order to meet the requirement of running 3D GIS on mobile platform, a 3D mobile product was developed based on cross-platform C++ core.

Implementation of 3D mobile and object, desktop, client products is based on a C++ core, and it uses microcore design. Meanwhile, functions can be tailored for different platforms. In the GIS core, each sub-module has a minimum definition, and dependencies among them are also tailored. Each module is further divided into smaller parts, some of which can be selected according to application needs, so it has a free scalability and tailorable capacity. At the same time, all the 3D mobile products use OpenGL ES3.0 to achieve rendering, so that the same rendering effect can be achieved on different mobile platforms.

3D mobile products support: 1. Smooth display of data (such as terrain, image, map, model and vector). 2. 3D model symbol, 3D line (pipeline) symbol and 3D filling symbol. 3. Particle systems, water effects, atmospheric, oceanic and other effects. 4. Texture data compression. 5. offline download and online browsing of data. 6. Extended development. On the basis of consistent GIS function, according to the different mobile system, the platform customized packaging. At the same time, display performance was optimized aimed at the characteristic of mobile products. It makes the mobile platform quickly build high performance 2D&3D integration of mobile GIS application and provides a rich 3D API, so that it can satisfy the user’s requirement for 3D mobile .

Figure Interface in Android System

Figure Interface in iOS System

3. VR+GIS Technology

Good visualization effect, strong realism and strong user immersion feeling from user are crucial for intuitive expression of 3D GIS software. SuperMap makes full use of virtual reality technology to improve the realism of geographical environment. The programmable rendering pipeline technology is used to simulate the natural phenomena such as sun, atmospheric scattering, ocean, water solid, reflection, shadow etc. And particle system can simulate natural phenomenon with integration boundary (such as fire, fountain, fireworks, rain and snow).

With the emergence of increasing technologies in the IT hardware field, SuperMap has also made significant breakthroughs in enhancing display effect and human-computer interaction with VR devices. SuperMap products support VR external devices such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive Focus, making 3D GIS applications have a richer sense of sight and experience in human-computer interaction.

As a good carrier for feeling virtual space in 3D GIS, it supports gamepad operation and query function and provides various browsing mode (keyboard driving, automatic walking and automatic running) with accurate indoor collision detection and multi-source data, it allows users to feel a more realistic and immersive 3D experience.  

Figure Combination of 3D GIS and VR Helmet

4. AR+GIS Technology

Through IT technology, Augmented Reality (AR) applies virtual information to the real world. The real environment and virtual objects are overlain in the same frame or space at same time, making people more aware of objective world.

SuperMap supports for AR functions, that is it can project the models in the virtual world into the real world. As shown in the figure below, by this technology, AR technology can realize the integration of real virtual environment. This technology can be applied in engineering construction, water conservancy and hydropower survey and design and navigation industries by projecting 3D models into the real world. And it realizes 3D collaborative design and navigation data acquirement based on virtual model (User can acquired information easily, quickly and accurately through AR system such as geography, weather, climate, etc.).

Figure AR+GIS Application

SuperMap provides functions that support AR + AI + GIS. As shown in the following figure, SuperMap uses AR to quickly identify 2D design drawings and loads the corresponding 3D BIM model and projects it into the real world, and then it realizes the integration of real and virtual environments. Combined with AI capabilities, users can operate the scene in real time through human body pose recognition. For example, if raising arm lightly, users can quickly experience turning a 2D drawing into a 3D scene and use gestures to interact with the 3D scene flexibly. They can make scene rotation and other operations.

In addition, users can use a variety of cutting tools to view the internal details of the building in real time, and can simulate the dynamic construction process of the building. If you enter the interior of the SuperMap building, you can see that there are many facilities and pipelines distributed in the room. Select one to query, and you can see the query information display. Through AR, it provides users with a more realistic and immersive 3D interaction new experience.

Figure AR+GIS+AI

5. 3D Printing

3D printing is a kind of technology that formats solid model rapidly. It is a technique for constructing objects by layer-by-layer printing based on digital model files and using adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic. SuperMap supports to save 3D models to STL and then use 3D printing technology to restore the real world.

Figure 3D Printing

6. BIM+GIS Application Case

Together with partners, SuperMap have implemented many typical BIM+GIS industry solutions and application cases, including urban and landscape planning, architectural design, tourism and leisure activities, 3D cadastral map, environmental simulation, thermal conduction simulation, mobile tele-communication, indoor navigation and so on.

6.1 Intelligent Supervision Platform of Beijing Sub-center

The intelligent supervision platform of Beijing sub-center is a typical large-scale construction management project. In this project, SuperMap breaks through technical difficulties such as precise matching in centimeters between BIM and GIS data, and real-time rendering of million-level BIM model.

Using BIM, GIS, IoT, big data, intelligence, mobile communications, ERP and other key technologies, it provide users with project management, video management, IoT platform, big data platform, service management and other business system, which realize the elaborating management of construction projects and omni-directional monitor and intelligent management about the environment, safety, quality, progress of construction site.

Figure Business System

1) Video Monitoring

Video monitoring system can obtain and integrate the location and data information of remote camera, and it can retrieve relevant monitoring content in real time according to the call instruction so as to meet the project manager's need for monitoring the construction site.

Figure BIM Video Monitoring Subsystem API

2) Labor Supervision

The labor supervision subsystem can obtain the information of labor personnel of all construction units and comprehensively manage the information of labor personnel, access control equipment, project team personnel, access control equipment tasks and personnel working hours, etc., and then it can present them in the form of charts.

3) Environmental Monitoring

By connecting with the environmental monitoring sensing equipment on the construction site with narrow-band IoT technology, the meteorological and environmental monitoring indicators (such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, noise, PM10 and PM2.5) can be checked in real time. If the warning level is exceeded, the management personnel will be automatically reminded to carry out manual intervention.

4) Progress Management

By hooking the BIM model component construction schedule, 3D dynamic simulation of project progress and construction status can be realized. By comparing the planned progress with the actual progress, color and material differences of BIM components are used to present the leading and overdue situations of the project under construction. Through the review of the project weekly, it can analyze and find the reason for the overdue construction which facilitate the headquarters to clearly identify problems and solve problems in a timely manner.

5) Video Consultation

Video consultation is communicating and solving problems online with supervising the design model, design progress and quality in an all-round way. It improves the design quality by using BIM model and ensures the timely drawing of design through the design plan management to control the influence of design on the progress.

6) Equipment Monitoring

Large equipment monitoring subsystem collects real-time data from cranes, elevators, and engineering vehicles and other large equipment sensors (such as height, Angle and tilt Angle sensor) in order to obtain real-time operation state of large equipment and realize timely and effective supervision about large equipment’s use process. This can effectively control risk factors in the process of equipment operation so they it prevents and reduce the large equipment (such as tower crane production safety accidents). 

Figure Large Equipment Monitoring Subsystem

6.2 BIM Operation and Management Platform

The operation platform of Shanghai Center developed based on SuperMap GIS platform and integrated with new technologies (such as BIM, IoT, big data, mobile Internet, AI and so on) to realize fine control of Shanghai Center (a building). In the project, the number of BIM models is 252GB, with 3.15 million model components, generating 5 million direct economic benefits and saving nearly 2 million investment.

1) Model Management Module

Model management module includes model browsing, model searching, space browsing, system browsing, operating condition browsing, second decoration model and other functions. Building information model can visually display and help users intuitive understanding of building components, equipment distribution, and provide the keyword search function which can help users to find and locate to the corresponding model.

Figure Model Management Module

2) Energy Saving Management Module

The energy saving management module has the functions of energy saving technology display, building energy display, circuit and equipment energy display, abnormal energy consumption alarm, energy consumption data analysis and so on. Through the analysis and statistics of energy consumption data, a report form is formed, and suggestions for energy conservation are given based on the data analysis results so as to provide data reference for building energy conservation.

Figure Energy Saving Management Module

3) Emergency Management Module

Emergency management module includes emergency plan management, emergency integrated command and other functions. The various emergency plans set by the property management department are deduced in the 3D model to help managers and users get familiar with the emergency evacuation process. In the first time there is an emergency, it can obtain the message and switch the main control screen to emergency mode which display the detailed information of alarm, the 3D simulation process of corresponding type of BIM emergency evacuation and the contents of corresponding type of emergency plan, etc. And it can guide the property management personnel to carry out emergency treatment according to the established emergency plan process.

Figure Emergency Management Module

4) Asset Management Module

Through the building information model, the asset management module can intuitively display the distribution position and shape information of assets in the building, and connect the asset information with the model. In addition, extended information and linked document functions can be set to save relevant information generated during the operation of the device.

5) Facilities and Equipment Maintenance Management Module

Equipment maintenance management module includes equipment daily maintenance, maintenance cycle management and other functions.

6) Security Management Module

Security management module includes security management, access management and other functions. Security management shows the access remote camera and its auxiliary equipment which displays the monitoring range, angle and blind angle. Users can control the direction of equipment and displays real-time video information and can easily switch to nearby video equipment for continuous video tracking. The access management function can display the location of access control equipment in the building. Meanwhile, it can click the access control model to display the basic information of access control and passing record. It also supports to view the passing record at certain date and historical passing record. At the same time, it also supports reverse query to view the record, that is, a certain personnel passes the entrance guard and restores the movement track of the personnel in the building.

Figure Security Management Module

7) Mobile APP

Mobile APP is an auxiliary module under the operating management framework based on BIM. Its main role in the universal operation management is the real-time data interaction and connection between terminal and management center, which can reduce the cost of information interaction and change the way of information interaction, thus improving the efficiency of the entire operation management.

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