SuperMap New Technology for 3D Visualization and Interaction

SuperMap adopts advanced HTML5 WebGL and designs "No Client" 3D technology and develops corresponding product -- SuperMap iClient3D for Cesium. It 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.

1. Highlight Features

1)Support all data?

At present, SuperMap iClient3D for Cesium 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.

Figure Terrain excavation

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 caches, which is troublesome to update the data; currently, 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.

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:?

• Direct access to online base map services provided by third parties, such as Bing Maps, Map World, OpenStreetMap, STK World Terrain, etc.?
• The function supports BOX clip, plane clip, Cross clip, polygon clip, etc.?
• It also provides 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.

3) Open source, scalable

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

Open source address: https://github.com/SuperMap/SuperMap-iEarth

Vue address：https://www.supermapol.com/earth/vue-iEarth

Note: We are looking for distributors, resellers, and partners all over the world. For any inquiry, please contact us at: [email protected].