Key Features K2Vi Kiosk Data Interface Technologies Ltd. developed an interactive Virtual Reality model of the Southern Lakes area in New Zealand based on the K2Vi virtual reality engine. It allows the user to fly around the area in a helicopter using a joystick. The user can find Tourism Operators such hotels, ski fields, jet boat companies using an intuitive menu or 'discover' the location of the operator by exploring the 3D world. Clicking on the 3D operator cube will activate a so-called 'hot link' to an information page or website of the selected operator. K2Vi Lite K2Vi lite is designed to distribute the VR worlds you created with K2Vi to possible clients, colleagues, employees in the field and so on. It allows you to show the VR worlds you created in K2Vi on other PCs than the one K2Vi Professional is running on. Users can just view and navigate through the VR world. You control content. Navigation can be done by predefined flight path or free flight. K2Vi lite comes free with K2Vi Professional and as part of our 3D services. K2Vi 3D Terrain Viewer In partnership with GeographX, we have developed 3D NEW ZEALAND.
3D NEW ZEALAND (3D-NZ) is a combination of GeographX data with a customised K2Vi 3D Terrain Viewer. This product is primarily pitched at the travel and tourism sector where it can be used to familiarise visitors with the surrounding region or a particular geographic area of interest. The K2Vi 3D Terrain Viewer is user-friendly without the full functionality of K2Vi Professional and is priced accordingly. 3D-NZ is ideally suited for use in visitor centres, airports, information centres and booking offices for inter-active hands-on use. Specifications Overall Technically, K2Vi is a Virtual-Reality Interface to Spatial Data.
Virtual Reality describes the environment that you are in while immersed in your spatial data. In K2Vi it can include pseudo 3-D images on a flat monitor screen, true 3-D glasses, the Virtual Workbench, and The Cave. K2Vi also supports true 3-D sound.
Interface means that while you are immersed in your data, you can manipulate the data. You can query it, perform analysis with it, change it, add data, delete data, and then save all these changes back into your database from within the Virtual Reality environment.
Spatial Data - This is data which has a spatial component. Most commonly, it refers to GIS data and 3-D model data. There is a full description of the spatial data types supported by K2Vi in the Data Formats section below.
What this really means is that the K2Vi software allows you to step inside your spatial data and interact with that data from within the Virtual Environment.
K2Vi is quite different from other 3D visualisation packages in that it is NOT just about visualization. K2Vi allows the user to interact with GIS and 3D CAD data in real time from within a Virtual Reality Environment.
You can take a wide range of spatial data and: - Visualise it.
- Query it (and perform analysis).
- Move it.
- Animate it.
- Save these changes to the database in real time from within the VR environment.
System
Overview of the K2Vi system: - Client/server application. K2Vi is a TCP/IP client on the Spatial Database Engine by ESRI and Oracle Spatial 9i.
- Multithreading is supported for database actions to and from SDE and Oracle.
- Based on the WorldToolKit by Sense8.
- Support for Virtual Reality hardware such as Spacemouse, Head Mounted Display, Crystal Eyes Stereo goggles.
- Support for OpenGL.
- Runs on Windows platform and there is a specialised version for SGI and high-tech VR systems such as the Virtual Workbench and the CAVE.
- Web Update; automatic update to the latest version of K2Vi.
K2Vi Functionality The following describes some of the many features of K2Vi's extensive suite of functions for visualization, manipulation, analysis and animation of GIS and 3D CAD data. Real-time shadow analysis in K2Vi One of the more exciting new features of K2Vi is real-time shadow analysis. It is now possible to select an object in K2Vi and analyse the shadow it is casting in real-time. Layer Transparency K2Vi supports transparency of layers. The opacity parameter is saved per layer in the project file. GPS support Plug-in any GPS unit and see the current position displayed in the K2Vi scene. View downloaded waypoint or track logs in the K2Vi scene. Terrain texture variation (Styles) K2Vi allows you to drape any kind of thematic texture over the terrain. For example you are able to drape a topographical map across the terrain - as shown below. This theme could for example show property boundaries, vegetation maps, noise zones – any thematic data. The 'styles' functionality allows you to toggle between the themes in real-time Visualization The following visualization methods are supported: - Full control of scene lighting parameters.
- Real-time shadow analysis; select an object and see how its shadow effects other objects in the scene depending on position of the sun in real-time.
- Real-time visibility analysis; calculate visibility from a point in the 3D scene. This is a true 3D analysis whereby 3D CAD objects will be taken into account.
- Color GIS objects or use a Look Up Table to classify the GIS objects.
- Link 3D CAD models to a GIS dataset. A single CAD model can represent one GIS object, a group of GIS objects or can be linked to every selected GIS object individually.
- Link texture bitmaps to 2D/3D GIS objects and drape texture bitmaps over TIN terrain surfaces.
- Position GIS objects with their CAD models on top of a TIN terrain surface.
- View your GIS and CAD data simultaneously in 2D and 3D views.
- Position indicator in 2D View while navigating in 3D.
True 3D The K2Vi software supports true 3D immersive viewing. - Use CrystalEyes glasses to view your data in full stereo.
- Experimental 3D user interface widgets.
- A specialised version of K2Vi can be supplied for high-tech VR systems such as the Virtual Workbench and the CAVE.
Billboards Billboards are rotating objects that always face the viewer. They can be used for example to show trees along a road you drive on or as actual billboards with information. Navigation Various methods of navigating within your spatial data are supported: - Navigate by mouse, joystick or MAGELLAN Spacemouse.
- Zoom to rectangle
- Study mode
- Fly to a user defined Viewpoint in the 3D world.
- Fly to exact geographic co-ordinates.
- Walk on the terrain surfaces (terrain following) at a defined altitude.
- Collision detection.
- Scene bounding box.
- Record and play back multiple flight paths.
Manipulation Manipulate your spatial data: - Select by object, layer or polygon.
- Move and rotate the selected objects use the keyboard mouse or Spacemouse.
- Undo changes.
- Save the changes in the GIS database. Changes can be saved directly to the original data.
- Collision Detection. Before the actual saving of the changes, K2Vi carries out a collision detection in the K2Vi scene as well as in the GIS database. (SDE Data only)
- Create new GIS objects in the scene.
- Save new GIS objects to the GIS database.
- Delete individual or groups of GIS objects in the K2Vi scene.
- Delete individual or groups of GIS objects in GIS database.
- Scale and rotate CAD model to fit the GIS object boundaries (footprint).
- Save CAD model file location, position and scaling parameters with the associated GIS object.
- Save linked texture bitmaps parameters (filename, bitmap offset, UV tiling, angle, transparency, shading) with the associated GIS object.
Coordinate Projection Support for display of viewpoint and mouse coordinates in a wide range of coordinate systems including MGRS and UTM. GIS Analysis GIS analysis can be performed on your spatial data from within the VR environment: - Identify individual GIS objects. The database information is displayed either as 3D "Billboarded" text always facing the viewer or in a windows dialog box. K2Vi supports the Identify functionality for SDE objects, shape file objects (direct) and local K2Vi file objects.
- Select GIS objects within a user-defined range using a 2D spatial buffer algorithm (SDE data only).
- Select by SQL query (SDE data only).
- Measure distances between GIS and 3D CAD in 3D space.
Animation Perhaps the most spectacular feature of K2Vi is that your spatial data can be animated to allow visualisation of the movement of objects: - Select one or a group of objects and attach a animation file. The animation file consists of time/position data (path) recorded by the user.
- Play the animation while navigating through the scene and experience animated GIS and 3DCAD objects.
- Stop the animation at any time.
- Attach the viewpoint to the moving object and look around while moving with the object.
True 3D Sound True 3D sound is supported for added realism or for studying the effects of objects that produce sound: - Select an object in the K2Vi scene and attach a sound source (this object can of course also be animated).
- Play the sound while navigating through the scene and experience the changes in sound volume and direction depending on distance from the sound source.
- Set the sound rolloff value while navigating.
Terrain Modification 3D shapefiles can be used to modify terrains in K2Vi. The software uses the Z values of the 3D shapes to overwrite the grid cell values where the 3D shapes overlap the grid. K2Vi doesn't actually modify the core grid cell values. The 3D shapefiles are linked to the grid tiles via the K2Vi project file and modify the terrain on loading of the project. Row Filtering Row filtering of terrain data will decrease the number of points for triangulation and will result in faster loading and higher frame rates (display speed) but less accurate terrains. No Row filtering will result in longer loading times, lower frame rates but more accurate terrains. Annotation The Annotation functionality allows you to retrieve attribute information from shapefiles without 'seeing' the actual shapefile in the scene. For example if you have a shapefile with waterways, you can load this shapefile via the 'Annotation' Dialog box. When the mouse goes over the area where there is a polygon in the shapefile, K2VI will display the waterways attribute information in the bottom left corner. Export data K2Vi can export the textured 3D scene to the following formats: - ESRI 3D shapefile.
- The popular VRML format for distribution on the web.
- WorldToolKit NFF file.
- GeoTIFF (terrain file).
- Local K2Vi file format.
Skybox The skybox is a geometry. The user can create their own geometry and textures or select from 5 existing skyboxes; - autumn
- sunset
- night
- bright day
- bluedream
The skybox can also be transparent to blend with background color Constant 4:3 aspect ratio Allows you set the aspect ratio of the display to 4:3 (standard 35mm film) independent of screen resolution and physical screen aspect ration. Disable Viewpoint Pitch Great to create panoramic screen shots Magic Carpet The Magic Carpet improves performance on low end systems and where complex scenes are displayed: - Interactively adjust the inner and outer boundaries of the K2Vi scene to enhance performance.
- Switch to 'Wireframe Only' mode while navigating'
- Calculate the optimum visible K2Vi scene depending on desired frame rate.
Data Formats
The data formats supported by K2Vi are described below. GIS – SDE K2Vi can directly read and write GIS data stored in the Spatial Database Engine (ArcSDE). This includes 2D and 3D points, polylines and polygons. Point and polylines features are automatically converted to polygons in the K2Vi scene. An attribute value can be used to extrude the GIS objects. GIS - Shapefiles K2Vi can directly read and write to ESRI shapefiles including 3D shapefiles. An attribute value can be used to extrude the GIS objects. CAD and texture information is stored in dBase files which are linked to the shape file. GIS – Mapinfo K2Vi can read Mapinfo .tab and .mif files (read only). GIS - Raster Geospatial Data K2Vi can directly read the following raster geospatial data formats: - Arc/Info ASCII Grid: This format is the ASCII interchange format for Arc/Info Grid, and takes the form of an ASCII file, plus sometimes an associated .prj file.
- Arc/Info Binary Grid: This format is the internal binary format for Arc/Info Grid, and takes the form of a coverage level directory in an Arc/Info database. To open the coverage select the coverage directory, or an .adf file (such as hdr.adf) from within it.
- DTED - Military Elevation Data: K2Vi supports DTED Levels 0, and 1 elevation data.
- XYZ ASCII files (comma delimited): This is for example the format that is created when exporting terrains from Socet Set.
- USGS SDTS formatted DEMs
- GeoTIFF: GeoTIFF represents an effort by over 160 different remote sensing, GIS, cartographic, and surveying related companies and organizations to establish a TIFF based interchange format for georeferenced raster imagery.
K2Vi automatically creates a TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network layer) from the loaded raster data for optimized rendering speed. Next the user can drape image files on the TIN and save the image with the raster data. See our 'How to' manual for details on how to load in raster geospatial data sets and how to drape (georeferenced) images on the created TIN. 'Export to K2Vi' ArcMap tool K2Vi Professional comes with an ArcMap tool (k2vi_kvp.dll) which allows you to create K2Vi projects from ArcMap with the push of a button. The tool allows you create a k2vi project file (*.kvp) plus associated project directory and subdirectories from the data layers in the active map in ArcMap. The tool will clip every layer to the active view extent and copy the layer to the correct k2vi project directory. The following data layers are supported currently; GIS - Local Data Local K2Vi files. This is an open ASCII file format similar to the Arc/Info generate format. 3D CAD - Model Data K2Vi imports 3D models in the following file formats: - 3DS (3D Studio)
- FLT (OpenFlight)
- BFF (Sense8)
- VRML97
- NFF (Sense8)
- OBJ (Wavefront)
3D CAD Object LOD Support for Level Of Details (LOD) of 3D CAD models. CAD Model Randomizer Typically when you add a large number of CAD objects (for example trees) to the 3D world, they all have the same rotation and scale which doesn’t look very natural. You can now use the CAD model randomizer to create variety in rotation and scale of the selected CAD objects. Create Footprints You can create footprints from multiple CAD models, eg house models, to modify the terrain. Smooth Rendering of CAD Objects CAD objects will be rendered smooth in K2Vi if they have vertex normals. Imagery - (Image Data) Images can be imported for use as textures on individual polygons or on a group of polygons, for example a terrain model (with full control of placement, orientation, spacing etc).
The following image formats are currently supported: - JPG (K2Vi supports georeferenced JPG images): A *.jgw file containing the geo-information must be present in the same directory as the loaded jpg image.
- TIFF (K2Vi supports georeferenced TIFF images): A *.tfw file containing the geo-information must be present in the same directory as the loaded jpg image.
- TGA
- AVI
- PNG
- BMP
Sound Data Sound can be attached to objects for added realism or for studying the effects of objects that produce sound. K2VI imports the following sound format: Export data K2Vi can export the textured 3D scene objects to the following formats: - ESRI 3D Shapefile
- GeoTIFF (terrain only)
- WTK NFF format
- The popular VRML format for distribution on the web.
- Local K2Vi file format.
- Various versions of OpenFlight format.
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