Generating Cinematic Flyby Sequences Following Paths and GPS Tracks
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for animated visualization of geo-located objects in a geographic information system, comprising:
- determining a first position of a first moving object to be visualized at a first time in an interactive three-dimensional environment of the geographic information system based on geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object over a period of time;
positioning a graphical representation of the first moving object at the first time in the interactive three-dimensional environment according to the determined first position;
determining a second position of the first moving object to be visualized at a second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object;
defining a first path of a virtual camera in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the determined first and second positions of the first moving object at the respective first and second times, the first moving object to be visualized in the interactive three-dimensional environment from a perspective of the virtual camera;
automatically generating in real-time an animation of the graphical representation of the first moving object in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the defined first path of the virtual camera so as to visualize a smooth transition of the first moving object from the first position at the first time to the second position at the second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment; and
dynamically rendering the generated animation and views of geographic information within the interactive three-dimensional environment on a display from the perspective of the virtual camera moving along the first path from the first position to the second position,wherein the determining the first and second positions, the positioning, the defining, the generating, and the rendering are performed by one or more computing devices implementing the interactive three-dimensional environment of the geographic information system.
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Abstract
A visualization system and method allow moving objects to be visualized in a GIS system as an interactive animation by moving an icon or 3D graphical model in an interactive virtual environment of the GIS. A line may also be drawn behind the icon/3D model representing the path traveled during a window of time. Additionally, the evolution of time-dependent data associated with the moving object may be encoded and visualized in the GIS.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for animated visualization of geo-located objects in a geographic information system, comprising:
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determining a first position of a first moving object to be visualized at a first time in an interactive three-dimensional environment of the geographic information system based on geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object over a period of time; positioning a graphical representation of the first moving object at the first time in the interactive three-dimensional environment according to the determined first position; determining a second position of the first moving object to be visualized at a second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object; defining a first path of a virtual camera in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the determined first and second positions of the first moving object at the respective first and second times, the first moving object to be visualized in the interactive three-dimensional environment from a perspective of the virtual camera; automatically generating in real-time an animation of the graphical representation of the first moving object in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the defined first path of the virtual camera so as to visualize a smooth transition of the first moving object from the first position at the first time to the second position at the second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment; and dynamically rendering the generated animation and views of geographic information within the interactive three-dimensional environment on a display from the perspective of the virtual camera moving along the first path from the first position to the second position, wherein the determining the first and second positions, the positioning, the defining, the generating, and the rendering are performed by one or more computing devices implementing the interactive three-dimensional environment of the geographic information system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A geographic information system for animated visualization of geo-located objects in an interactive three-dimensional environment, comprising:
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one or more processors; an object positioner configured to determine a first position of a first moving object to be visualized at a first time in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object over a period of time, to position a graphical representation of the first moving object at the first time in the interactive three-dimensional environment according to the determined first position, and to determine a second position of the first moving object to be visualized at a second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the geographic positioning data associated with the first moving object; a path planner configured to define a first path of a virtual camera in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the determined first and second positions of the first moving object at the respective first and second times, the first moving object to be visualized in the interactive three-dimensional environment from a perspective of the virtual camera; an object animator configured to automatically generate in real-time an animation of the first graphical representation of the first moving object in the interactive three-dimensional environment based on the first path of the virtual camera so as to visualize a smooth transition of the first moving object from the first position at the first time to the second position at the second time in the interactive three-dimensional environment; and a renderer configured to dynamically render the generated animation and views of geographic information within the interactive three-dimensional environment on a display from the perspective of the virtual camera moving along the first path from the first position to the second position, wherein the object positioner, the path planner, the object animator, and the renderer are implemented using the one or more processors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-implemented method for animated visualization of geo-located objects in a geographic information system, comprising:
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positioning a graphical representation of a moving object in an interactive three-dimensional environment over a period of time based on geographic positioning data associated with the moving object, the geographic positioning data including a plurality of geographic locations corresponding to the moving object over time, each location in the plurality of locations associated with a timestamp; generating a cinematic path for a virtual camera in the interactive three-dimensional environment that keeps the moving object in-view while maximizing contextual understanding of the geographic landscape of the interactive three-dimensional environment, and minimizes nausea through constraining the camera motion in specific ways as it traverses the path; constraining rotation speed of the virtual camera based on a distance of the camera to the moving object and a speed of the moving object as an input to both the tilt and the range of the camera; and smoothing the movement of the virtual camera through adaptive key-framing of the track data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification