Real-time visualization of 3D city models [Elektronische Ressource] / von Henrik Buchholz

REAL-TIME VISUALIZATION OF 3D CITY MODELS DISSERTATION ZUR ERLANGUNG DES AKADEMISCHEN GRADES DOCTOR RERUM NATURALIUM (DR. RER. NAT.) IN DER WISSENSCHAFTSDISZIPLIN INFORMATIK EINGEREICHT AN DER MATHEMATISCH-NATURWISSENSCHAFTLICHEN FAKULTÄT DER UNIVERSITÄT POTSDAM VON HENRIK BUCHHOLZ GEBOREN AM 22.11.1976 IN MÜNSTER POTSDAM, DEN 29. SEPTEMBER 2006 ABSTRACT An increasing number of applications requires user interfaces that facilitate the handling of large geodata sets. Using virtual 3D city models, complex geospatial information can be communicated visually in an intuitive way. Therefore, real-time visualization of virtual 3D city models represents a key functionality for interactive exploration, presentation, analysis, and manipulation of geospatial data. This thesis concentrates on the development and implementation of concepts and techniques for real-time city model visualization. It discusses rendering algorithms as well as complementary modeling concepts and interaction techniques. Particularly, the work introduces a new real-time rendering technique to handle city models of high complexity concerning texture size and number of textures. Such models are difficult to handle by current technology, primarily due to two problems: Limited texture memory: The amount of simultaneously usable texture data is limited by the memory of the graphics hardware.