Implementation of a geographic information systems (GIS)-based system to evaluate the visual impact of offshore renewable energy installations

Chad Cooper – Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), Jackson Cothren – CAST, Robert Sullivan – Argonne National Laboratory, Malcolm Williamson – CAST, Snow Winters – CAST,

David Ball – Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

The United States Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) faces increasing interest in the use of waters under its jurisdiction for offshore renewable energy development. The Visual Impact Evaluation System for Offshore Renewable Energy, or VIESORE, is a GIS-based application which allows BOEM staff to import or interactively design the spatial layout and content of an offshore facility, import and prepare geospatial data that will affect visibility, run a series of visual analyses which take into account earth curvature, define atmospheric, lighting and wave conditions and, finally generate one or a series of realistic visualizations from multiple viewpoints.

Introduction Requirements

Approach System design

Development to date Current results

· Enable spatial design of offshore facility

· Import geospatial data

· Allow user control of atmospheric, lighting, and wave conditions

· Generate spatially accurate and realistic visualizations

· Output reports and images

· Provide a user-friendly interface

3D visualizations through a customized familiar GIS interface

Renders Reports

AVI

HTML

· Vue Infinite 10 3D modeling software accessed in background batch

mode through Python programming language via customized, yet

familiar Esri ArcGIS interface

· Vue provides photorealistic renderings

· User sets up real-world project data in ArcGIS interface, all data and

settings get passed to Vue where visualizations are then created

· Users familiar with ArcGIS interface – this eliminates need to learn

Vue 3D software package

ArcGIS code 3D modeling

Inputs/user interaction

Visualization processing

Outputs

GIS data inputs

Custom

Arc

GIS

tools

ArcGIS 10

· Import GIS data into Vue 3D visualization program

· Import wind turbine generator 3D models

· Set camera and sun positions

· Render to image (jpg)

All done in background via custom Python

code

· Creation of photorealistic visualization renderings of planned

offshore renewable energy installations

· Successful import of real-world GIS data into Vue 3D software

package for use in visualizations

· User provided with friendly interface which allows them to import

data

JPG

Key observation point (KOP)

Planned installation

ArcGIS 10

PDF

The system must:

· Independently evaluate visual impact of proposed facilities

· Validate photomontages provided by vendors

It shall enable users to: