Henk Kramer

Things have changed, a visual assessment of a virtual landscape from 1900 and 2006

Henk Kramer, Joske Houtkamp and Matthijs Danes

Henk Kramer

Things have changed, a visual assessment of a virtual landscape from 1900 and 2006

Introduction Why this research?

Scope of the research and result What did we want to do and what not Method The first result, two virtual landscapes and one movie User feedback

Conclusion

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this researchOld paintings:

They show a glimps of the bygone landscape

Source: http://verdwenennederland.bosatlas.nl

Posbank,

veluwe 1916

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this researchAnd show the changes in the landscape

Source: http://verdwenennederland.bosatlas.nl

Posbank, veluwe 1916

Posbank, veluwe 2006

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this researchBut paintings are fixed views and limited to a handful of locations

Source: http://verdwenennederland.bosatlas.nl

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this researchBut it’s relatively easy to see what has changed

Source: http://verdwenennederland.bosatlas.nl

Posbank, veluwe 1916

Posbank, veluwe 2006

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this research

More views and locations can be made available by creating 3d virtual landscapes from historical and current topographic maps.

Nation wide topographic maps for The Netherlands are available from 1850 on.

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this research

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this research

The main research question:

How do you compare two 3D views from different moments in time to see what has changed.

Henk Kramer

Introduction : why this research

Henk Kramer

Scope of the research

We wanted to:

• create comparable 3d environments for two timeslots

• based on topographic maps

• with the same level of abstraction

• easy access to users

• and with a focus on the changes in the landscape

Henk Kramer

Scope of the research

We did not want to:

• create a historical sensation

• use photo-realistic rendering

Henk Kramer

Scope of the research

Software:

• ArcMAP for pre-processing GIS data

• Landsim3D for constructing 3D environment and rendering

• Avisynth for post-processing rendered movies

Website for presenting results for evaluation

Henk Kramer

Result

Website : http://alterra0125s.wur.nl/gpsvid/tndt.htm

Henk Kramer

Result

Geometric differences; changes or errors?

One important factor when dealing with historical data:

• historic geodetic base not as accurate as the current base

• surveying errors?

• cartographic interpretation, a map is not the real world

Some examples

Henk Kramer

Result Geometric differences; changes or errors?

The road is relocated?

Digitizing error?

Mapping error?

Henk Kramer

Result Geometric differences; changes or errors?

The road is relocated?

Digitizing error?

Mapping error?

What does the user think?

Henk Kramer

User feedback

A questionnaire with a link to the website was send to several prospective users.

Henk Kramer

User feedback

The questions concerned four topics:

• the usability of the visualization

• the functionality of the interface

• the quality of the representation

• how can this be employed in research or education

Henk Kramer

User feedback

the usability of the visualization

Watching 3 animations at the same time is too difficult, so have to stop all the time.

Henk Kramer

User feedback

the functionality of the interface

Required: step by step from one frame to another; afterwards perhaps play the whole animation

For instance: points of interest on map that are clickable

Henk Kramer

User feedback

the quality of the representation

Low quality of rendering distracts, and does not allow experience of historic landscape.

Absence of lighting/shadows

More objects to strengthen the effect of a real landscape in use?

Vegetation is confusing.

Henk Kramer

User feedback

how can this be employed in research or education

Educational (showing to students)

Information in context of museums, nature educational centers

Spatial planning and design, by e.g. policy makers/administrators

Henk Kramer

Conclusions

• it is possible to construct comparable 3D virtual landscapes from historical and recent topographic maps

• presenting two views side by side is a workable method to show the results but the user needs guidance to know where to look

• the graphic quality needs to be improved

• the quality of the vegetation objects needs to be improved

Things have changed, a visual assessment of a virtual landscape from 1900 and 2006

Henk Kramer

Thank you

© Wageningen UR