This research introduces GeospatialVR, an open-source collaborative virtual reality framework to dynamically create 3D real-world environments that can be served on any web platform and accessed via desktop and mobile devices and virtual reality headsets. The framework can generate realistic simulations of desired locations entailing the terrain, elevation model, infrastructures, dynamic visualizations (e.g. water and fire simulation), and information layers (e.g. disaster damages and extent, sensor readings, occupancy, traffic, weather). These layers enable in-situ visualization of useful data to aid public, scientists, officials, and decision-makers in acquiring a bird’s eye view of the current, historical, or forecasted condition of a community. The framework incorporates multiuser support for remote virtual collaboration. GeospatialVR’s purpose is to augment cyberinfrastructures with geospatial components to constitute the next-generation of information systems and decision support systems powered by immersive technologies. Finally, case studies have been developed for flooding, wildfire, transportation, and active shooter response.
Open Source Code
Geospatial VR is open-source and available from https://github.com/uihilab/GeospatialVR
Related Articles
- Sermet, Y. and Demir, I., 2020. GeospatialVR: A Web-based Virtual Reality Framework for Collaborative Environmental Simulations. Environmental Modelling & Software.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31223/osf.io/ks2yz (in review) (pre-print)
