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Web 3DS Business Models


3. 3D CITY MODELS:
Use of 3D spatial information and thematic attribute information together with in a geographic database for a modern city is called 3D city model. A 3D city model basically, provides five different LoD (Level of Detail). (Thomas H. Kolbe et.al 2005)
  • The coarsest level LoD0 is essentially a two and a half dimensional Digital Terrain Model, over which an aerial image or a map may be draped.
  • LoD1 is the well-known blocks model, without any roof structures or textures.
  • In contrast, a building in LoD2 has differentiated roof structures and textures. Vegetation objects may also be represented.
  • LoD3 denotes architectural models with detailed wall and roof structures, balconies, bays and projections. High-resolution textures can be mapped onto these structures. In addition, detailed vegetation and transportation objects are components of a LoD3 model.
  • LoD4 completes a LoD3 model by adding interior structures like rooms, interior doors, stairs, and furniture.

FIG1: LEVEL OF DETAILS 1(Thomas H. Kolbe et.al 2005)

The Web 3D Service is a portrayal service for three-dimensional geodata, delivering graphical elements from a given geographical area. In contrast to the OGC Web Mapping service (WMS) and the OGC Web terrain service (WTS) 3D scene graphs are produced. These scene graphs will be rendered by the client and can interactively be explored by the user. The W3DS merges different types (layers) of 3D data in one scene graph.

4.ADVANTAGES OF 3D CITY MODEL
When compared to 2D, in 3D we have following addition components
  • 3D geometry of the features.
  • Illumination effect on the feature
  • Shadow model on the features
  • Texture information
  • Change of perspective
The following is the best illustrated example for the above quoted advantages.


FIG2:2D AND 3D CITY MODELS 1 (Stephan Nebiker,2002)

5. APPLICATIONS:
Following are the applications of 3D city models to name few.
  • Disaster management: Virtual 3D city models provide important information for different aspects of disaster management. First, they memorize the shape and configuration of a city. In case of severe destruction of infrastructure e.g. caused by earthquakes, immediate access to this reference data allows to quickly assess the extent of the damage, to guide helpers and last but not least to rebuild the damaged sites. (Thomas H. Kolbe et.al 2005)
  • Urban Planning: 3D city models enable the planners to get realistic view of existing Infrastructure. So planning new design, infrastructure and facility services can be done in a better manner. (Shiode N. ,2001) Analysis of traffic flow, pedestrian patterns, zoning, land-use and special restrictions. Scientist can Simulate noise, heat and exhaust spreading in big cities using this information. Also it is useful in site location analysis, emergency facilities planning.
  • Tourism: Reality-based 3D city model, combined with trees in 3D environment (DTM and orthophoto) can be web-streamed and optimized for the performance via Internet. The client (e.g. hotel or restaurant) can access their online administration page by using their username and password. They can manage entries (e.g. hyperlinks, promotion etc.) and keep the company data current, which makes this web-solution a powerful enterprise tool for tourism and marketing. (Kilian Ulm,2005)
  • Navigation: 3D city models enable 3D visualizations and facilitate localization in indoor and outdoor navigation. Augmented reality systems provide helpers with information that is visually overlaid with their view of the real world. Such systems need 3D city models in order to compute the positions and occlusions of the overlay graphics. In Navigation and way finding, three-dimensional city model is connected to the map of the same area as the model describes and to the database, which includes information from the same area and also with GPS.The three-dimensional model appears to illustrate the motion and changing the location more clearly than two-dimensional map alone. (Teija Vainio, 2002)
  • Telecommunication: Radio network planning process consists of dimensioning, coverage planning, capacity planning, frequency planning and parameter planning of radio network. Geographical information is closely related to all these processes. Radio technical prediction processes and analyses need 3D city models as input data and they also produce geographical output data. (Sonera,1998)
  • Architecture: Architectural monuments are widely used and endangered by long term influences like traffic or air pollution or destructive events causing heavy damage like earthquakes, fire, war etc. But by all means when monuments are seriously damaged, or completely destroyed, the amount and quality of surviving documentation like 3D model becomes highly important. (Zaide DURAN, 2004)
6. BUSINESS MODELS FOR 3D SPATIAL DATA
Use of spatial data and GIS services has existed on campus for a number of years, originating primarily in 3D graphics and Games now extending their service to city models which is useful for several applications quoted above.

6.1 WHAT IS BUSINESS MODEL?
A business model is simply the architecture of a company and its network of partners for creating, marketing and delivering value and relationship capital to a global customer's base in order to generate profitable and sustainable revenue streams.

6.2 WHO ARE ALL CUSTOMERS?
  • Real Estate owners
  • Tourism Department
  • Navigation companies
  • Mobile communication companies
  • Architects
  • Urban planners etc.,
6.3 COST OF WEB 3D DATA:
There are several factors involved in estimating the cost of the product to be sold. In case of any GIS data Price model could be based upon the following factors
  • DATA CAPTURING COST: A high cost associated with accessing and using 3D data
  • DATA PROCESSING COST: This includes the cost derived from the Software and Hardware required to generate the 3D models from the captured data.
  • DATA MAINTENANCE COST: This includes the cost related with the storage and exchange of data
  • MAP SERVER COST: This is the cost to set up and serve the 3D city model on the web.
6.4 HOW COSTS VARY FROM CUSTOMER TO CUSTOMER ON PRESENT SCENERIO:
Following is the general overview on cost of web 3D data today for the city of Hamburg, Germany.
  • Research projects and academic projects receive the 3D services for free. (some cases)
  • The cost of data may be different depending on how the data are used by customers. Uses may include viewing, downloading, adding value and reselling products. Different levels or types of access to data can be used to structure a payment scheme. For example there may be open access, password protected members only access, viewing of low grade data for free with download or high quality data only possible after payment has been made, etc.
  • Special cost for the different departments involved in development of the same city.
  • For any services customer is charged e.g. 40 $ for every half an hour. For visualization the customer has to pay the prices according to size of the cost of the 3D data increases.
  • For 4 km x 4 km Level 1 3D city model costs 150 $.
  • Ground cost for the 3D videos is 360 $ and for the duration less than one minute 120 $ Euro per 10 sec. Then 25 $ per 10 sec from 1 minute.
  • Ground cost for digital 3D building is 45$. Every building costs 2 $.
  • In another example, the whole US data costs 5300 $, which is only Terrain data with low resolution.

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