Virtual Reality and Distributed GIS
Virtual Reality is a way for humans to visualize, manipulate and interact with computers
and extremely complex data. Virtual Reality is defined as a high-end user interface that
involves real time simulation and interaction through multiple sensorial channels. These
sensorial modalities are visual, auditory, tactile, smell, taste, etc. [Burdea, 1993- b]. It is
clear that virtual reality is both Interactive and Immersive. These features are often
referred to as the two I’s of virtual reality. Virtual Reality is not just a medium or a high-end
user interface; it also has applications that involve the solution of some real problems
in engineering, medicine, military etc. The extent to which simulation performs well
depends very much on human Imagination, which forms the third “I” of VR and in the
context of GIS, we can include one more “I” for Intelligent analysis.
Figure 1. Virtual Reality “Immersion-Interaction-Imagination-Intelligent Analysis”
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