A Virtual Globe for the A Virtual Globe for the Interactive Display of Interactive Display of OPeNDAP DataOPeNDAP DataWE-MAV-01 (FY07) WE-MAV-01 (FY07)

Nancy Soreide1

Albert J Hermann2

Joseph Sirott1

1 NOAA/PMEL, Seattle, WA 981152 NOAA/PMEL/JISAO-University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195

New technologies can promote New technologies can promote public visualization of NOAA’s public visualization of NOAA’s data assetsdata assets1) Virtual globe software (and Google

Earth in particular) is steadily capturing the imagination of the public, as a natural interface for geospatial data.

2) A steadily increasing catalogue of NOAA’s oceanographic and atmospheric data is available through OPeNDAP technology.

3) Low-cost immersive technology (e.g. the GeoWall) has proven its value in public education and scientific analysis, for the display of geospatial data.

Google EarthGoogle EarthGE is a free geospatial viewer

with the popular appeal of a videogame experience

GE has a simple scripting language: KML (keyhole markup language) http://www.keyhole.com/kml/kml_tut.html

A free stereo viewer for GE is now available: http://www.tridef.com/promotions/google-earth.html

Google Earth topography in Google Earth topography in stereo stereo

We use model output to We use model output to demonstrate oceanic demonstrate oceanic capabilitiescapabilities

Accomplishments thus farAccomplishments thus farRendered simple objects in GE:

◦2D plots◦Animated translucent 3D “fog” ◦Animated 3D float tracks with bathymetry

Utilized an openDAP server (DAPPER) to render isosurfaces in GE

Assembled a portable geowall for immersive stereo rendering

Demonstrated the system to a large audience

Simple 2-D plot in GESimple 2-D plot in GE using gif transparency using gif transparency

Stacked translucent gifs Stacked translucent gifs create 3D“fog”create 3D“fog”

GE presently has no ocean depth so must build 3D worlds in to the sky….

3D fog: results from CGOA 3D fog: results from CGOA modelingmodelingTemperature of the top 100m of

the oceanJun 03- Jun 08 of 2001Red is hotter, Blue is colderHere, look directly down from

above, through the fog

June 03 2001June 03 2001

June 04 2001June 04 2001

June 05 2001June 05 2001

June 06 2001June 06 2001

June 07 2001June 07 2001

June 08 2001June 08 2001

Sample 3D float track with Sample 3D float track with crude bathymetry surfacecrude bathymetry surface

DAPPER server for display of DAPPER server for display of surfaces in GEsurfaces in GEInteractive selection of region,

time, isosurfaceDemo version hosts Eco-FOCI

model outputGenerates kml file which is

displayed by GEUses COLLADA language for

compact representation of surfaces

Salinity isosurface (red) Salinity isosurface (red) with bathymetry (blue)with bathymetry (blue)

Visualize in stereo!Visualize in stereo!

Same surfaces from a Same surfaces from a different angledifferent angle

Equipment for portable Equipment for portable stereo systemstereo systemLaptop with dual video outputSmall projectors (each ~size of a

submarine sandwich)Medium-sized screen, easy to

carryPolarized glasses

A portable geowall in A portable geowall in use…use…

Projectors are small!

Issues for future workIssues for future workWe anticipate GE will add ocean

bathymetry◦This would allow a true 3D ocean in the

oceanGE has high potential for interactive

display from many sources◦Live Access Server has interactive

refresh during navigation in GE◦Simultaneously compare model output

with data from multiple servers