Next-Generation Digital Earth Systems: From Geometric Modelling to Visualization

A special issue of ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (ISSN 2220-9964).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 5215

Special Issue Editors

Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: computer graphics; digital earth; geometric modeling; visualization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Research Associate, Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: visualization; artistic and creative visualization; physicalization; HCI
PhD Candidate, Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Interests: digital Earth; numerical optimization; computer graphics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in geospatial sensors (e.g., satellites, smartphones, drones, meteorological instruments, and LIDAR) have resulted in technologies capable of collecting large and dynamic geospatial data. The variety, volume, and complexity of these dynamic multiscale data require better data integration, meaningful visualization, and effective user interactions in digital Earth systems. Consequently, we should reexamine these systems and explore their foundations, geometric models, computational methods, and visualization tools to develop next-generation digital earth systems capable of handling the defined challenges.

In this Special Issue, we are interested in research articles aiming to develop new digital Earth systems from geometric and computational models to novel visualization and interaction. The topics of interest include but are not limited to:

- Globe-based models

- Volumetric Earth systems

- Discrete global grid systems

- Spatiotemporal modelling and interaction

- Computational models in Earth systems

- Grid-based machine learning methods

- Virtual and augmented reality in digital Earth systems

- Advanced rendering for planet-scale geospatial visualization

- Creative and artistic geo-visualization

- Geospatial data physicalization

- Time-varying geospatial data visualization

 - Uncertainty in geospatial visualization

- Public awareness and geospatial visualization

Dr. Faramarz F. Samavati
Dr. Katayoon Etemad
Mr. Lakin Wecker
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 7965 KiB  
Article
Efficient Calculation of Distance Transform on Discrete Global Grid Systems
by Meysam Kazemi, Lakin Wecker and Faramarz Samavati
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2022, 11(6), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11060322 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2875
Abstract
Geospatial data analysis often requires the computing of a distance transform for a given vector feature. For instance, in wildfire management, it is helpful to find the distance of all points in an area from the wildfire’s boundary. Computing a distance transform on [...] Read more.
Geospatial data analysis often requires the computing of a distance transform for a given vector feature. For instance, in wildfire management, it is helpful to find the distance of all points in an area from the wildfire’s boundary. Computing a distance transform on traditional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is usually adopted from image processing methods, albeit prone to distortion resulting from flat maps. Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) are relatively new low-distortion globe-based GIS that discretize the Earth into highly regular cells using multiresolution grids. In this paper, we introduce an efficient distance transform algorithm for DGGS. Our novel algorithm heavily exploits the hierarchy of a DGGS and its mathematical properties and applies to many different DGGSs. We evaluate our method by comparing its speed and distortion with the distance transform methods used in traditional GIS and general 3D meshes. We demonstrate that our method is efficient and has minimal distortion. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1601 KiB  
Article
Perspective Charts in a Multi-Foci Globe-Based Visualization of COVID-19 Data
by Mia MacTavish, Lakin Wecker and Faramarz Samavati
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2022, 11(4), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11040223 - 24 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
The use of perspective projection in data visualization has been shown to potentially aid with the perception of small values in datasets with important variations at multiple scales. We integrate perspective charts, which use perspective projection in their designs, into a geospatial visualization [...] Read more.
The use of perspective projection in data visualization has been shown to potentially aid with the perception of small values in datasets with important variations at multiple scales. We integrate perspective charts, which use perspective projection in their designs, into a geospatial visualization application for global COVID-19 data. We perform an evaluation through Amazon Mechanical Turk to evaluate the readability of these visualizations compared to traditional methods, when tools such as interactive techniques are used. Results of our evaluation show that participants more accurately retrieved small values from perspective chart visualizations than traditional bar charts on the globe. The use of perspective projection in an interactive system allows for users to read data with important variations at multiple scales without affecting the overall perception of scale in datasets. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop