Author(s)

M. Mosch, I. Frech, C. Schill, B. Koch, H. Stelzl, A. Almer & T. Schnabel

Abstract

Tourist regions in rural areas are particularly interested in using advanced presentation technologies to raise their attractiveness. Tourism information systems, especially on the World Wide Web, can be enhanced through the use of interactive maps [1] that represent information in either two or three dimensions [2]. An information system has been developed for the ReGeo project that is based on a virtual geo-multimedia database [3] and serves a variety of different applications. The system will be accessible to offline and online devices, such as the Internet, palmtop computers, info-terminals and PCs. The visualisation component of this project demonstrates how attractive and useful 2D- and 3D-visualisations can be integrated into information systems. The central object of this system is a 2D-map that is able to display information on demand and in a range of theme combinations (i.e. accommodation + hiking tours + sightseeing). The user is able to choose between either a topographic map or a remote sensing image as a background. The latter offers an impression of the region’s landscape, which is even better represented through the interactive 3Dmap. This 3D-map allows the user to navigate through a virtual model of the chosen destination and to display information mentioned in the 2D-map upon demand. Panoramic views and virtual flights over the landscape complete the representation possibilities. Keywords: tourist information system, 2D and 3D visualisation, geodata, interactive map, 3D object extraction.

Keywords

tourist information system, 2D and 3D visualisation, geodata, interactive map, 3D object extraction.