3D GIS has several strengths for public engagement in development proposals. It allows non-experts to better understand proposals through interactive 3D visualization of projects. Web-based 3D GIS makes information easily accessible to the public online instead of just at meetings. The realism of 3D models through techniques like photorealistic texturing helps users visualize how projects will look from different angles and heights. 3D GIS can also collect public feedback through integrating communication platforms like emails and forums. However, 3D GIS also has limitations such as high hardware and software requirements.

1. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
LSGI 4321 Assignment 1
Topic: 3D GIS is often considered as an effective mean to engage the public in
development proposals. Critically assess the strength and limitations of current 3D
GIS implementation, and suggest possible improvement areas
A. Introduction
Geographical information system (GIS) can be regarded as powerful tool with
multiple functions such as capture, structuring, manipulation, analysis and
presentation (Raper and Maguire, 1992). It is well recognized that existing GIS
packages are able to handle and manipulate 2D and 2.5 data efficiently but limited to
process and manipulate 3D spatial data to present real world spatial object.Therefore,
it may facilitate an extension of the existing systems to a third dimension.3D GIS can
be applied to visualize the current state of cities and to perform simulation of the
proposed development plan. In this application, high resolution 3D city model
combined with urban planning database is introduced.3D Visualization can be
regarded as the most important components in 3D GIS. Realism and interaction are
distinctivefeatures of visualization techniques. 3D game engine can be
evenincorporated with GIS application to support 3D capabilities (Sharkawi, Ujang,
Abdul-Rahman, 2008) since they are not expensive and be able to handle heavy real
time graphics (Stock and Bishop, 2005). 3D navigation which derives from game
engine is one of 3D GIS components. Using 3D visualization and 3D navigation may
enhance better understanding of the proposed designs and the environmental
impacts caused by development proposal.
With rapid growth of information technology, web based 3D GIS which
usuallyintegrate with multimedia, virtual reality and visualization is developed to
publish urban planning designs and collect suggestions via the internet(Drummond &
French, 2008), enabling effective and active participation in the development
proposal.
Public participation is fundamental to the success of an urban planning project. To
encourage public participation in the urban planning process, urban planners make
use of 3D GIS and 3D Web based GIS to enable stakeholders to achieve better
understanding of the planning content and the effects caused by planning projects.
In this paper, the goal is to examine whether 3D GIS can be an effective means to
engage the public in development proposals. I will first describe the definition and

2. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
function of 3D GIS. The advantages and limitation of
current 3D GIS implementation will then be illustrated. Also, I will suggest possible
improvement areas of current 3D GIS implementation. In the final section, I will then
conclude by presenting my own opinions on the subject.
B. Definitionand Function of 3D GIS
According to Worboys (1995), 3D GIS should be capable of modeling, representing,
managing, manipulating, analyzing and supporting decisions based upon information
associated with three-dimensional phenomena.A wide range of innovative tools are
introduced to describe and display 3D city models. They contain off the shelf GIS
packages and 3D extensions (for example, ESRI’s ArcScene and Community Viz’s
Scenario 360), 3D Globe products (for example, Google’s GoogleEarth, NASA’s World
Wind and ESRI’s ArcGlobe), open source language such as Virtual Reality Markup
language (VRML), Extensible 3D (X3D), and a range of computer gaming engines (for
example, FarCry, Unreal and Torque) (Pettit, Cartwright, Berry, 2006) which may
support the public participation process by visualization approach.
3D GIS can be used for visibility analysis and terrain modeling using Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) and Triangulated Irregular Networks (TIN) (Jones, 1997). In other words,
3D relief model can be constructed based on the spot heights and elevation data.
Buildings can be extruded to the required heights and added onto the landscape
while aerial photographs are draped onto the 3Dmodel to project a more realistic
look (Mak et al., 2006).
Mak et al., (2006) also states that the 3D GIS has built in navigation functions to
explore, display and query the three-dimensional model in a few key-strokes or by
clicking with a pointing device. Besides, 3D GIS can be able to perform some
analytical work such as evaluating view shed, interpolating spot heights at any point,
constructing vertical profiles along linear features, determining steepness of slopes
and performing line of sight analysis as well as sunshine and shadow analysis (Mak et
al., 2006)
C. Strength of Current 3D GIS implementation
Lai et al (2011) claimed that lack of engagement, lack of interactivity and lack of
effective communication are three major challenges for public hearings which lead to
communication gaps between the stakeholders.When compared to traditional
consultation methods, 3D GIS can be aneffective channel of information
dissemination (Kwong, 2006).It is believed that internet can be a good medium for

3. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
distributing planning information and platform for
participation. The public can easilyaccess the planning information at any time
through the internet instead of attending a meeting at a particular time or place.
Web based GIS make use of the proliferation of the internet to enhance public
participation in urban planning process.Offering 3D visualization of existing and
planned structures via internet can enable non professional to achieve better
understanding on planning contents and the consequences bought by urban
planning project.It is believed that the use of web based system has potential to
break down the psychological barrier to solicit viewpoints in public meetings or
hearing (Mak et al.,2006).Greater involvement in the planning process may result in
the greater understanding and acceptance of development proposal.
Besides, 3D GIS are flexible and interactivewhen compared to 2D GIS. 2D GIS
arepowerful tool but it is difficult for non professionals to understand the content of
developmentplan that may hinder the public participation in planning process. Thus,
it is essential to develop common visual language to visualize some of important
information for the planning projects and present new concept of the proposed
design. Interactive visualization of urban simulation can realistically present and
assist in developing good decisions that help create consensus (Chen et al., 1998). It
is obvious that 3D GIS can be an alternative approach for public consultation. Also,
the 3D navigation system in 3D GIS allows users to walk through and explore the
environment of the project area. It seems that model using game engine can enable
users to observe changes in the stimulation environment and even provide tools for
analysis of changes (Broll et al., 2004). Users can gain unusual experiences that are
unavailable in 2D GIS. Coors et al (2004) states that people canrecognize landmarks
and search routes in the cities easier by using 3D models than using a symbolic 2D
map which makes 3D visualization more relevant for 3D navigation and due to the
high visual correspondence between map objects and real world objects, it may
increase the navigational value of the 3D map. In other words, orientation can be no
longer a problem in such stimulation environment. It seems that application of 3D
GIS can stimulate public interest and enhance public engagement in development
proposal.
Furthermore, 3D GIS can be effective communication tools to distribute technical and
environmental information of development proposals to the general public and
collect their opinions towards these development proposals. For instance, Virtual
globe based and web service architecture can be able to integrate other

4. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
communication platform such as email, forum which
allows the users to express their opinions on planning projects (Wu, He & Gong,
2009). Wu, He & Gong (2009) also believe that the system can provide a distributed
3D urban planning information sharing environment for public participation.
Therefore, 3D GIS are crucial to enhance public participation process since it may
bridge the communication gap between urban planner and the public and improve
the transparency in planning process.
More importantly, realism can be an obvious benefit of 3D visualization. 3D
visualization techniques within 3D GIS, such as photo realistic texturing, advanced
lighting and real time navigation can enable users to access the models from
different directions, angles and zoom level.For instance, 3D virtual model of London
provide in depth visualization of all buildings in London where users can be able to
navigate at street level or fly across in panoramic fashion (Bulmer, 2001). Virtual
reality (VR) can be considered as one of powerful visualization techniques to support
public participation in urban planning processdue to its highly realistic, interactive
and dynamic representation. VR can enable the continuous change of the viewing
position and provide ways to interact with real world spatial objects.
For example, GIS merge with virtual reality system can provide a real time interaction
and visualization of road planningscenarios that allow users click on possible roads,
choose the interesting information and see the effects of their choice (Heldal, 2007).
Using the virtual reality techniques can further improve understanding of the
environmental changes and arouse more discussion on the planning issues. For
instance, a 3D interactive virtual environment for the Yuansantze Flood Diversion
work project is constructed to display flood flow and wave visualization established a
balance between the capability and efficiency, meanwhile enhancingpublic
participation in this large scale government project (Lai et al., 2011).
Undoubtedly, 3D GIS can overcome some challenges caused by traditional
consultation approaches and become interactive and useful tools to expand public
participation in urban planning processto certain extent.Meredith (2000) states that
better access to information, better connection to decision making process, better
tools for getting input into decision making process are important to efficient public
participation which reflect 3D GIS can play a role to engage the public in
development proposals.

5. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
D. Limitation of Current 3D GIS implementation
Several limitations of recent 3D GIS implementation should be taken into account
since it may restrict public participation in the development proposal. To begin with,
there is an increase in the cost of data collection with the use of 3D modeling when
compared with 2D. In spite of the progress in automatic object detection and 3D
reconstruction, the manual work is still predominant (Rahman, Zlatanova&Pilouk ,
2001).The high cost of data acquisition may limit the applicability of 3D GIS to be a
tool in public consultation process.
Besides, 3D GIS are limited to model some urban features due to their complex
structure or the data which are not enough for the definition of the geometry (Coors,
Rumor, Fendel&Zlatanova, 2007). In other words, 3D modeling problem occur due to
not well defined data structure. Coors, Rumor, Fendel&Zlatanova (2007) also list
some problems about the 3D geometric structure of some particular feature
classshown in Table 1.
Table1 Example of geographic features with relative geometries and 3D modeling problem
Feature Entity Problem
Building 3D Complex Ring Acquisition only of the boundary of the
base of the features
Wall 3D Poly line The geometry don’t allowed the
complete definition of the object
Staircase ??? Complex object, the geometry is not
defined
Scarp 3D complex Ring The geometry of the features is not
correctly acquired
Moreover,3D GIS emphasize the importance of visualization but advanced spatial
analytical functions are rarely found such as overlay, intersection, disjoint and so on.
In 3D GIS, users can only perform some basic analytical function such as sunshine
and shadow analysis, distance measurement as well as visibility and viewshed
analysis.Some may argue that 3D visualization within 3D GIS is impressive to the
users but it may not be as informative as the 2D GIS since advanced GIS analytical

6. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
functions such as spatial queries and bufferingare
commonly found in 2D GIS. In depth queries functions are still unavailable in 3D GIS.
Fisher et al. (1997) point out that 3D graphics may be more pleasing and eye-catching
than conventional plain ones whereas these 3D graphics may not be as informative
as those in 2D format. Therefore, 3D GIS can be used in early stage of planning
process to provide a quick overview of planning projects for stakeholders. However,
urban planners may make use of advanced analytical functions in 2D GIS to perform
further analysis of the development projects.
More importantly, large file size induced by 3D realistic representationmay lead to
loss of users as they are not willing to wait for long time to download the model.
According to Mak et al.(2005) estimated that 20% of users were lost for every 10
seconds spent on loading files on a webpage. The applicability of 3D GIS for general
public will be affected. Also, appropriate hardware and software are required so as to
visualize the planning content in the 3D model.It is inconvenient for the user to
install special tools or browser plug-ins before visualizing the 3D model which may
limit public accessibility to planning information.
Last but not least, the accuracy is one of deficiency in 3D model. 3D visualization may
contain errors in spite of the realistic appearance. Hamilton et al.(2001) contend that
some 3D models might appear “perfect” whereas they might not be identical to the
real situation. They also claim that misinterpretations of 3D representation, such as
the scale factor may lead to uncertainty of 3D model. For example, the vertical
distance of landscape and other features may be exaggerated in order to achieve
better visualization. Thus,the reliability of the model will be affected. The public
lacking sufficient GIS knowledge may be misled by 3D graphics. It may limit
participation in development proposal.
E. Suggestion of possible improvement area
Considering problems associated with spatial modeling for 3D GIS, Abdul-Raham and
Pilouk (2007) suggest that an integrated data model permitting the derivation of a
unified data structure capable of maintaining all the components of the geometric
representation of real world objects should be designed. They also state that each
geometric component must be able to represent a real world object differently
understood by different people.
Besides, effective methods for data structure should be provided to address 3D
modeling problem. Some geometry of geographic features isnot well defined in 3D

7. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
GIS such as staircase and wall. Use of tools for
manual modeling of the staircase and introduction of the multipatch structure that
allow the generation of the wall is recommended to tackle the 3D modeling problem
(Coors, Rumor, Fendel&Zlatanova , 2007).Also, Abdul-Raham and Pilouk (2007)
recommend that a design of updating procedures which include the development of
consistency rules ensuring the logical consistency and integrity of the integrated
database are required to maintain the spatial model for 3D GIS.
Moreover, it is essential to develop additional spatial operators and explore more
spatial analysis functions for 3D GIS. For instance, 3D GIS should be able to perform
logic (intersection, union), overlay and merging operations. Also, it is suggested that
design of a user interface and query language enable users’ access to the integrated
database (Abdul-Raham and Pilouk , 2007). 3D GIS with improved analytical function
can become more informative for general users.
Regarding the cost of data acquisition, it is important to develop effective methods
for 3D data collection. Utilization of existing components such as 2D and DTM
(back-word compatibility) and preparation of those components for future
incorporation into the higher dimension model (forward compatibility) can be
considered as an useful approach to reduce the costs of repeating data collection
(Abdul-Raham and Pilouk , 2007).
Last but not least, it is essential to optimize the file size without degrading the quality
of 3d model. The time of data transmission can be greatly reduced. To make the 3D
GIS application more enjoyable and interesting, compatible with some gameswould
give wonderful experience for public users. It is useful way to stimulate the public
interest and enhance effective participation in urban planning process.
F. Conclusion
To conclude, public participation can be regarded as essential part in the planning
process. Effective participation must be based on well informed public whereas lots
of non professional find it difficult to understand the content of plans and the
consequences bought by planning alternatives (Knapp, Bogdahn& Coors, 2007). 3D
GIS are introduced to be interactive planning tool to improve the communication
among stakeholders and stimulate the public interests and enhance public
participation in urban planning process. Scottish executive in Scotland (2006)
mentioned that the potential of 3D modeling is to engage communities and assisting
planners and councilors to visualize and access the visual impact of development

8. Student Name: Chow Man Na
Student ID: 09187784d
proposals.It reveals the importance of visual impact
of environmental changes to the public and the potential of visual media for
communication to the stakeholders (Miller et al, 2008). However, current 3D GIS
implementations mainly emphasize the importance of 3Dvisualization and its
interactive components. Advanced analytical functions are rarely found since related
data management may not be suitable for real 3D functionality. Gaborit& Howard
(2004) comment that without enough tools to use 3D urban models, the
achievement of these models is the model themselves, instead of what can be done
with them. Therefore, it is essential to develop more advanced analytical tools to
increase the functionality of 3D GISso that 3D GIS can become more effective means
to engage public in the development proposal.Compatible with some games can
make 3D GIS present the planning information in an interesting way. Apart from
application 3D GIS, social networks such as facebook and some useful mobile apps
can be other effective means to encourage public participation in the urban planning
process.
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