Virtual Reality Geographic Information System Platform

Traditional geographic information system is based on 2-dimension coordinate, using images to present data. Virtual reality geographic information system is based on 3-dimension coordinate and presents data in 3D scenes. The latter provides more information and better simulation, so its cost of creating data is higher than the former's. However, VRGIS project cannot be developed without traditional GIS support. The projects Using non-standard technology have less extensibility and more difficult Maintenance.Extends GeoServer, the open source WEBGIS server software, and make it have the ability of 2D to 3D data conversion. Using data manipulation and system framework of GeoServer, extends the web service WMS. Adds new 3D data formats generation to WMS to implement 2D to 3D data conversion, and publishes the data as web service. Web3D ISO standard VRML and X3D are supported. There are two conversion methods:text template based format dependent conversion method and VRSLD based format independent conversion method.Extensibility and modularity Inherited from GeoServer make the system is open to add new conversion methods or new generated data formats, so that more abundant content and features can be provided. The two methods also have extensibility, and it is possible to create new templates and vrslds to enhance the ability of presentation. The management user interface of GeoServer, Web Administration Tool, has been extended to support virtual reality data generation process involved.A chemical plant virtual simulation project was developed, which did not use platform and standard technology. Its development process and result has been studied, and contrast with project developed using platform. Experimental results show that traditional data can be easily converted to virtual reality scene with only a few configuration files for system. Virtual reality scene is generated from GIS, so it is possible to provide geography related features.