3D navigation maps have become omnipresent both in automotive and pedestrian navigation systems. It enhances visual depiction and simplifies the recognition of locations by using 3D city models, terrain models and 3D building models.
3D city models play a vital role in developing navigation systems. Three dimensional map provides closer display to reality and delivers superior orientation to end-users. These models are part of the complete visualization data eco-system and they can be easily integrated with navigable product, 2D city map and 3D landmark products.
TreisTek provides 3D city modeling services for the navigation companies. The benefits of 3D city modeling in navigation are huge. Some of them are mentioned below.
Enhance the visual depiction
In the last decades, 3D city models appear to have been predominantly used for navigation maps as it enhances the visual depiction. The textual annotations are used to describe the objects in the maps because it provides a powerful means for orientation and visual data exploration. 3D maps also include panoramic maps of cities and landscapes as well as bird’s-eye views of cities. The high degree of visual clarity and geometric abstraction are shown – preferring abstraction to realism.
TreisTek’s 3D city models are also used to estimate the visibility of a landmark and assessing facade visibility for city marketing.
Simplify the recognition of locations
The end users of navigation are the travelers. 3D models help them to recognize the locations and map out the emergency routes effectively. Spatial analyses help in optimizing the delivery routes. Our 3D city models are also used in route planning, inter operable navigation applications and determining the optimal location to place the surveillance camera.
GPS-based car navigation systems use speech and aerial views of simplified road maps to guide drivers to their destination. However, drivers often experience difficulties in linking the simple 2D aerial map with the visual impression that they get from the real environment, which is inherently ground-level based. Therefore, supplying realistically textured 3D city models at ground-level proves very useful for pre-visualizing an upcoming traffic situation.
Automotive Navigation
3D models can be used for route finding and accessibility with specific applications such as evacuation, navigating large train stations, determining indoor routes for the disabled and locating the shortest path to the nearest automated external defibrillator. Off let, the integration of indoor and outdoor routing is done for indoor emergency response facilitation.
Pedestrian Navigation
3D models in pedestrian navigation help in improving road safety, assessing sniper hazards and providing data that are not available in 2D like ramps and steps. Pedestrian navigation is unique as the focus here is on delivering the optimal route, rather than route portrayal. There are two different types of building in 3D urban model for pedestrian navigation – buildings that act as visual landmarks and the normal buildings that serve as landmarks.
Maps out realistic display of the city
3D city models are designed with developed architecture that can display and visualize 3D city data in web environment for public access. By using sidewall pictures taken from real city buildings, the white walls of urban buildings are refilled into a real appearance as seen in the real world city. The realistic 3D visualization allows the user to search the required environment visually for specific features, and then to align themselves.
Tool for intelligent/ smart transportation
3D city models are the tool for intelligent and smart transportation. They help to improve traffic regarding security, sustainability, and reduced costs in terms of time, money, energy, and environmental impact. Various instances where 3D city models help are timely update of traffic data, the request of the equipment needed to assist in emergencies using the data provided by vehicles and the tracking of freight along its journey.
Junction Views
Junction views provide an additional visual aid to the driver before and during a maneuver. Junction view shows a photo-realistic view of the maneuver context when it matters the most, i.e., at the point of decision. They are produced for selected junctions and complement the generalized views during day and night.
3D Landmarks and icons
With the 3D Landmarks and icons, noteworthy structures and monuments to the digital map environment are introduced. Most of these structures are instantly recognizable through their silhouette, architectural style and historic significance. Their presence on the map greatly enhances the user orientation while contributing to the map’s visual appeal.
Railway Navigation
3D city models do not only help in road navigation but also has put its feet into railway navigation. The 3D models developed for railway navigation represent the external surface of the samples both laterally and longitudinally. 3D models also help in mapping the entire railway asset infrastructure in two phases, i.e., mapping the entire track network in the country and mapping the railway land and other assets along with the tracks.
3D city modelling helps to map out a realistic display of the city and its navigation infrastructure. Due to its ability to allow the administration to view it from a very realistic point of view, it is gaining widespread acceptance as a tool for intelligent/smart transportation. People today use 3D visualizations for navigation tasks because a landmark that is emphasized in the visualization offers more navigational cues. 3D city models with semantic information provide added value and visualization can be enhanced to improve the function.