Integration of augmented reality and GIS: A new approach to realistic landscape visualisation

This paper describes the development of a photo-realistic visualisation method which uses the combination of a geographic information system (GIS) with off-line augmented reality (AR) techniques. The technique makes a linkage between GIS-based modelling and realistic panoramic video frames to dynamically augment a landscape view with modelled temporal changes. By using real object textures, computer-generated objects can be well matched to background frames and become hardly detectable as computer objects. The technique has been tested with data from an area in northeast Victoria, Australia and has successfully represented the dynamic spread of weeds (blackberries) and their effects on landscape over a period of 14 years. The proposed approach has the potential to improve the communication between policy makers and non-experts and to improve decision-making process. Extensions to other model types and to real-time usage are envisaged. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.