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Urban Visualization on Mobile Devices

Urban Visualization on Mobile Devices. Developing Interactive Urban Simulations on the Unity Platform. Martins Innus, Center for Computational Research, University at Buffalo. Visualization Overview. Visualization Applications Being Used Hand Renders and Physical Models Photo-simulation

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Urban Visualization on Mobile Devices

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  1. Urban Visualization on Mobile Devices Developing Interactive Urban Simulations on the Unity Platform Martins Innus, Center for Computational Research, University at Buffalo

  2. Visualization Overview • Visualization Applications Being Used • Hand Renders and Physical Models • Photo-simulation • 3D Modeling and Animation • Interactive Simulation

  3. Real-time Vs. Animation • Real-time • Images created “on-the-fly” - PC drawing geometry and textures every frame • Similar to today’s video games • interactive - user can navigate environment on their own • Animation • Computing done ahead of time producing a video • Capable of higher resolution (shadows, reflectivity, lighting effects, etc) Animation Real-time

  4. Current Engine • Self Built • Based on OSG • Many custom capabilities • Traffic • GIS • Large Datasets • Cross Platform • TDW, laptop, etc

  5. Current Examples • 3 University Campuses

  6. Current Examples • Casselberry Florida Interchange • Traffic • Roadway proposal

  7. New Functionality Needed • Web based • Larger Distribution • Mobile Solutions • Cross Platform Maintenance • Still flexible & extensible • Free deployment

  8. First Attempts • Home built web plugin • Cumbersome to maintain • API changes between versions • No unified browser API • Security/Authentication questions • WebGL • Incomplete solution • Still would need wrappers for high–level functionality • No Microsoft support

  9. Open Alternatives • WebGL • No Microsoft Support • 3rd party workarounds for IE • O3D • Developed by Google • Sits on top of WebGL • X3D • Successor to VRML • Minimal acceptance • OSG • Community support for mobile and web

  10. Results of Investigation • All still need some platform dependent development • No Open alternative has significant traction • Don’t see this changing anytime soon • Need a product that will support • Windows/Mac/Linux • iOS/Android

  11. Unity 3D • Terrain System • Lighting • Water • Sky • Shadows • Others high-end visual effects

  12. Why we chose Unity • Large Use base • Market penetration in the game market • Flexible licensing • Drag and Drop interface • One click cross platform Deployment • Mac,PC, Web, Mobile • Unity handles platform specifics transparently • Selectable fidelity • Visual effects • Extensible with scripting

  13. UB Explorer

  14. iOS Specifics • Create a version of UB Explorer for iOS • Optimize for mobile device capabilities • Redesign interface for mobile devices • Touch input • Sensor input • Gyroscope • Compass • Accelerometer • Port current capabilities • GIS, Traffic, etc

  15. Mobile Optimization • Initial attempt crashed • Removed demanding model details • Switched to faster, simpler shaders • Refactored scripts for iOS efficiency • Configured static draw call batching • Applied Unity 3.5’s level of detail (LOD) switching • Created a lower LOD for buildings • Used an older, simpler water simulation • Went from crashing to 30 frames per second

  16. LOD Examples

  17. Interface Redesign • Originally designed for keyboard and mouse • Mobile devices use touch and other sensors • User tasks: • Navigation • Building Selection

  18. Navigation • Touch-based joysticks • Familiar layout for console game players • OK for iPad, difficult on iPhone • Gyroscope, compass, and GPS • Highly engaging, helpful when on campus • Sensitive to jitter, inconsistent horizontal rotation

  19. Navigation • Gestures • Familiar interactions for iOS users • Some oversensitivity in 3D space http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/03/28/touch-hardware-and-windows-8.aspx

  20. Building Selection • Works similar to existing system • Simulates mouse with touch • Supports multi-touch • Opens links • Plays video

  21. Geographic Information System • Displays Shapefiles (.shp) as 3D objects • Points, Lines, and Polygons • Spheres, LineRenderers, and Triangulated Meshes

  22. Geographic Information System

  23. Geographic Information System • Loads files sent from other apps • Extracts from ZIP files • Offers file management through an iOS view

  24. Concerns/Limitations • Licensing changes • Company Longevity/Support • WTK, SGI (Performer) • Incompatible updates • Vega/Vega Prime • Controlled by an outside organization • Plug-in update problem • Linux support is evolving

  25. Future Work • Test, test, test! • Enhance interactivity • Implement GPS/Augmented Reality features for enhanced on-campus viewing • Port to more platforms • Android • Windows Phone 8

  26. Unity Examples • UB Campuses • Leverage Existing Data

  27. More Information • www.unity3d.com • www.buffalo.edu/virtualtour • ccr.buffalo.edu/services/visualization/urban-visualization.html

  28. Acknowledgments • Dr. Thomas Furlani, Director, CCR • Adrian Levesque, CCR • Thomas Yearke, Summer Intern • Samantha Haney, Summer Intern

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