GEOVRML OF BAKAR BAY - VISUALIZATION OF ECOLOGICAL HAZARD 
Ivana Sainovié Dipl.Ing.', Prof. Dr. Damir Medak : 
! State Geodetic Administration, Gruska 20, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, ivana.sainovic@ka.hinet.hr 
^ University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Department of Geomatics, Katiéeva 26, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, 
damir.medak@geof.hr 
WG IV/6 Landscape Modelling and Visualization 
KEY WORDS: Web based, Visualization, Ecology, Virtual Reality, Three-dimensional 
ABSTRACT: 
[n this paper the principle of new standard for 3D geographical data - GeoVRML, is explained, as well as its purposefulness and 
future of development in geo-applications. The data from Croatian Topographic Map, scale 1:25000, area of Bakar are used for the 
analysis. The ecological problems of air, soil and sea pollution, the protection of living and working places and human and natural 
environment are especially difficult and gave more cause for concern in Bakar Bay area. The map was loaded as the geodetic base 
into AutoCAD Overlay where it was semi automatically vectorized and digitized. After that the base was geocoded in software 
AutoCAD Map. The resulting dataset was saved in DXF form and sorted with a program written in QBASIC. The software Surfer 
was used for 3D visualization. The conversion with software 3DEM resulted with VRML and GeoVRML files for Internet 
applications. The Internet-browser is used to visualize VRML and GeoVRML reality of 3D shape. The transfer of data and data 
processing is explained for conjunction with GIS system on the example of ArcView 3D environment. 
Possible application of this standard are in education, research and applied visualization for different purposes like showing different 
impacts on pollution in Bakar bay. The possibilities and limitations of 3D vectorizing module are discussed. This standard can be 
applied in science of measurement which is the major activity of geodesy, only through this standard it gets a new dimension of 
virtual reality. 
At its core, Geo- VRML is simply a 3D interchange format. It defines most of the commonly used semantics found in today's 3D 
applications such as hierarchical transformations, light sources, viewpoints, geometry, animation, fog, material properties, and 
texture mapping. VRML also serves as a simple, multi-platform language for publishing 3D Web pages. Main advantage of 
georeferenced virtual reality is that virtual object or group of them can shown at user mind that he is walking through space where he 
can find orientation. Next generation of 3D visualization is implementation of Java in to X3D and VRML97. 
The goal of this paper is to introduce the potential of advanced and innovative geoinformation technology in proper planning of 
revitalization of Bakar Bay. Three-dimensional virtual reality models of pollution effects on the environment, implemented in a 
standard GeoVRML, would be an excellent starting point for an integrated geoinformation system for monitoring and management 
of a precious natural resource 
1. INTRODUCTION gives various possibilities of visualization of monitored 
environmental health. 
1.1 Ecology and GIS 
So far the use of GIS in ecology was known at many levels, 
Living in clean environment Is a right of every person given by considering a lot of information represented. In what follows, 
Croatian Constitution. — : accent is given on the usage of GeoVRMIL standard as a tool 
Ecology is a science which is taking care about balance in for monitoring the ecosystem, practical use of GIS and 
environment between animal plants and places in which they computer modeling with information system for the purpose of 
live. The biggest task in keeping environment in balance is environment protection 
prevention from ecological hazard and keeping general public 
informed. Most important thing of keeping nature in balance is Croatia still doesn't have updated registers about flora and 
* ^ "T : > oi 
raising the awareness about ecology of each citizen. fauna, either still doesn't have Atlas of it's expand. There is not 
a : : RO : enough information for quality monitoring of environment 
JIS - geoinformation system !s a powerful information ^ together with all consequences which goes from that fact. 
technology dealing with collecting, processing, analysis and 
visualization of georeferenced data. GIS is closely related to With high quality collected information and good visualization 
digital cartography, but it has wider scope than that: it is a ofit we are taking under control and place under surveillance 
combination of hardware, software and people dealing with possible consequences of future actions 
efficient usage of georeferenced data for decision making 
support. GIS is excellent tool for ecologic applications, as it — Ecology management teams provide computer databases with 
the data used to produce spatial information related to natural 
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