GeoImmersive Video

Summary

GeoImmersive video is a powerful tool for providing realistic views of potential developments and existing sites with the ability to visualize the project's potential impact against the existing conditions.

Tool Description

Georeferenced immersive video is one step up from current 3-D modeling techniques in terms of providing realistic views of potential developments and existing sites. Techniques link detailed 360° video footage of a site with geographic coordinates and any available GIS data, which makes it very easy to capture the view from a certain location in all directions. If 3-D models of proposed structures are included, then the impacts of development can be visualized against the actual neighborhood as well. Some companies are experimenting with the use of other types of data as well, such as sound clips.

A GeoImmersive video is created by shooting video footage from a fixed point, then georeferencing that point. The “Telemmersion System” created by the Immersive Media Company (IMC) consists of a camera head with 11 video streams arranged according to a geodesic design. The camera produces video footage along with GPS measurements. QuickTime or Windows Media Player can turn the footage into blended sphere movies, which can then be burned to CD or turned into MPEG formats. Importing the video into a GIS program also allows the user to combine it with other GIS data for the region, and to control the viewpoint, angle, and speed of the video.

Aside from typical uses in visualizing proposed developments, the technology is improving the efficiency of monitoring and enabling planners to do “virtual site visits” without ever leaving the office. Tax assessors are using the technology to record site conditions and handle complaints, and emergency managers can plan evacuation routes.

Summary of Costs

$1,000-9,999
Associated Costs
  • Consulting
  • Technical Assistance

Strengths

  • GeoImmersive video is more efficient and more realistic than manually creating an entire scene with 3-D model building software
  • It is capable of capturing the essence of a place more fully than computer models since it uses real video footage, and the videos can easily be shot at different times of day, different seasons, or from different angles to capture additional elements
  • Since it is shot from ground-level, this technology also offers much more detail than Lidar or aerial photography; it can capture sounds and other elements of a scene and it can be shown in real-time.

Limitations

  • Currently, this relatively-new technology is not widely available or practical for organizations wishing to try it on their own
  • Consulting services may be expensive and difficult to arrange, as the technology is only offered by a handful of countries

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Submitted By: svannostrand
Last Updated: August 6, 2012, 12:21 pm

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