This report documents the current status of visual communication in urban design and
planning. Visual communication is examined through discussion of standalone and
network media, specifically concentrating on visualisation on the World Wide Web
(WWW).
Firstly, we examine the use of Solid and Geometric Modelling for visualising urban
planning and urban design. This report documents and compares examples of the use
of Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) and proprietary WWW based Virtual
Reality modelling software. Examples include the modelling of Bath and Glasgow
using both VRML 1.0 and 2.0. A review is carried out on the use of Virtual Worlds
and their role in visualising urban form within multi-user environments. The use of
Virtual Worlds is developed into a case study of the possibilities and limitations of
Virtual Internet Design Arena’s (ViDA’s), an initiative undertaken at the Centre for
Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London. The use of Virtual Worlds
and their development towards ViDA’s is seen as one of the most important
developments in visual communication for urban planning and urban design since the
development plan.
Secondly, photorealistic media in the process of communicating plans is examined.
The process of creating photorealistic media is documented, examples of the Virtual
Streetscape and Wired Whitehall Virtual Urban Interface System are provided. The
conclusion is drawn that although the use of photo-realistic media on the WWW
provides a way to visually communicate planning information, its use is limited. The
merging of photorealistic media and solid geometric modelling is reviewed in the
creation of Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality is seen to provide an important
step forward in the ability to quickly and easily visualise urban planning and urban
design information.
Thirdly, the role of visual communication of planning data through GIS is examined in
terms of desktop, three dimensional and Internet based GIS systems. The evolution to
Internet GIS is seen as a critical component in the development of virtual cities which
will allow urban planners and urban designers to visualise and model the complexity
of the built environment in networked virtual reality.
Finally a viewpoint is put forward of the Virtual City, linking Internet GIS with
photorealistic multi-user Virtual Worlds. At present there are constraints on how far
virtual cities can be developed, but a view is provided on how these networked virtual
worlds are developing to aid visual communication in urban planning and urban
design.
Author(s):
Andrew Hudson-Smith
Martin Dodge
Simon Doyle
01/06/1998
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