Utilizing 3D web-based GIS for Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness

Geographic Information Systems visual products have become a powerful resource for Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness. The utility of informed decision making processes could significantly be improved using 3D web-based GIS visual models. However, collective efforts are needed for further improvement of currently available visual models to address Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness requirements. This paper delineates an approach taken to emphasize and provide capabilities for webbased three-dimensional visualization of GIS data for Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Response. In this paper, issues related to visualization models, concepts, and requirements have been examined with emphasis on a mock emergency scenario for Santa Barbara International Airport in California. Integration of Internet capabilities with 3D GIS rendering have enabled new modes of analysis and exploration, particularly for Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Response. Despite all the ease that 3D web-based GIS brings to Emergency Preparedness community, still there is a crucial question remains unanswered: how 3D Web-based GIS can bring with it great opportunities, while it presents very significant problems in effectively communicating information, particularly to non-GIS professionals i.e. Disaster and Emergency Response Managers? GeoServNet, a web-based GIS system developed by York University GeoICT lab, aimed at solving this problem through providing variety of mechanisms for visualization that may help in eliminating inexperienced user interaction obstacles.