In recent years 3D geo-information has become an important research area
due to the increased complexity of tasks in many geo-scientific
applications, such as sustainable urban planning and development, civil
engineering, risk and disaster management and environmental monitoring.
Moreover, a paradigm of cross-application merging and integrating of 3D
data is observed. The problems and challenges facing today's 3D
software, generally application-oriented, focus almost exclusively on 3D
data transportability issues - the ability to use data originally
developed in one modelling/visualisation system in other and vice versa.
Tools for elaborated 3D analysis, simulation and prediction are either
missing or, when available, dedicated to specific tasks. In order to
respond to this increased demand, a new type of system has to be
developed. A fully developed 3D geo-information system should be able to
manage 3D geometry and topology, to integrate 3D geometry and thematic
information, to analyze both spatial and topological relationships, and
to present the data in a suitable form. In addition to the simple
geometry types like point line and polygon, a large variety of
parametric representations, freeform curves and surfaces or sweep shapes
have to be supported. Approaches for seamless conversion between 3D
raster and 3D vector representations should be available, they should
allow analysis of a representation most suitable for a specific
application.
