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MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
The Geographic Information System Tool (GIST): A New Tool for Visualizing
Geographic Data
Alison M. Eyth, Prashant Pai
MCNC Environmental Modeling Center
October 22, 2002
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
PAVE Limitations
Graphics are written in X-windows / Motif (not good for PCs)
Must be compiled separately for each platform Only a few maps provided (states, counties,
roads, rivers), with limited rendering styles Cannot plot data in polygons – only rectangular
grid cells and limited facilities for observations Plots accessible over web only as static images
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Current GIST Features Create maps of points, lines, polygons
– data from Shapefiles or ASCII format
Data sets drawn in layers,– can be moved up, down, sent to top or bottom, hidden/shown
Configurable data object styles – colors, line thickness, point symbols
Set map projection / ellipsoid Probe data attributes Thematic mapping Querying Display mouse coordinates, zoom, overview, print
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Potential New Data Types
Emission inventories and surrogates Air quality and meteorological observations Slices of regular grid air quality model results Variable grid model results Multimedia model results (already have prototype) Water quality model results Flight paths Can already support points, lines, polygons from
any type of shapefile (e.g. population data, land use)
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Behind the Scenes of GIST Java program
– Portable across platforms– Object-oriented / extensible– Runs as desktop application or over web as applet
Uses JLooxGIS class library (www.loox.com)– Basic plotting of points, lines, polygons on map– Coordinate transformations– Zooming– Printing– Panning / map overview– Layer control– Not open-source
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Layer Library
Maintains layers loaded between GIST sessions “Friendly names” can be specified for data sets Separates file format from objects in display
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Probing to show Data Attributes
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Thematic map and Layer Options
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Query Results as Map and Table
MCNC Environmental Modeling
Center
___________________________________________GIST: A New Tool for Visualizing Geographic Data
Environmental Modeling Center__________________________________________________MCNC
Future Directions Enhancements dependent on funding source
– Currently MCNC funded proprietary software
Animation (within data set and across data sets) Scripting language Formula language (like PAVE) Save images to graphics formats Show satellite pictures and DTED Save images and data to files Improved probing, overview, queries, resizing Save configuration and restart using it Data subsetting / improved memory management
