Seeing is BelievingUse of 3D Visualizations in Planning Projects

Gordon W. Perkins, ESS Group, Inc.

Purpose and Intent

To explore the visual impact assessment process and available technologies in visualization.

Why

Visual impact is a subject often overlooked in development, thus areas are a risk of losing their identities. While visual impact is subjective topic, most people agree on what makes a place beautiful. The challenge comes when identifying what activities might compromise that beauty.

The steps in assessing visual impact:

1. Identify Resources

State and Federal governments are digitizing their records at a frantic pace in order to establish an archive and capitalize on cooperative efforts.

Most data are getting more accessible so consultants and stakeholders alike can access and view pertinent information.

Columbia -GreeneNorth

Catskill- Olana

0 1 20.5Miles

1 inch = 2,500 feetenvironmental consulting& engineering services

Path: G:\GIS-Projects\W296-000-West-Point-Transmission\VISUAL\SUPPLEMENTAL VISUAL ANALYSIS\W296_Figure_1_Supplemental_Visual_Bare_Earth_VS24x36.mxd

Bare Earth Viewshed Analysis

2013 ESS Group, Inc.

Source: 1) US Topo Maps, 1:24,000, 2013 2) OPRHP, 2013 3) NYS DOS, 2009

West Point Partners, LLC

West Point Transmission ProjectAthens to Buchanan, New York

Figure 1Sheet 1 of 2

LegendNorthern Converter Station

Project Potentially Visible 80 FT BareEarth Viewshed Analysis *

Olana State Historic Site

Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance

* This Viewshed Analysis Does Not Consider The Screening Effect of Vegetation or Structures.

The steps in assessing visual impact:

2. Establish regional visibility

Because a project is visible does not mean it results in visual impact. However, not visible does mean no visual impact. So we begin with a process of elimination.

Zones of Visual Influence (Viewshed Map) Weapons Fan

Line of Sight Cross Sections

Google Earth

Field Verification

The steps in assessing visual impact:

2. Establish regional visibility

Zones of Visual Influence (Viewshed Map) video demonstration.

The steps in assessing visual impact:

2. Establish regional visibility

Further ZVI refinement through the inclusion of vegetation and structures. Point cloud LIDAR makes an

incredibly accurate visibility prediction model.

Line of Sight Analysis Real-time drive/fly through Refined ZVI

The steps in assessing visual impact:

2. Establish regional visibility

Line of Sight Cross Section Analysis is useful in assessing how topography, buildings and vegetation define

views from individual locations.

Line of sight analysis should be used sparingly as it is limited to one view and one direction.

The steps in assessing visual impact:

2. Establish regional visibility

Ballooning was the tried an true method for developing simulations, but it now has a renewed purpose in VIA.

Drone technology is next.

Resolution requirements (why sensor size is important). Lens settings Geo-locating camera and reference points

The steps in assessing visual impact:

3. Document visibility

Photo documentation may be one of the most critical (or at least the most criticized) processes in visual impact assessment.

HDRI - up to 54 photographs to document a single view Panoramas - A deceiving technology if used incorrectly. (40 vs. 124)

The steps in assessing visual impact:

3. Document visibility

Documenting context and innovations in gigapixel technology.

Historic and cultural sensitivity Users Frequency and concentration of use Stakeholder and official input (federal, state, and local level contribution) Recreational resources Federal, State and local resources Designated scenic areas

The steps in assessing visual impact:

4. Select Representative Views

The steps in assessing visual impact:

5. Create Simulations

Model the proposed action with adequate detail 3D align the photographs in georeferenced space Place existing elements in the scene Model the ground plane as proposed

Add the project in georeferenced space Add environmental variables Render the view 2D Finalize

The steps in assessing visual impact:

5. Create Simulations

Animation

The steps in assessing visual impact:

6. Rating and Reporting

Typically professional planners and landscape architects and recognized experts.

The steps in assessing visual impact:

7. Mitigating potential impacts

And the cycle begins.

Stormwater BMP demonstration

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Architectural concept modeling

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Marketing

Demonstration/Simulation

Image courtesy of Saratoga Associates

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Illustration

Image courtesy of Saratoga Associates

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Illustration

Image courtesy of Saratoga Associates

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Object/Structure Design and Construction

Image courtesy of Saratoga Associates

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Watershed Analysis and other 3D calculations.

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Source: 1) MassGIS, Landuse Data, 2005 2) USGS Topography

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DEP Approved Wellhead Protection Areas (Zone II)

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LegendWatershed

Pond Outline

Hydrography

Wellhead Protection Areas May 2013 - None in View

Surface Water Supply Protection Areas - None In View

Using simulation technologies beyond visual impact assessment

Future Technologies:

Mapping the United States. Pictometry, Street Level Photography, Real-time 3D

Drones and Lasers Immersive 3D environments Progressive planning New infrastructure technology (transmission and generation) There is an APP for that! Holographic

http://technabob.com/blog/2009/04/17/eon-icube-immersive-3d-vr-system/

http://technabob.com/blog/2009/04/17/eon-icube-immersive-3d-vr-system/

Questions and Contributions