This Web based 3D GIS viewer allows users to experience the power and flexibility of desktop 3D GIS, using only their Web browsers and 3D video card capabilities. Six prototype 3D GIS maps are offered here, based on historic maps that have been combined with current digital elevation models (DEMS) of the same locations. The resulting solution combines the power and realism of historical maps, Geographic Imaging (GI), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies with the high performance, interactivity, ease-of-use, and overall visual engagement found in cutting edge online gaming and virtual reality simulations. Many of these maps may also be viewed in our Google Earth viewer.

View an illustration that shows the steps in creating the 3D map

David Rumsey and Telemorphic, Inc. (archived website) created this unique browser-based interactive 3D visualization capability with support from Knightcap Productions, and ID8 Media, Inc.

The following are available for viewing with the 3D GIS Browser:
( Clicking the links below will both expand and minimize the enclosed information )

  • Yosemite Valley, California
    • The Wheeler Survey of the Territory of the United States West of the 100th Meridian made the first accurate map of Yosemite Valley in 1879 and published the map sheet to the left in 1883. In this 3D GIS version of the map, the scanned historic map image is combined with the modern day USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model), allowing us to "warp" the historic map images into 3D.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the links below the flash movie to launch the small or full screen 3D Yosemite GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3D GIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Fly Through (opening mode), Inspection, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. For Yosemite only, key row Z,X,C,V,B will blend in the modern USGS map of Yosemite. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers
       
  • Los Angeles, California
    • This 1880 manuscript map of the Los Angeles basin is one of the earliest detailed maps of the area; it was produced by William Hammond Hall, the first California State Engineer. In this 3D GIS version of the map, the scanned historic map image is combined with the modern day USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model), allowing us to "warp" the historic map images into 3D.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the link below the flash movie to launch the full 3D Los Angeles GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3D GIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Fly Through (opening mode), Inspection, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers
       
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition
    • This map is a mosaic of several historical and modern maps of the area along the Lewis and Clark Expedition route: the 1814 original expedition map covering the route itself, then just beyond it the US GLO maps from 1866-79, then the US National Atlas maps from 1970, and finally the entire map is bordered with current satellite imagery of the US West. In this 3D GIS version of the map, the scanned historic map image is combined with the modern day USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model), allowing us to "warp" the historic map images into 3D.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the link below the flash movie to launch the full 3D Lewis and Clark GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3D GIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Fly Through (opening mode), Inspection, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers
       
  • Lake Tahoe, California
    • The Wheeler Survey of the Territory of the United States West of the 100th Meridian made one of the earliest accurate surveys of Lake Tahoe, California, in 1876 and 1877 and published the map sheets below in 1879. In this 3D GIS version of the maps, the two scanned historic map images are joined and combined with the modern day USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model) and a bathymetric model of the lake itself, allowing us to "warp" the historic map images into 3D.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the link below the flash movie to launch the full 3D Lake Tahoe GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3D GIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Fly Through (opening mode), Inspection, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers
       
  • San Francisco, California
    • This 1915 Map of San Francisco by August Chevalier was published to celebrate the rebuilding of the city after the disastrous earthquake and fire of 1906. Chevalier used contour lines, hill shading and hachures to show the topography of San Francisco's hills, as well as isometric drawings (3D) of newly reconstructed downtown buildings and other important structures throughout the city. In this 3D GIS version of the map, the scanned historic map image is combined with the modern day USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model) allowing us to "warp" the historic map images into 3D.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the link below to launch the full 3D San Francisco GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3DGIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Fly Through (opening mode), Inspection, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. The key row Z,X,C,V,B will blend in the modern USGS map of San Francisco. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers
       
  • Mount Washington, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
    • This 3D GIS view of Mount Washington and surrounding country in the Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada was created for The Long Now Foundation, to show the location of their 10,000 year Clock on the Foundation's property just south of Mount Washington. The Landsat7 Satellite image from 2000 has been draped over a USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model)allowing the image to be seen in three dimentions. In addition, an 1873 map of the same area made by the Wheeler Survey can be blended into the 3D view to see how the area has changed over time.

      The flash movie on the right gives a preview of the 3D GIS experience. Click on the link below the flash movie to launch the full 3D Mount Washington GIS Viewer, but READ this first - the 3D GIS Viewer has three viewing modes: Inspection (opening mode), Fly Through, and Hover. Use the space bar to toggle between them. Use your mouse and arrow keys for Fly-Through, arrow keys and page up/down for Inspection, and arrow keys and "1" key (down) and "2" key (up) for Hover. Using keys together will produce different motions. The key row Z,X,C,V,B will blend between the Landsat7 image and the 1873 historical map. Detailed Help is available.

      3D GIS Plugin no longer works with modern browsers

system requirements for 3d gis

Minimum System Requirements:

  • 3dvia Web Player for Windows and Mac OSX, Download Here. This should download automatically when you launch the 3D GIS Viewer. Windows 7/95/98/ME/NT4.0/2000/XP, Vista, MAC OSX.
  • Direct3D or OpenGL compatible 3D accelerator graphics video card with at least 128MB of RAM.  If the motion is slow in the viewer, zoom in and it will speed up.
  • DirectX 7 or higher for Win 9x
  • Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome.
  • Monitor color display set to 16 bit (65536) or 32 bits (True Color)
  • Sound Card
  • You should also make sure you have installed the latest drivers for your video card.
  • View our 3D GIS Help page.

Comments, suggestions, or need help?  Site Feedback