Hybrid 2D / 3D Geographical Information Systems

Traditional 3D geographical information systems can provide both planar and spatial representations, but these views have often been separated into different windows. That separation makes it harder to interpret 2D information directly in the context of a three-dimensional terrain.

The prototype places multiple information layers over a shared base terrain and allows those layers to transition continuously between 2D and 3D representations under user control. Later iterations expanded the system with landmark, 3D point and chart layers, grouped hybrid layers, layer painting, merged controls and consistent zooming.