What's New in VirtualGeo SDK 3.2

Improved Support of OGC compliant map servers

This new release significantly improves the ability to read maps, vector and terrain elevation data from map servers using Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards :

  • Web Map Services (WMS): The connector now supports BIL32 (float precision for Digital Elevation Model).
  • Web Map Tile Services (WMTS): A connector has been added. Compliant with version 1.0 of the WMTS standard, this connector supports the ability to read images (PNG, JPEG) and elevation data (BIL16, BIL32) handling requests of the following types: GetCapabilities, GetTile and GetFeatureInfo.
  • Web Feature Services (WFS): The connector has been improved to support the version 2.0 of the standard. Hence, it now supports both WFS 1.3 and 2.0.

These improvements make easier than ever to work with maps streamlined by local, remote or cloud based map servers, so far they are compliant to OGC standards.

As an example, visit the French Geoportail to see how VirtualGeo enables to browse WMTS layers streamed from IGN servers (e.g. BD ORTHO©, BD TOPO©, RGE ALTI©, Litto3D©, BD PARCELLAIRE©, France Raster©, SCAN IGN© and many more) just as local layers.

   
IGN's BD Alti© and topographical maps through WMTS streams IGN's BD Alti© and aerial photos through WMTS streams

 Improved Interoperability with GIS data

VirtualGeo SDK 3.2 interoperability has been improved with the following formats :

  • Rasters and Elevations :
    • Support of terrain and grid with high accuracy thanks to the 32 bit precision
    • Support of rasters and elevations in genuine mode. Rasters, elevations and grids data can be integrated without any data pre-processing from GeoTiff, JPEG and PNG image formats.
  • Vector
    • GML version 3.1.1 is now supported
    • GPX format support has been improved
    • ESRI Shapefile can be exported (geometries and attributes)
  • KML/KMZ support extended (based on version 2.1):
    • Super-Overlays (NetworkLink)
    • LOD (Level of details) to control 3D models visibility
    • Export vector elements (points, lines and surfaces)

Improved Connector for Streamed 3D Data

The improved KML support is now based on version 2.1 of the specifications. A major enhancement comes with the support of the Super-Overlays feature, which allows to refresh/request only particular regions of the map when the view area changes (Please see this Google’s page on Super-Overlays for more information). Thus, VirtualGeo SDK now enables to access and visualise extremely large and dense urban city models from KML/DAE based data sources 

As an example, visit the French Geoportail to see how VirtualGeo enables to explore 3D data streams such as the BD Topo 3D© from IGN.

   
Florence City (BLOM / V-City Consortium) IGN BD Topo 3D© IGN from Géoportail

 Extended Data Analysis Capabilities

The analysis tool set has been extended in order to make straightforward to visualise any kind of scalar information such as computation or measure results (e.g. item density, weather forecast, statistics, element dispersion, ...).

The existing feature has also been improved to support the interactive customisation of color map. When you change the parameters of the color map or switch between interpolated coloring and discrete classification, the resulting display is now updated in real-time.

   
Hypsometrical color map on a Digital Elevation Model Color map on a world size population density

 New Map Annotation Mode

A major problem in map annotating is being able to create clamped to the terrain lines or surfaces that accurately match the terrain surface whatever its elevation variations et resolution. The new map annotation mode provided by this release enables draw interactively an unlimited number of annotation items with vector accuracy and a perfect match on the terrain. The appearance (transparency, color, thickness, ...) and display order of each individual annotation are fully customisable.

   
Visualisation of vector data with perfect match on the terrain Interactive edition of vectors matching a high resolution terrain (<1m)

 Improved Scalability

Additional functions has been added to improve computational power balancing with respect to the running computer capabilities. Two rendering modes are now available:

  • The compatibility mode (based on the fixed OpenGL pipeline) can be used on any computer, even on low-end PCs with old Intel chipsets.
  • The high quality mode (based on the programmable OpenGL pipeline) is designed to exploit advanced features provided by modern Graphics Processing Units.

Just switch to the suitable rendering mode to adapt your application to the capabilities of the target computer.

Several rendering effects has been adapted to support both modes. The realistic ocean rendering is now available on all the graphics cards, including Intel chipsets.

Animated water surface on programmable GPU New ocean rendering on Intel Chipsets

Support for Multi-touch Screens

VirtualGeo SDK 3.2 adds native support for multi-touch devices. With this new support, your applications can deploy on the ever more widespread touch-screen displays (monitors, table-tops and tablets) and benefit from intuitive interactions to explore your maps in three dimensions.

 
Multi-touch device support

 New Graticule Layer

This release now enables to display a geographical graticule overlayed on the globe's surface. Depending on the zoom level, VirtualGeo automatically adapts the number and color of the drawn lines and labels.

 
Geographical graticule

And much more

For a full list of new features, improvements and bug fixes, refer to the release notes that are included in the installation packages.