A geographically-based multimedia approach to city planning

Abstract

This paper explores an implementation of a multimedia information system to aid geographically-oriented city planning situations. The implementation provides a method of interacting with city planning analysis tools using direct manipulation graphical interfaces.The technology combines maps, interactive video, text, sound, and other forms of data with analytic tools and an associative information structure using a city map as a central metaphor.This allows immediate navigation amongst chunks of related information during city planning meetings. The technology also makes it possible to link descriptive images, such as digital video and sound, to information that would normally be represented quantitatively.research is underway to improve the communication of planning-related information through the implementation of a CollaborativePlanning System (CPS) [3]. The CPS allows participants in a city planning meetinlg to benefit from, and add to, a multimedia information base. The information base is projected on the wall of a meeting room. Participants interact with the system using cordless pointing devices to elicit information about selected geographic areas through a direct manipulation interface.Interaction with the CPS is best described in the context of a theoretical planning session. For example, if a planning commission is considering the siting of a new sports stadium: Maps and then aerial photographs off alternative sites are called up from the system and displayed on the wall. The users then have the option to "fly over" or "drive through" the sites using actual video footage (Figure 1) or animation of a 3D CAD model.