IRFP: Enriching 3D WebGIS Functionality to Study Ancient Human-Environment Interaction

国际研究奖学金计划使美国科学家和工程师能够在国外进行9到24个月的研究。该项目的奖项提供了联合研究的机会，并提供了使用国外独特或互补的设施、专业知识和实验条件的机会。该奖项将支持Heather Richards-Rissetto博士与法比奥·雷蒙迪诺博士在意大利特伦托布鲁诺·凯斯勒基金会(FBK)的3D光学计量(3DOM)研究部门合作，获得为期20个月的研究奖学金。目前的信息技术(IT)和软件能力已经准备好超越简单的3D记录和可视化，但利用最近的技术进步的新的3D分析工具尚未开发出来。该项目探索潜在的变革性技术，并通过创建和测试用于三维网络地理信息系统环境的新分析工具，积极将三维建模和地理信息系统(地理信息系统)领域联系起来。该案例研究使用这些新的3D网络地理信息系统工具来分析文化和生态变量，以调查联合国教科文组织世界遗产洪都拉斯科潘的古人类与环境的相互作用。项目目标有三个方面。第一个目标是为3D Web GIS创建分析工具，使用户能够通过可导航的虚拟现实(VR)环境链接、查询和分析GIS数据。这种功能允许在VR环境中进行复杂的空间分析--这是目前可用的工具无法实现的。第二个目标是利用新的工具来研究古代人与环境的相互作用。第三个目标是为研究和教育目的向不同受众传播这些工具。这些新的分析工具背后的技术可以用来开发额外的3D Web地理信息系统工具，这些工具可以显著加强许多学科的研究。此外，COPAN案例研究的理论和分析结果将丰富我们对人与环境相互作用的复杂性的理解。这些知识可以应用于当今和未来人口面临的问题。在该项目中开发的用于研究古代人与环境相互作用的新的3D网络地理信息系统工具将促进研究和教育，非常适合今天的年轻人--对互动和动态技术感兴趣、兴奋并熟练使用的视觉学习者。这些工具的在线能力使发展中国家等代表性不足群体的人们能够体验和参与对教科文组织世界遗产的研究。此外，该项目将有助于在首席调查员(PI)、设在新墨西哥大学的MayaArch3D项目与信息技术、地理学、考古学、摄影测量学和人文科学等不同领域的研究人员之间建立国际合作。

The International Research Fellowship Program enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct nine to twenty-four months of research abroad. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twenty-month research fellowship for Dr. Heather Richards-Rissetto to work with Dr. Fabio Remondino at the 3D Optical Metrology (3DOM) Research Unit at the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) in Trento, Italy. Current Information Technology (IT) and software capabilities are ready to move beyond simple 3D recording and visualization, but new 3D analytical tools making use of recent technological advances have not yet been developed. This project explores potentially transformative technologies and actively links the fields of 3D Modeling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by creating and testing new analytical tools for 3D Web GIS environments. The case study uses these new 3D Web GIS tools to analyze cultural and ecological variables to investigate ancient human-environment interaction at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Copan, Honduras. The project objectives are threefold. The first objective is to create analytical tools for 3D Web GIS that enable users to link, query, and analyze GIS data via a navigable virtual reality (VR) environment. Such functionality allows for complex spatial analysis in a VR environment--something that is not possible using currently available tools. The second objective is to use the new tools to study ancient human-environment interaction. The third objective is to disseminate these tools to a diverse audience for research and education purposes. The technology underlying these new analytical tools can be used to develop additional 3D Web GIS tools that can significantly enhance research in many disciplines. Moreover, the theoretical and analytical results from the case study at Copan will enrich our understanding of the complexities of human-environment interaction. This knowledge can be applied to problems facing present-day and future populations. The new 3D Web GIS tools developed in this project to study ancient human-environment interaction will promote research and education and are highly-suited to today's youth--visual learners who are intrigued, excited, and proficient in using interactive and dynamic technologies. The online capability of these tools allow people from underrepresented groups such as those living in developing countries to experience and participate in the study of a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition, the project will help to establish international collaborations between the Principal Investigator (PI), the MayaArch3D Project based at the University of New Mexico, and researchers from diverse fields including information technology, geography, archaeology, photogrammetry, and the humanities.