Hierarchical data structure which enables interactive visualization of a geographical space

摘要

An interactive visualization tool is provided that enables its users to build, modify and interactively view three-dimensional simulation models of a particular geographical space. The interactive visualization tool employs a scene definition data structure that represents the geographical space. The scene definition data structure is comprised of a plurality of data records, where each record represents a physical structure residing in the geographical space. Each data record includes an identifier for the physical structure, link data which provides information to access corresponding model data for the physical structure, position data which provides positional information for the physical structure in the geographical scene, and hierarchical data which indicates the number of data records having a child relationship thereto.