SIEVE: An online collaborative environment for visualising environmental model outputs

Abstract

Environmental process models simulate complex and dynamic information, relating to a range of natural processes including water flow, air movement and terrain deformation. While visualisation packages exist which allow experts to explore environmental process models and associated data in 3D, there are a lack of visualisation tools available to affected non-experts. Traditionally, model outcomes are communicated to the public and decision makers via tables, graphs and maps which may not be understood. Mainstream GIS (Geographic Information Systems) provide some visualisation capabilities but cannot keep up with the rapid development of computer graphics, available though game engines and oth..