Interactive Design of 3D Maps with Progressive Projection
Helen Jenny, Bernhard Jenny, Lorenz Hurni · The Cartographic Journal · 2010
The progressive projection is by origin a manual cartographic technique, traditionally used by panoramic landscape painters; however, it is rarely encountered in digitally created three-dimensional (3D) maps. In this article, the advantages of this specific projection when designing 3D maps are presented, the processes involved in its manual construction, as well as the existing and potential digital implementation approaches, are reviewed. A new algorithmic solution is described, allowing for user-friendly interactive bending of a terrain model into a progressive view, with options to add a curved horizon, to vertically exaggerate the terrain, and to create a 360° strip panorama. The resulting software, Terrain Bender, is freely available for download.