3D Map Tile Generation for Web and Mobile Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data providers face challenges in efficiently sourcing and preparing 3D assets for use in breaking news and fast-turnaround stories, due to complexity and resource constraints in web or mobile applications.
Innovation Solution
The web-based application Tile allows users to author and export small 3D sections of maps, enabling quick creation of 3D maps using multiple data sources like Mapbox and OpenStreetMap, with features for customization, optimization, and export for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fully-functioning 3D maps are included in web or mobile applications, then 3D visualization capability is improved, but bandwidth consumption and processing resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the 3D map into discrete tiles that can be independently loaded and rendered. Instead of loading a complete 3D map, the system segments the geographic space into manageable tile units (e.g., 512x512 pixel regions) that are generated on-demand based on user location and zoom level, reducing bandwidth and processing requirements while maintaining 3D visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates 3D map tiles with varying levels of detail based on local requirements. Tiles closer to the user's current location are rendered with higher fidelity and more geometric detail, while distant tiles use simplified geometries. This local quality approach ensures optimal resource usage by allocating computational resources only where visually necessary.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex 3D asset preparation processes are used, then 3D map quality is improved, but workflow complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated on-demand generation of 3D map tiles using elevation data and vector map sources. The tile generation process is self-service, requiring no manual intervention for model creation, texturing, or optimization. The system automatically queries elevation APIs, generates 3D meshes, applies textures, and exports tiles in appropriate formats, dramatically simplifying the workflow while maintaining high 3D map quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and caching 3D map tiles for commonly accessed locations and zoom levels. This allows rapid deployment of 3D maps in production environments without requiring complex real-time generation processes, as the heavy lifting of 3D asset creation is completed in advance and stored for quick retrieval.
3Measurement precision
If high-resolution 3D map tiles are generated for all regions, then 3D visualization quality is improved, but data storage and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the resolution and geometric complexity of 3D map tiles based on the user's current zoom level, location, and device capabilities. At higher zoom levels, tiles are generated with finer geometric detail and higher resolution textures. At lower zoom levels, simplified geometries and lower resolution textures are used. This dynamic adaptation maintains high 3D visualization quality where needed while minimizing data storage requirements overall.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein mitigate technological barriers in preparing, sourcing, and exporting 3D assets with practical applications for journalism. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for generating a three-dimensional map is provided. The method includes displaying a two-dimensional region of a map on a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the map is displayed along longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis. The method includes obtaining, through the GUI, a first input from a user device, the first input comprising an indication of a selected sub-region of the two-dimensional region of the map, wherein the selected sub-region comprises a plurality of pixels having longitudinal coordinates bounded by a first longitude coordinate and a second longitude coordinate along the longitudinal axis and latitudinal coordinates bounded by a first latitude coordinate and a second latitude coordinate along the latitudinal axis. The method includes obtaining, from a first data source, elevation coordinates along a lateral axis corresponding to the longitudinal coordinates and the latitudinal coordinates for each of the plurality of pixels. The method includes generating a three-dimensional mesh of the selected sub-region, wherein the three-dimensional mesh comprises a plurality of vertices corresponding to the elevation coordinates, the longitudinal coordinates, and the latitudinal coordinates of the plurality of pixels and a plurality of edges connecting the vertices. The method includes displaying the three-dimensional mesh on the GUI.