Implementation of a geographic information systems (GIS)-based system
to evaluate the visual impact of offshore renewable energy installations
Chad Cooper – Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), Jackson Cothren – CAST,
Robert Sullivan – Argonne National Laboratory, Malcolm Williamson – CAST, Snow Winters – CAST,
David Ball – Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The United States Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) faces increasing interest in the use of waters under its
jurisdiction for offshore renewable energy development. The Visual Impact
Evaluation System for Offshore Renewable Energy, or VIESORE, is a GIS-
based application which allows BOEM staff to import or interactively design
the spatial layout and content of an offshore facility, import and prepare
geospatial data that will affect visibility, run a series of visual analyses which
take into account earth curvature, define atmospheric, lighting and wave
conditions and, finally generate one or a series of realistic visualizations from
multiple viewpoints.
Introduction Requirements
Approach System design
Development to date Current results
· Enable spatial design of offshore facility
· Import geospatial data
· Allow user control of atmospheric, lighting, and wave conditions
· Generate spatially accurate and realistic visualizations
· Output reports and images
· Provide a user-friendly interface
3D visualizations through a customized familiar
GIS interface
Renders Reports
AVI
HTML
· Vue Infinite 10 3D modeling software accessed in background batch
mode through Python programming language via customized, yet
familiar Esri ArcGIS interface
· Vue provides photorealistic renderings
· User sets up real-world project data in ArcGIS interface, all data and
settings get passed to Vue where visualizations are then created
· Users familiar with ArcGIS interface – this eliminates need to learn
Vue 3D software package
ArcGIS code 3D modeling
Inputs/user
interaction
Visualization
processing
Outputs
GIS data inputs
Custom
ArcGIS
tools
ArcGIS 10
· Import GIS data into Vue 3D visualization program
· Import wind turbine generator 3D models
· Set camera and sun positions
· Render to image (jpg)
All done in
background via
custom Python
code
· Creation of photorealistic visualization renderings of planned
offshore renewable energy installations
· Successful import of real-world GIS data into Vue 3D software
package for use in visualizations
· User provided with friendly interface which allows them to import
data
JPG
Key observation
point (KOP)
Planned
installation
ArcGIS 10
PDF
The system must:
· Independently evaluate visual impact of proposed facilities
· Validate photomontages provided by vendors
It shall enable users to: