LandView Terrain Viewer

LandView Terrain Viewer

To download the LandView Terrain Viewer software and terrain map files, click here.

The LandView Terrain Viewer is a set of 3D software and map/image files that let you fly over a representation of real areas in the United States, and in doing so, to view the location of EPA-regulated sites, as well as population statistics for any radius. To determine if you can run this software, see System Requirements at the bottom of this page. The software for the LandView Terrain Viewer is based on the public domain "Chunked LOD" terrain rendering engine*, with substantial modifications and user interface features by Peter Gattuso of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) (gattuso.peter@epa.gov). Most of the map content comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), consisting of extracts from the National Elevation Dataset (NED), scanned topo maps (Digital Raster Graphics or DRGs), and in some cases aerial photos. The software uses the NED to generate a smooth terrain, while the DRGs or the aerial photos provide the texture or image that is draped over the terrain. Other content is from the EPA (location of EPA-regulated sites), and the Census Bureau (population data based on census blocks). Pre-processing of the NED terrain elevation files is accomplished with software from the Virtual Terrain Project (http://vterrain.org.)

* For more information about "Chunked LOD", see the following:

http://tulrich.com/geekstuff/chunklod.html

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=31763

Rendering Massive Terrains using Chunked Level of Detail Control (pdf file)

The following images will convey some of the features and capabilities of the system:

A typical screen view, with the topo map (DRG) as the draping texture. This is a view of Central Park in New York City.

This is another view of Central Park, this time using an aerial photo rather than the DRG.

Census Block points are shown as blue squares.

Census Blocks in 3D mode, with height proportional to the population in that block.

EPA-regulated sites are represented as factory-type buildings, overlayed onto the terrain at the appropriate location.

You can drag a circle, and obtain information about the EPA sites and the population within the circle.

A database record for one of the EPA sites. The Envirofacts button at the bottom brings you to EPA's web site for more details about the facility, including the chemicals that may be associated with it.

Population statistics for the circle, based on the census block points that are included.

A listing from the USGS database of map features. You can search for particular features, and show them on the 3D map.

System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP, 300 MB hard disk space, computer with 3D graphics capability (this usually means you have a graphics adapter such as NVIDIA or ATI Radeon, or the Intel Integrated graphics).

A typical screen view, with the topo map (DRG) as the draping texture. This is a view of Central Park in New York City.
This is another view of Central Park, this time using an aerial photo rather than the DRG.
Census Block points are shown as blue squares.
Census Blocks in 3D mode, with height proportional to the population in that block.
EPA-regulated sites are represented as factory-type buildings, overlayed onto the terrain at the appropriate location.
You can drag a circle, and obtain information about the EPA sites and the population within the circle.
A database record for one of the EPA sites. The Envirofacts button at the bottom brings you to EPA's web site for more details about the facility, including the chemicals that may be associated with it.
Population statistics for the circle, based on the census block points that are included.
A listing from the USGS database of map features. You can search for particular features, and show them on the 3D map.