Byounghyun Yoo, Workshop on Sensor Web Enablement 2011 (SWE 2011), part of The 2011 Cybera Summit on Data For All, Banff, AB, Canada, October 6-7, 2011. 

Abstract: There are several issues with Web-based search interfaces on a Sensor Web data infrastructure. It can be difficult to 1) find the proper keywords for the formulation of queries and 2) explore the information if the user does not have previous knowledge about the particular sensor systems providing the information. We investigate how the visualization of metadata on a 3D Web-based globe organized by level-of-detail can enhance search and exploration of information by easing the formulation of geospatial queries against the metadata of sensor systems. Our case study provides an approach inspired by geographical mashups in which freely-available functionality and data are flexibly combined. We use PostgreSQL, PostGIS, PHP and X3DEarth technologies to allow the Web3D standard and its geospatial component to be used for visual exploration and level-of-detail control of a dynamic scene. Our goal is to facilitate the dynamic exploration of the Sensor Web and allow the user to seamlessly focus in on a particular sensor system from a set of registered sensor networks deployed across the globe. We present a prototype metadata exploration system featuring levels-of-detail for a multi-scaled Sensor Web and use it to visually explore personal and project-based local weather stations.

Keywords: Sensor Web data visualization, Sensor Web data discovery and search, level-of-detail, metadata visualization, Web3D standard, Extensible 3D Graphics, X3D Geospatial Component

Conference website: http://sensorweb.geomatics.ucalgary.ca/swe2011