Hierarchical data structure which enables interactive visualization of a geographical space

A computer-implemented system that enables interactive visualization of a geographical scene having one or more physical structures residing therein, comprising:

• a model database for storing three-dimensional model data for the physical structures which may reside in the geographical scene;
• a scene definition data structure that represents the geographical scene, the scene definition data structure comprised of a tree structure having a plurality of nodes, such that each node represents a physical structure residing in the geographical scene and each node includes a time period during which the physical structure exists in the geographical scene and link data to corresponding model data residing in the model database;
• and
• a scene definition application connected to the model database and the scene definition data structure, the scene definition application adapted to receive a time and operable to interactively display the geographical scene in accordance with the specified time.