Geospatial data system for selectively retrieving and displaying geospatial texture data based upon user-selected point-of-view and related methods

A geospatial data access device for accessing at least one geospatial database containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and also containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data, the geospatial data access device comprising:

• a display;
• a processor cooperating with said display for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial database to retrieve and display a scene on said display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith;
• and
• at least one user input device cooperating with said processor for permitting user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on said display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display;
• said processor selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display.

A geospatial data access method comprising:

• storing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data and geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data in at least one geospatial database;
• remotely retrieving the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith from the at least one geospatial database;
• and
• displaying a scene on a display based upon the retrieved 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith and also based upon a user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display;
• wherein remotely retrieving further comprises selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

• remotely retrieving three-dimensional (3D) structure data and geospatial texture data associated therewith from at least one geospatial database;
• and
• displaying a scene on a display based upon the retrieved 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith and also based upon a user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display;
• wherein remotely retrieving further comprises selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display.