Method and apparatus for virtual reality presentation of civil engineering, land planning and infrastructure

A computer implemented method of visualizing an infrastructure, the computer implemented method comprising:

• acquiring, by a computer, a cross section definition, said definition comprising points defining a link and link information, each of said points exhibiting a type;
• creating, by a computer, at least one three dimensional face linking points of a same type;
• assigning, by a computer, a face rendering for each of said created at least one three dimensional faces with a material definitional associated with said link information;
• and
• displaying said faces with said rendering,
• wherein said creating at least one three dimensional faces comprises
• creating a pair of opposing triangular shaped faces, and wherein said creating comprises:
• selecting a first cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• selecting a second cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• selecting a pair of points on said first cross section defining a link, said pair of points comprising a first point closer to a centerline of said selected first cross section than a second point;
• and
• searching for a pair of points on said second cross section exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section,
• wherein in the event that said pair of points on said second cross section is found exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section, said creating is performed on said pair of points on said first cross section and said pair of points on said second cross section.

A computing system for visualizing an infrastructure, comprising a computer and a monitor, the computer being operable to:

• acquire a cross section definition, said definition comprising points defining a link and link information, each of said points exhibiting a type;
• create at least one three dimensional face linking points of a same type;
• assign a face rendering for each of said created at least one three dimensional faces with a material definitional associated with said link information;
• and
• display said faces with said rendering,
• wherein said operation to create at least one three dimensional faces comprises being operable to:
• select a first cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• select a second cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• select a pair of points on said first cross section defining a link, said pair of points comprising a first point closer to a centerline of said selected first cross section than a second point;
• and
• search for a pair of points on said second cross section exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section,
• wherein in the event that said pair of points on said second cross section is found exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section, said operation to create is performed on said pair of points on said first cross section and said pair of points on said second cross section.

A computing system for visualizing an infrastructure, comprising a computer and a monitor, the computer being operable to:

• acquire a cross section definition, said definition comprising points defining a link and link information, each of said points exhibiting a type;
• create at least one three dimensional face linking points of a same type;
• assign a face rendering for each of said created at least one three dimensional faces with a material definitional associated with said link information;
• and
• display said faces with said rendering,
• wherein said operation to create at least one three dimensional faces comprises being operable to create a pair of opposing triangular shaped faces, and
• wherein said operation to create at least one three dimensional faces comprises being operable to:
• select a first cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• select a second cross section of said acquired cross section definition;
• select a pair of points on said first cross section defining a link, said pair of points comprising a first point closer to a centerline of said selected first cross section than a second point;
• and
• search for a pair of points on said second cross section exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section,
• wherein in the event that said pair of points on said second cross section is found exhibiting the same type as said selected pair of points on said first cross section, said operation to create is performed on said pair of points on said first cross section and said pair of points on said second cross section.