I’m working on a VR project that requires detailed GIS mapping with spatial visualization capabilities. We’re looking to create a highly realistic virtual experience where users can “teleport” to any location globally, including areas in India, and explore detailed 3D environments. Here’s a quick overview of what we’re aiming for:
Detailed 3D Representation:
We need GIS data that provides a high level of detail, covering natural features like mountains and forests, as well as urban elements such as buildings, roads, and infrastructure. The goal is to have these elements rendered automatically as 3D objects within a VR environment.
VR Compatibility:
The map data will be integrated into VR headsets, so compatibility with popular 3D engines (like Unity or Unreal) would be ideal. Any recommendations for Cesium-compatible tools or workflows for VR integration would be highly appreciated.
Offline Access:
Since users may be in areas with limited connectivity, we’re exploring options for downloading map data for offline use. Does Cesium support workflows for offline 3D GIS data storage and rendering?
If anyone has experience with similar projects or can point me to plugins, APIs, or workflows that support these features, I’d be very grateful for your guidance. Thanks in advance!
What you’re describing is a pretty good fit for Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles, which can be streamed into either Unreal or Unity using the Cesium for Unreal or Cesium for Unity plugins. We have a series of tutorials for building VR applications with Cesium for Unreal here:
For Unity, we have a tutorial for targetting Magic Leap 2, which will have some of the same challenges:
The biggest problem here is your last requirement - offline use. Google’s terms of use currently do not allow caching for offline use.
Alternatives with worldwide 3D data that allow offline use are extremely limited. You’re probably looking at licensing models from someone like Aerometrex or Vexcel, or hiring someone to create them for you in the areas you care about. Both of which (especially the latter) will be a significant cost.
It’s also worth considering that a detailed model of the Earth, like Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles, is measured in petabytes (millions of gigabytes). So any offline caching will necessarily only be a very tiny subset of the whole planet.
Hello @Kevin_Ring,Thank you for the detailed response and the guidance on using Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles with Cesium for Unreal and Cesium for Unity. I’ll definitely explore the tutorials for VR applications and Magic Leap to get a better understanding of what’s possible.
The offline restriction does seem like a major hurdle given our need for consistent access in remote locations. I understand the challenges with offline caching, especially with the scale of data involved. I’ll look into the options you suggested, like Aerometrex and Vexcel, to see if they could provide localized datasets for specific areas we’re focused on.
Thanks again for the helpful insights! If any other solutions or best practices come to mind, I’d love to hear them.