Google Earth based visualisation of Land Use scenario studies

In this paper we present the outline and usability of Google Earth visualization of Sustainable Outlook (GESO), a tool to prepare a multi-layered visualization of land use changes. The land use changes are the results future outlook studies of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. GESO aims an effective, easy and low cost way to study Sustainable Outlook data via an interactive 3D visualization that integrates the land use icon and landscape feature approach as presented in previous studies. The concept, implementation and usability of GESO are explained, concluded and discussed. The paper starts to explain the context of GESO and the intention to visualize 3-dimensionally land use changes (Al-Kodmany, 2001; Borsboom- van Beurden, 2006; Lammeren, 2005). Out of this context the concept of GESO architecture is presented. Amongst other functions it combines two Dutch authorized datasets, national DEM and the national topography, into a semi-3D dataset. Secondly the tool transforms these semi 3D data, the Sustainable Outlook results, linked with 2D- and 3D-objects, into KML files. The KML files, to be viewed by Google Earth, offer the user different levels of detai