Augmented Reality as a 3D Land Cover Visualisation Technique

Anotace: Augmented Reality (AR) is an established technique for both 2D and 3D visualisations in several fields such as sports, entertainment or culture (museums). However, in cartography or in GIS, it is still considered as a minor niche visualisation technique. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present AR as a 3D visualisation method for land cover development. The presented output is a part of a mobile application for Android. Land cover GIS data obtained from historical and contemporary large-scale maps are processed using City Engine, resulting in the creation of several 3D models viewed via augmented reality. Procedural modelling in City Engine is used to visualise 3D land cover data such as buildings or forests (including coniferous, deciduous and mixed). Other land cover types (e.g. arable land, grassland or roads) are displayed as 2D textures. In this way, the user can experience an innovative perspective of land cover changes over time in a study area of Chudenice (a village in the southwest of Czechia). The 3D land cover maps are presented in two time periods (1837 and 2023). The 3D models are accompanied by a map legend, scale, north arrow and title, so that the user can keep track of the current model without the need for additional essential map information.