m-LOMA - a Mobile 3D Portal to Location-based Information

Abstract

We present a novel application, a mobile 3D city map, with a capability to render dozens of textured buildings at interactive rates in desktop machines, PDA devices and mart phones. The system allows annotation of the virtual environment by content databases and user-spesified messages, which also act as bulletinboards, and supports avigation with GPS locationing and routing. As a key enabler, a 3D engine suited for urban environments is developed. A lightweight but realistic model consisting of an ntire city center with over 300 buildings is created. The application design, features and implementation are presented, along with results regarding performance and reliminary field studies.