Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios: 3-D Views of Selected Areas in the Scenarios

Alternatives for Coastal Development: One Site, Three Scenarios

3-D Views of Selected Areas in the Scenarios

The 3-D scenes accessible from this page supplement the scenario indicators and site maps by further illustrating differences in the character and feel of each of the three development alternatives. All the 3-D scenes provided here, in still or animated form, are spatially accurate representations of the three alternative site maps based on geographic information systems (GIS) shapefiles digitized for each scenario. Portions of those maps are recreated in 3-D to provide users with a photorealistic perspective of the scenario features including layout of the street network, land use, vegetation, relative density, and housing mix. The 3-D view locations are chosen for their ability to convey characteristics distinctive to each scenario; only in the waterfront comparison is the same geographic location compared across the three alternatives.

The bird's-eye-view images of each alternative shown below were created using CommunityViz® software. The street-level, 3-D, still images and animations were created using Visual Nature Studio® software. More information is available under Project Process and Technical Steps in the Methodology section.

Three-Dimensional Animated and Still Images

The animated "fly-thrus" are presented in AVI format and are best viewed using Windows Media Player^® or a similar software package. The 3-D still images are available in JPEG format and can be viewed in your browser.

Viewing the 3-D Images

Click on a yellow area in one of the images below.

Stars link to still images, lines link to fly-thru animations, and diamonds link to waterfront comparison stills.

Once selected, a new window will open with either fly-thru viewing options or a still image.

Conventional Design	Conservation Approach	New Urbanist Design

Text Links to Three-Dimensional Animated and Still Images

Conventional Scenario Fly-thru options | Conventional Scenario Last Scene in Fly-Thru (Still Image) | Conventional Scenario Northern Still Image | Conventional Scenario Southern Still Image | Conventional Scenario Waterfront Comparison

Conservation Scenario Fly-thru options | Conservation Scenario Last Scene in Fly-Thru (Still Image) | Conservation Scenario Northern Still Image | Conservation Scenario Southern Still Image | Conservation Scenario Waterfront Comparison

New Urbanist Scenario Fly-thru options | New Urbanist Scenario Last Scene in Fly-Thru (Still Image) | New Urbanist Scenario Northern Still Image | New Urbanist Scenario Southern Still Image | New Urbanist Scenario Waterfront Comparison

Interested in Other 3-D Resources?

National Geographic magazine provides a visualization that demonstrates smart growth principles in a new urbanist neighborhood. This site provides an easy way to learn more about smart growth and urban sprawl.

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant provides demonstrations using 3-D visualization software to highlight coastal resources. Three animations of interest include flying up a coastal ravine, simulating erosion along Lake Michigan bluffs, and watching a subdivision develop.

Project NAUTILUS, a joint venture between the University of Connecticut and NASA, provides two animations of differing styles highlighting sprawl's effects: a forest and wildlife corridor fragmentation animation and an urban sprawl animation.

Print Version

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Coastal Services Center

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

3-D Views of Selected Areas in the Scenarios

Three-Dimensional Animated and Still Images

Text Links to Three-Dimensional Animated and Still Images

Interested in Other 3-D Resources?