Abstract:

Typically at public open houses, transportation engineering information is communicated with large two-dimensional (2D) schematic roll plots, possibly a fly-through three-dimensional (3D) video from a helicopter view displayed on a large projector, or 2D rendered images of a 3D model at select project locations. The public may be provided with a printed project location map to take with them that often includes key project facts, and a general project delivery schedule. However, new technology enables more efficient and interactive ways of communicating complex information to the public. One of those technologies is 360-degree images, which improve efficiency because they provide nine times more content than do traditional rendered images. This is especially helpful for large-scale interchanges whose depiction would require numerous images from multiple angles, which the viewer then needs to mentally stitch together, or a long fly-through video circling the interchange. Circling a large interchange can yield long fly-through videos. (For instance, the authors are involved in a large project for which the 3D fly-through video is estimated to be 15 minutes long, including three complete circles around three separate interchanges.) Another advantage of 360-degree images is that they can be easily delivered electronically for the public to view on their own devices. Users can look around the 360-degree images at the public open house and ask questions, then have continued access once they leave so they can refer back to the images for future review or questions. Because the 360-degree images are stored on a central server, they can be easily removed or updated by site administrators when changes inevitably happen, thus allowing the administrator to retain a large amount of control of the information, while providing an easily distributable product. Finally, 360-degree images provide an interactive way for the public to review the information, creating interest in the project and facilitating more communication and comments from the public stakeholders. This paper documents a case study from the use of 360-degree images for a public open house in October 2017 for a section of North Tarrant Express 35W project’s segment 3C. The authors rendered a 360-degree image of an interchange on the project as well as several 2D images and a 3D model. In related efforts, the authors have used virtual reality (VR) headsets with a large gaming computer for their visualization research. VR’s benefits include the ability to view a model at scale, freely move around a model, and experience 360-degree content. By using a 360-degree image at the North Tarrant Express open house, the public benefited from 360-degree content however without the cumbersome VR setup requirements. 360-degree images provided an interactive, informationally rich, efficient, and controllable way to communicate complex information to the public.