WebVMT use cases for non geospatial data

[tidoust]

Here are two use cases that came to mind and that differ from the use cases listed in the specification in that they rely on spatial data but not on geospatial data.

The document mentions "geospatial" a couple of time, so support for non geospatial data may be considered out of scope, and I suspect including them could open a can of worms. The use cases could still be worth considering to influence the design of a technical solution that would make it easy to support these use cases later on.

Spatial Probes Documentary

A space agency sends a spatial probe to explore Mars. It sends regular pictures and other data, along with its position. Based on these pictures, the space agency produces a video documentary that invites the audience on a trip to Mars. The documentary tracks the progress of the probe from Earth to Mars, and then follows it on the surface of Mars. To enrich the experience, the user has access to a companion where she can follow the progress of the probe. The map is interactive and allows the user to look at other pictures, other nearby spatial objects, and rock sample analyses not present in the video.

Follow the user on a map

"Green Live Damnification 6" is a video game where the main character drives through a massive map to deliver flowers to friends. Players enjoy streaming their game experience to dedicated video platforms so that others may follow and comment on their progress in the game in real time. Video platforms render the game map (which the game developers made available) along the video to help users track the movements of the player in the game and provide meaningful comments such as "Go North and give roses to the grumpy old man that you missed!"

[rjksmith]

Thanks for raising this.

I hadn't been considering other planets or computer-generated space, but see no reason why WebVMT could not be used in these spatial cases too. The coordinate reference system could be suitably defined, as proposed in issue #1101, as crs:marslander-insight or crs:minecraft.

I'd be interested to know what potential problems you can foresee with extending from geospatial to spatial use.

[tidoust]

I'd be interested to know what potential problems you can foresee with extending from geospatial to spatial use.

Mostly what the spec defines and what it leaves out of scope. Different coordinate systems may use different vocabularies (lat and lng, x and y, etc.). The spec should probably stick to main use cases for now, meaning geospatial data, and just include an extension mechanism.

[rjksmith]

SDW IG Review Summary (5/12/18)

Spatial data, i.e. not restricted to Earth-centric systems, were not originally considered, but could be included by using the co-ordinate reference system (CRS) proposed in issue #1101. This may require new co-ordinate attributes, i.e. x and y for artificial spaces, but the current design does not preclude this.

@6a6d74 suggested that it could be used for video game clips shared online, e.g. Fortnite gameplay on YouTube, to show players' positions on a game map.

@lvdbrink suggested that another use could be for microscopy.

Conclusion

• Leave this issue open for further suggested use cases and comments.

[rjksmith]

Updated Editor's Draft - pull request #1105:

• Added a section on Co-ordinate Reference Systems to Planned Features.