Author(s): Haicheng Liu; Qin Liu; Jinhui Gao; Zhaoyang Zhang
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Digital-twin map; Fluid rendering; Level of detail; WebGL
Abstract: WebGL frameworks such as Cesium and OpenLayers are commonly adopted to build thematic maps used in water digital-twin systems. This is mainly due to the frameworks’ low cost, compatibility with GIS services, and seamless integration within B/S architectures. However, WebGL frameworks are less effective than game engines in realistic 3D water rendering. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a WebGL-based approach with three Levels of Details (LoDs) for macro, medium, and micro-scale visualization. Two algorithms are introduced for hydraulic modelling results’ compression and realistic micro-scale water rendering. Experiments demonstrate efficient performance and near-game-engine visual quality, with remaining challenges in LoD consistency and hydraulic computation speed.
Year: 2026