3D GIS Modeling of Soft Geo-Objects: Taking Rainfall, Overland Flow, and Soil Erosion as an Example

In physics, objects can be divided into rigid and soft objects according to the object deformation capacity. Similarly, geo-object can also be classified into rigid geo-objects (e.g., building, urban) and soft geo-objects (e.g., mudflow, water, soil erosion). There are three types of approaches for 3D GIS modeling, i.e., surface-based, volume-based, and hybrids in terms of geometry. These approaches are suitable for representing rigid geo-objects, but they are not suitable to simulate the intrinsic properties of the soft geoobject, i.e., dynamics and deformation. And so far there are few GIS modeling methods for simulation of soft geo-objects. GIS flow elements (FEs) and GIS soft voxels (SVs) were proposed for 3D modeling of soft geo-objects. GIS flow elements can realistically represent the dynamics and stochastics of soft geo-objects, while GIS soft voxels simulate deformation of soft geo-objects. The authors discuss the implementation and computer programming of GIS flow elements and GIS soft voxels in this study. GIS FE and SV have been successfully applied in a case study toward the simulation of the process of rainfall, overland flow, and soil erosion. A software system has been designed and developed, which has the functions of data management, model computation, and 3D simulation.