,qwurgxflqj'*,6iruwkh0reloh&rppxqlw\ 7hfkqlfdoo$vshfwvvlqqwkhh&dvhhri7hoo0dulvvv $evwudfw

The objective of TellMaris (IST 2000-28249, www.tellmaris.com) is the development of a tourist information system for mobile clients which is able to display 3D maps. Surveys have shown that 3D maps in some cases can offer a better guidance in unfamiliar environments than conventional 2D maps. In order to achieve this, state-of-the-art technologies in the fields of telecommunication, geometric modeling, 3D databases, and computer graphics are included. The system will be targeted on boat tourists in the Baltic Sea. For this group, relevant information as well as Location Based Services (LBS) will be integrated. According to [10] a relative large number of boat tourists has already a Laptop computer or PC on board. Together with GPS and network access the conditions are given to provide them with tailor made services. From the user’s point of view, two applications can be distinguished. On board, the TellMarisOnBoard application running on a laptop offers services like weather forecasts, hotel reservations or navigation guidance in ports. It can be used to retrieve harbor information, coastline visualizations, etc. It is based on Java3D and combines a high resolution textured terrain model with 3D GIS data. The TellMarisGuide is developed for PDAs or cell phones with graphics display and assists the users when they disembark and explore the city. It can be used to request information about sights or restaurants, find the closest facilities, or find out where to get specific boating equipment.