For online 3D GIS, the data model complexity has to be limited to allow users with conventional PCs and network bandwidth to view animation at a reasonable frame rate. For this purpose, we have developed a view-dependent multi-resolution terrain model. This multi-resolution terrain model is constructed using a distance-based region subdivision technique. According to the distance from the viewpoint, the entire scene is divided into sub-regions of different levels of details. The resolutions of sub-regions in the rendering model are adaptively determined by a view-dependent level of detail control algorithm.
