Appropriateness of Using CityGML standard version 2.0 for developing 3D city model in Oman

Abstract

This paper investigates the appropriateness of using CityGML version 2.0 for developing 3D city model in Oman. Some countries have started using CityGML standard (version 1.0 and version 2.0) to establish its 3D city model. Despite the fact that the CityGML standard is an important initiative for exchanging 3D city objects, it is still not fully supportive of the 3D city model requirements. To investigate problems that might face the implementation of the upcoming 3D city model in Oman using the CityGML standard version 2.0, the state of current CityGML standard implementation has been evaluated in selected countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Singapore), which are considered significant in CityGML standard practicing. The degree of CityGML standard implementation has been investigated using a questionnaire that was designed based on a 5-point Likert scale. Moreover, in order to investigate the data structure issues and challenges based on CityGML standard, the study has carried some experiments. The study has used geospatial tools and databases such as FME, PostgreSQL-PostGIS and 3DCityDB to generate small-scale 3D city model. The survey results reveal that the degree of CityGML implementation in the countries surveyed focused on building model applications more than other CityGML models. Furthermore, the result of the experiments at the CityGML data structure shows that there are issues and challenges that need to be addressed. We expect this paper can prompt a better vision for upcoming CityGML standards and 3D city model.