The Construction of Evaluation Framework for Virtual Geographic Environment

Evaluation is an important content in the study of VGE (Virtual Geographic Environment) and through all the study process. This paper constructs an evaluation framework for VGE, and discusses the reality, immersion and usability. We propose 3 balances as the evaluation degrees and 2 comparisons as the content of evaluation. Then we categorize the immersion into 4 levels and give 4 components of the influence on immersion. At last we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of VGE and conclude the tasks unfit for VGE. The 3D images in the simulation of VGE can offer users a strong visual shock as they are personally on the scene. People always regard it as a mark of new technique and fashion and strive to make all images into 3D ones [1]. In order to clarify such notion, it is necessary to confine its application scientifically and objectively and research its evaluation standard. So, evaluation is an important content in the study of VGE and should be through all the study process. In our opinion, all the good techniques and methods will be useless without regarding evaluation framework and repeatedly tested principles of application. The evaluation framework for VGE (as shown in Figure 1) constructed in this paper attempts to research into it from 3 aspects.