Exploring Models through Tangible Interaction

We create hands-on tangible user interfaces that allow people with all ranges of expertise to control complex geospatial models with their hands and collaboratively explore scenarios of intervention. Our open source tools, such as Tangible Landscape, inspire spatial thinking and new ways of learning.

A Signature Tool, for All

Developed at the Center for Geospatial Analytics by members of the GeoForAll Lab, Tangible Landscape is an open source interface for 3D sketching powered by GRASS GIS, and one of our signature technologies.

The system couples a physical model of a landscape with a digital model of the same landscape in a geographic information system through a continuous cycle of 3D scanning, geospatial computation and projection in near real time.

With this innovative technology, almost anyone can intuitively interact with processes such as water flow, erosion, solar radiation, flooding, fire spread, disease spread and urban growth to experimentally test interventions. Users can examine viewsheds, design trails, sculpt landforms and more, even creating serious games for collaborative decision-making.

Our researchers innovate new ways of interacting with Tangible Landscape, create new applications using the tool to aid decision-making and study how tangible user interfaces can support learning and communication.

Learn more about the interdisciplinary researchers advancing work at this frontier:

Faculty at the Frontier

Students collaborating at the North Carolina State University Center for Geospatial Analytics

Intuitive Modeling

No coding expertise is necessary for multiple users to drive our complex computer models. By directly interacting with a physical surface, they can use intuitive hand motions to make decisions and change model parameters.

interacting with Tangible Landscape by placing markers

Human-Computer Interaction

Our developers constantly innovate ways to interact with tangible user interfaces, creating new means to input information with physical objects, steer models and visualize outputs in virtual reality. Their work is all open source.

students practice geospatial tasks using Tangible Landscape

Learning and Cognition

We study how tangible user interfaces can support teaching geospatial concepts, lower students’ cognitive load when learning new tasks and facilitate information-sharing within groups facing a common objective.

Build your own Tangible Landscape

We strive to build an open science community who share research findings and techniques. Learn from our experts how to build and deploy your own open source Tangible Landscape, and start exploring the possibilities of tangible modeling yourself.

June 03, 2021

Researchers Design Simulation Tool to Predict Disease, Pest Spread

A team led by Research Scholar Chris Jones developed a computer simulation tool called PoPS to predict pest and disease attacks on crops or forests, and to test when and where to apply pesticides or other management strategies to contain them.

a person interacts with Tangible Landscape while another person looks on

November 25, 2019

In the Battle Against a Spreading Forest Disease, Strategy Matters

Predicting and controlling the spread of disease requires the right geospatial tools. At a recent gathering of the Oregon Sudden Oak Death Task Force, over thirty representatives of government, academia, nonprofit groups and the timber industry experimented with two Center for Geospatial Analytics technologies that can help them do just that.

November 25, 2019

Introducing the Center for Geospatial Analytics’ Strategic Research Areas

Researchers at the Center for Geospatial Analytics harness geospatial data to push the boundaries of data science, make new discoveries and solve problems. Our five signature research frontiers define how we transform data into knowledge and results.

October 29, 2019

First Official Stable Version of Tangible Landscape Software Released

Developers at the Center for Geospatial Analytics have announced the first stable release of Tangible Landscape, the center’s signature open source system for hands-on geospatial modeling: Tangible Landscape 1.0.0.

tangible landscape workshop - Center for Geospatial Analytics at NC State University

May 20, 2019

Can a Hands-on Model Help Forest Stakeholders Fight Tree Disease?

Participants don’t need coding or software expertise to use Tangible Landscape, a 3D model that allows them to try out different approaches for stopping sudden oak death, which has killed millions of trees.

Tangible Landscape system with 3-D imagery

July 17, 2018

Second Edition of Tangible Modeling Book Released

Newly released this summer, the second edition of Tangible Modeling with Open Source GIS provides new tools for running powerful geospatial simulations with physical models and 3-D imagery.