holomap

A holomap is a term used to describe a three-dimensional holographic map visualization. A holomap presents geospatial or spatial data as a depth-rich image that can be observed in free space or via a display. Users can interact with it through gestures, pointer devices, or specialized controls; layers representing different data sets can be toggled; time-series or simulated dynamics can be animated to show movement or change.

Technologies used in holomaps include holographic displays, volumetric displays, or light-field projection. Some implementations project onto glass or into air using laser or LED-based arrays; others rely on head-up displays or stereoscopic systems. Real-time data integration is common, drawing from GIS, CAD, LiDAR point clouds, and other spatial data sources.

Applications of holomaps span multiple domains. They are used in urban planning and infrastructure management to visualize proposals and impact; in military and emergency response to assess terrain and logistics; in geology and environmental monitoring to study subsurface features or hazards; in ship navigation and aviation simulators for training; and in education and museum exhibits to convey spatial concepts.

History and usage notes indicate that the term appears in both science fiction and real-world visualization research. Early concepts stem from holography, while contemporary work emphasizes interactive, real-time visualization with multi-modal input and data integration.

Challenges associated with holomaps include production cost, display resolution, field of view, and occlusion issues that can obscure important data behind closer elements. Additional concerns involve alignment with underlying datasets, data privacy, user fatigue and learning curves, and maintaining accuracy and update speed for dynamic datasets.