[x3d-public] Cesium Version 1.20 Released; possible adaptation, perhaps as GeoEngine/GeoGlobe approach for X3D?

[Don Brutzman]

a. Wondering if anyone has done a comparison of X3D Geospatial to Cesium javascript tool, perhaps there are lessons to be learned?

	http://cesiumjs.org/2016/04/01/Cesium-version-1.20-released/

Also wondering:

b. might Cesium be used for geospatial backdrop within X3DOM or Cobweb to augment an X3D scene?

c. of course a variety of carefully engineered globes and map layers are prevalent, and often they carry license requirements that people might want to use (because they paid for a license).   might we think of an extension mechanism for X3D that allows an author to specify acceptable/preferred engine(s) for a geospatial scene?  this would open the door for X3D players to then support them.

GeoEngine or GeoGlobe node perhaps?  Might be implementable today via a X3D prototype node with a contained JavaScript script, which in turn calls CesiumJS (or OpenLayers or whatever).

Not sure if these are possible, but are certainly worth considering as we continue to advance X3D content.

all the best, Don
-- 
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       brutzman at nps.edu
Watkins 270,  MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA   +1.831.656.2149
X3D graphics, virtual worlds, navy robotics http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman