As 3D technology evolves it continues to integrate, encapsulate and to absorb geographic elements. High accuracy motion sensors are providing detailed coordinate motion sensing, 3D features are being extracted from imagery, spatial analysis is coupling demographic data to 3D space and mobility applications are capturing field data for 3D use. These technologies are crossing boundaries, crossing scales and pulling the sense of place and position into more realistic applications. 

This week has seen Leap3D company announce that it's latest motion sensing technology is capable of providing 0.01mm accuracy while tracking movements. Moving through space with accuracy and precision on your computer is the beginning to working with highly detailed drawings and micro scales of information. Pix4UAV can integrated thousands of aerial images into a seamless application - fusing geographic data into 3D visualizations.  LMI Technologies Gocator Smart Technology provides highly accurate 3D measurement in industrial and construction locations.  

The evolution of 3D and 4D technology applications is causing us to think differently - or perhaps in a more enhanced fashion than we are used to in 2D. Because so many of these technologies involve position and sense of place, they are geographic in nature and therefore embrace a wealth of knowledge gained from research into 3D environments based on geographic context. 

The need for this expanded kind of education and learning is not lost on many institutions today. They recognise, such as one institution in UAE, that students need to learn within a 3D context and to understand how new applications based on geographic data and information can stimulate and enhance 3D and 4D products and services. 

A vegetation plugin that plugs into a GIS software, for example, can provide the ability to construct 3D vegetation. Meanwhile, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling is enabling the capture and monitoring of flow, current and other hydrological information in 3D.

While many users of these applications do not need to know about Geographic Information Science, often, and rightfully only wanting the solution, the door is now wide open to explore the scientific side of 3D in terms of geographic information applications that are able to create, manage, analyze and represent in 3D. 

The future looks extremely positive in this regard as the blend of 3D hardware circling outside of the geoscience realm can now blend with it to create enhanced and world leading new application possibilities.