- 1Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan (hemmi.ryodo@jaxa.jp)
- 2National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
JAXA Virtual Planet (VP) system, developed by JAXA Lunar and Planetary Exploration Data Analysis Group (JLPEDA), is an innovative Web-GIS platform based on ESRI’s ArcGIS suite. Started in 2020, VP serves as the successor to Kaguya Integrated Data Analysis System (KADIAS), enhancing visualization and analysis capabilities of lunar data. Unlike KADIAS, which was limited to 2D visualizations, VP supports global 3D spherical visualization with topography, as well as 2D and 3D views of polar and mid-latitude regions. One of VP’s standout features is a bird’s-eye view functionality, which enables dynamic perspective changes in 3D visualizations.
VP is available in two versions: Easy version, designed for general users with an emphasis on accessibility and mobile compatibility, and Advanced version, which caters to researchers with advanced analytical tools. VP integrates both publicly available Kaguya mission datasets (e.g., PDS data products) and proprietary high-level processed datasets, such as FeO/TiO2 content maps and lunar mare age maps, offering a comprehensive platform for lunar exploration data analysis.
Key features of VP include:
1. Distance and area measurement,
2. Shareable URLs for reproducing screen states,
3. Pop-up attribute information for layers,
4. Custom visualizations (e.g., RGB composition, arithmetic operations, and color mapping),
5. Cross-section visualization and download (3D view only),
6. Location nomenclature search,
7. Sun and Earth sub-point display,
8. Drawing and memo input,
9. Printing, and
10. Data downloads for user-defined regions.
Features (4) through (10) are exclusive to the Advanced version, designed to meet the needs of researchers. Compared to KADIAS, VP introduces several new functions, significantly enhances usability, and improves data resolution. These advancements mark a substantial leap forward in functionality and user experience, allowing for more detailed and flexible analyses of lunar datasets.
VP is currently undergoing final revisions (e.g., accelerating Kaguya Spectral Profiler data rendering, generating cache data for ArcGIS map image layers, addressing bug fixes, etc.) for public release, which is scheduled to occur within the current fiscal year. This system aims to become an essential tool for lunar and planetary science community, offering enhanced capabilities for both general users and researchers.
How to cite: Hemmi, R., Sato, H., Oshigami, S., Nanbu, S., and Yamamoto, M.: JAXA Virtual Planet: A next-generation web-GIS platform for lunar data visualization and analysis, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1505, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1505, 2025.
