Enhancing the Interpretability of 3D City Model Validation Through Web Visualization: The Case Study of the CHEK Validation Results Viewer
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION, vol.15, no.7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 15 Issue: 7
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.3390/ijgi15070282
- Journal Name: ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
3D city models (3DCMs) are increasingly used in urban simulations, cadastral workflows, and digital building permit processes, and automated validation of these models has become a routine requirement. Existing validation services typically produce dense, frequently generated by SHACL engines, text-based reports that are difficult for users without a semantic-web background to interpret. This paper describes the CHEK Validation Results Viewer (CHEK VRV), a Flask-based web application that couples the OGC Data Completeness Validator with an interactive Three.js 3D viewer of the CityJSON input. SHACL violations and geometric invalidities are spatially explorable on a visual representation of the model, and the tool supports both predefined CHEK Building Block Profiles and user-uploaded custom profiles. We report a formative usability study with twelve domain experts (urban planners, data vendors, academics) and use it to identify the tool's current strengths, its limitations, and a prioritized development roadmap. As reported by the participant experts, such a presentation is easier to interpret than the raw JSON-LD report.