Using NASA's World Wind virtual globe for interactive internet visualization of the global MODIS burned area product

Three-dimensional virtual globes are radically changing the way geographic information is perceived by the public. This article describes how NASA World Wind, an open source virtual globe, is currently being used for visualization of the MODIS burned area product. The procedures adopted for converting the product into a format compatible with World Wind, as well as the spatial generalization of these data at different scales, are described. Directions to instructions on how to obtain the MODIS burned area product visualization imagery and use it in World Wind are included. This article highlights the potential benefits of integrating the visualization capability of virtual globes into the next generation of remotely sensed product internet analysis and distribution systems.