Data-driven traffic views with the view based on a user-selected object of interest

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying on a graphical map traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system, the road system encompassing a predefined geographical region, the method comprising:

obtaining traffic flow data for the road system;

obtaining a selection of an object of interest within the geographical region, the object of interest having a corresponding geographical location;

creating a 3D graphical map of at least a portion of the road system, wherein the 3D graphical map includes three dimensional models for landmarks and terrain; and

displaying the traffic flow data and the object of interest on the 3D graphical map using a movable virtual camera to rotate the 3D graphical map around the object of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D graphical map is centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising rotating the 3D graphical map around the object of interest while maintaining the 3D graphical map centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising zooming the virtual camera towards or away from the object of interest while maintaining the 3D graphical map centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a database of current traffic events on the road system, wherein the object of interest is a specific traffic event.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the traffic event is a traffic incident.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the road system is defined by a plurality of predefined sections, and the object of interest is a predefined section of the road system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the road system includes a plurality of sensors, and the object of interest is a roadside sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographical region includes a plurality of landmarks, and the object of interest is a landmark.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the object of interest is a physical address within the geographical region.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising zooming the virtual camera towards or away from the object of interest.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the virtual camera view angle with respect to the ground plane while maintaining focus on the object of interest.

13. An article of manufacture for displaying on a graphical map traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system, the road system encompassing a predefined geographical region, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

obtaining traffic flow data for the road system;

obtaining a selection of an object of interest within the geographical region, the object of interest having a corresponding geographical location;

creating a 3D graphical map of at least a portion of the road system, wherein the 3D graphical map includes three dimensional models for landmarks and terrain;

displaying the traffic flow data and the object of interest on the 3D graphical map using a movable virtual camera to rotate the 3D graphical map around the object of interest.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the 3D graphical map is centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14 further comprising rotating the 3D graphical map around the user-selected object of interest while maintaining the 3D graphical map centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 14 further comprising zooming the virtual camera towards or away from the object of interest while maintaining the 3D graphical map centered around the geographical location of the object of interest.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13 further comprising:

maintaining a database of current traffic events on the road system, wherein the object of interest is a specific traffic event.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17 wherein the traffic event is a traffic incident.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the road system is defined by a plurality of predefined sections, and the object of interest is a predefined section of the road system.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the road system includes a plurality of sensors, and the object of interest is a roadside sensor.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the geographical region includes a plurality of landmarks, and the object of interest is a landmark.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 13 wherein the object of interest is a physical address within the geographical region.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 13 further comprising zooming the virtual camera towards or away from the object of interest.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 13 further comprising adjusting the virtual camera view angle with respect to the ground plane while maintaining focus on the object of interest.