中文摘要：

在分析现行三维虚拟世界技术的特点及应用优势的基础上研究了分布式虚拟地理环境（VGE）应用的实现技术，提出了基于开源虚拟世界服务器OpenSimulator集成真实地理环境空间信息以实现分布式VGE应用的新的思路和方法。以可进入三维香港中文大学虚拟校园及其虚拟应用的设计与实现为例，研究了基于OpenSimulator开发分布式VGE应用的主要技术及途径。结果表明，集成虚拟世界技术与真实地理环境空间信息的方法在可进入虚拟化身模式、虚实相融真三维场景建造及表现、化身之间及化身与虚拟环境之间的协同与交互等功能方面具有很好的优势，可为研发与实现诸多领域中的分布式VGE应用提供新的有效方法。

英文摘要：

Based on the analyses of the concept, characteristics and advantages of existing 3D virtual worlds, the paper studies the techniques for utilizing the three-dimensional （3D） virtual geographic environment （VGE）. A new ap- proach of integrating real geographical sp~atial information into virtual worlds to realize distributed VGE applications based on the OpenSimulator is proposed. Taking the design and implementation of an immersive 3 D virtual campus and its virtual applications as an example, the key technology and the key method for development of distributed VGE applications are investigated. The results show that the method for integration of virtual worlds and real geo- spatial information benefits VGE applications in several aspects of immersive virtual avatars, realistic and delicate rending effects of virtual environment representation, and collaboration and interaction between avatars or between avatars and the virtual environments. The approach can provide new methods to better develop distributed VGE applications in related fields.