Visualise Modelling

Overview

Visualise Modelling is an independent modelling facility to which companies and organisations specialising in simulation and construction may turn to for 3D modelling, texture production and technical support on all aspects of visual model production.

Set up and run by Andy Mills, Visualise Modelling undertakes contracts for both military and commercial simulation, driving applications, urban projects and architectural visualisations. In conjunction to this we also provide consultation services, from customer/client liaison to visual system specification and integration on a variety of visual applications.

Visualise Modelling also has current MOD security clearance and always works with the upmost discretion on all contracts.

Visualise Modelling can generate a wide range of visual models to suite your individual needs.

There is also an extensive Model Library covering almost every area of simulation where individual models can be purchased.

Individual Model Construction

Created to any specification, the model above is a highly accurate representation of a Sikorsky helicopter. It has multiple LOD's and utilises full unique RGB texture. The model library is increasing all the time with a wide range of 'off the shelf' models available.

Commercial and Military Visuals

Fixed and rotary wing simulation, tank and maritime. Individual models/components to complete visual scenes.

Experience

Visualise Modelling has experience in 3D real-time modelling and simulation at the highest technical level with knowledge of the following visual platforms.

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• Link Miles IMAGE IV, V and PT

• Thomson Space Classic

• CAE MaxVue

• Equipe BlueSky

• Open Flight for SGI/PC platforms

• Mak (DIS Interoperability)

• VBS2

• CDB (Common Database Format)

• Genesis Real_Time

Equipped to meet the complex and technically challenging world of real-time visual creation, with expertise covering the following areas of production.

• Commercial airline simulation

• Commercial maritime simulation

• Military simulation:

  •    Fixed Wing

  •    Helicopter

  •    Ground Vehicles

  •    Maritime

• Air Sea Rescure / Emergency Services

• Driver Training

• Train Simulation

• Urban Simulation

• Architectural Walkthroughs

Architectural/Construction Projects

The model above shows a 3D Real-Time architectural model, providing both planners and residents with an idea of the building yet to be built

Urban Regeneration Schemes

The database above was created for an urban regeneration project at the city station. It is now being used for a series of public consultations and will be updated as the plan developes. In full real-time the database is populated by cars, buses and trams moving through the scene showing the excellent transport links available.

Capabilities

Utilising industry standard tools such as Multigen Creator, Vega real-time and Adobe Photoshop, Visualise Modelling offers a range of modelling and texture generation facilities.

3D real-time database creation for land, sea and airborne applications.

3D real-time environmental scenes

Individual model construction

Model upgrades and enhancments

Unique and Generic texture production

Consultancy on a variety of visual applications

Data collection

Training

Finished databases can be exported into a variety of formats including:

Open Flight (.flt)
VBS2 (.pbo)
VRML (.wrl)
Collada (.dae)
Xplane (.obj)
AutoCad (.dxf)

Dusk/Night Visuals

This example contains individual light points as well as emissive texture patterns for town areas and floodlight pools.

Town Planning

The visual above utilises unique photo-texture and was constructed mainly from AutoCAD data.

Quality

Having gained a great deal of experience in the simulation industry from the early days of 'CGI' the quality of the database production is extremely high.

All visual databases are created in such a way that the fidelity of the model always fit the application and final platform.

This ensures that the model quality and texture usage are the best combination of size and complexity to meet the scenario requirements whilst not overloading the real-time.

Maritime Simulation

Complete models of ports, coastline or individual models can be constructed or purchased from the ever increasing library selection.

Urban Simulation

Specific or Generic urban environments may be created to cover many objectives in a simulation or planning application.

Flexibility

As the customer, you have the flexibility of utilising Visualise Modelling's skills as and when you need them. This may be for a number of reasons:

During periods of high work load e.g. leading up to a customer acceptance or important contractual milestone.

The production of a large contract where help is required throughout the duration of the project.

Periodic utilisation of Visualise Modelling for the production of 3D models, textures and environmental scenes.

Assistance in the generation of demonstration scenarios.

Independent consultancy during the review and acceptance of visual databases being generated via a sub-contractor.

Data collection and advice on visual modelling techniques.

With Visualise Modelling you can tailor a flexible working arrangement to suit your time-scale and contractual demands. Short term contracts of a few days or longer term projects can all be accommodated to suit your requirements.

Environmental Impact Studies

A wide variety of environmental and planning issues can be addressed utilising Real-Time technology and the highly realistic photo-textured models.

Interior Walkthroughs

Interior walkthrough visuals can be created. Allowing potential purchasrs/tennents to assess the internal space and layout.

Real Time in Construction

Computer Generated Real-Time Visuals have thier origins in flight simulation and have been in common use for many years within this industry. In the early days of production, models were very costly and the hardware that ran the visuals cost millions of pounds.

The quality of the visual model has improved steadily over many years, but has taken a great leap forward in the last few years with the introduction of photographic texture. Together with this and the dramatic decrease in cost of hardware and increase in processing power, Real-Time Visual Models can now be utilised in many new commercial sectors.

The advantages over the traditional forms of visualisation are quite extensive and I hope to outline just a few in this short introduction.

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What is Real-Time?

Once a visual model has been constructed you may traverse round the visual in 'Real-Time', as if you were in the real world i.e. the scene is refreshed automatically - upto 60 Hz. You may fly, walk or drive around your scene with complete freedom and it is all updated seamlessly as you move around your development. There is no need to re-render for every different view-point as with traditional pre-recorded scenarios.

As the user you have complete freedom to move in x,y,z axis and view the model from any attitude you wish. Several methods of traversal are available - constrained to the ground as a pedestrian or car, free movement such as helicopter or aircraft, all giving the ultimate flexibility to view your development as your needs demand.

The technology runs on a standard PC platform with a high end 'GeForce' compatible graphics card. In many industries this is hardware that is already available or if needs be can be purchased for a few hundred pounds.

How is the model created?

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The visual model is constructed in a specialist 3D package to highly accurate 1:1 scale. The model is built up of simple flat surfaces sculpted in to the complex form of any building or construction desired. This provides a highly accurate model and together with unique photo-texture applied to the surfaces gives a true real world appearance to buildings, bridges, roads and almost any construction imaginable.

Any updates to the model can be changed extremely easily and be viewed instantly without many hours of re-rendering. The reason for this is because the changes, once updated in the database, are implemented as you traverse around the scene in 'Real-Time'. Changing the colour of a building for example can be implemented and viewed in minutes, enabling the model to evolve along side actual project development.

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What else can Real-Time offer?

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Scenes commonly contain lampposts, trees, pavements and cars, in fact anything that is required in a scene can be modelled to suit the development and requirements. The system allows full interaction in many different forms. In the house building and construction industries, varying design options can be changed at will, interior flooring, wall coverings and kitchen options may be cycled through to show the range of finishing touches available to purchasers.

Environmental impact and road studies can show before and after development at the touch of a button, landscaping options can be viewed and line of site studies can be carried out as and when the user requires. Scenes can contain moving vehicles, people and can even be viewed at varying times of day and night. The visual even gives the ability to apply fog to the scene and a whole host of user defined effects.

Viewing the proposed development in a 3D environment can offer benefits to experts in the field and non-technical people alike. Planning proposals and public consultations become far more interactive when separate issues can be addressed whilst looking at specific areas of a model from the perspective of a resident, road user or prospective purchaser.

The modelling software can import/export, a wide variety of formats including Autocad 'DXF' and VRML, giving immense flexibility to the overall system.

The range of models that can be constructed are almost limitless - from an individual house to a complete apartment complex, a town centre road to a motorway by-pass and to projects as diverse as an oil-rig platform to a city centre re-generation scheme. Together with the ability to visualise interiors and with the flexibility of Real-Time technology the benefits and potential uses are vast.

Hotel

The 3D Real-Time model above was created utilising AutoCad plans and elevations and has unique photo-texture. The model contains a highly detailed apartment block with all surrounding buildings. There is a photo-realistic view from all balconies and this was achieved by obtaining real photographic images of the surrounding terrain and placing it seamlessly into the 3D model.

Sports Stadium

 This 3D model of a sports stadium was created to assist with a planning application and a series of public consultations. The client wanted the flexibility for the model to evolve with the architects design and adapt to the needs of building regulations and public opinion. The model will continue to show further enhancements such as disabled access and transport issues.