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1997
Journal Article
Titel
Realitätsnah Visualisieren mit CASUS
Titel Supplements
3D-Animation von Simulationen
Alternative
Realistic visualization with CASUS: 3D animation of simulations
Abstract
Simulation technology is used in diverse application fields, such as research, planning training presentation and marketing. However, simulatiors still lack suitable presentation variations for editing simulation results in an understandable way, especially for persons not familiar with the simulator. A suitable visualization form is particularly important for weigthing and interpreting simulation results. 3D animationprovide a solution for a realistic visualization of dynamic simulation sequences. The appeal of 3D animations have vividness, but also from their provision for interactivity, i.e. when accessing virtual realities. 3D animations have not been able to establish themselves as visualization tools, though, especially due to the high costs associated with their generation: thus, there is a lack of suitable animation systems. for this reason, the development of such a tool and exploration of its potential has become the subject of research in the Animation and Image Communicatio ns Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics. Innovative concepts were realized in the System CASUS (Computer Animation of SimUlation TraceS) which originates out of this work. CASUS offers a simple, cost-effective generation of 3D visualizations through a homogeneous, graphically interactive user interface. The key concept hereby is to use pre-generated animation elements equpped with comprehensive functionalities available from a library. CASUS allows for flexibility in the selection of image quality, display forms (i.e. symbolic or photo-realistic), temporal relations and output formats. A special feature is the ability to distribute 3D animations over computer networks locally, as well as over the Internet. Arbitrary, event-based simulators can be connected to CASUS. CASUS is already being tested in an industrial context for operational planning and decision-making processes.