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Item RTSG: Ray Tracing for X3D via a Flexible Rendering Framework(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Rubinstein, Dmitri; Georgiev, Iliyan; Schug, Benjamin; Slusallek, Philipp; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakVRML and X3D are the most widely adopted standards for interactive 3D content interchange. However, they are both designed around the common restricted functionality available in hardware graphics processors. Thus, most existing scene graph implementations are tightly integrated with rasterization APIs, which have difficulties simulating advanced global lighting effects. Conversely, complex photo-realistic effects are naturally supported by ray tracing based rendering algorithms [Glassner 1989]. Due to recent research advances and the constantly increasing computing power of commodity PCs, ray tracing is emerging as an interesting alternative for interactive applications. In this paper we present RTSG (Real-Time Scene Graph), a flexible scene management and rendering system. RTSG is X3D-compliant and has been designed to efficiently support both ray tracing and rasterization using a backend-independent rendering infrastructure. We describe two ray tracing and one rasterization backends and demonstrate that they achieve real-time rendering performance.Item Chemical Education using Feelable Molecules(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Davies, R. Andrew; Maskery, James S.; John, Nigel W.; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakTwo different approaches for the preparation of novel cost-effective molecular haptic applications (Figure 1) are described. The former utilises Perl scripting within a commercial molecular modelling package to generate static / animated H3D scene graphs for haptic CPK space-filling atomic perception. Within the second approach, key chemical concepts such as reactivity, aciditity and periodicity can be investigated using prototype H3D user interfaces.Item A Processing Pipeline for X3D Earth-based Spatial Data View Services(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Reitz, Thorsten; Krämer, Michel; Thum, Simon; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakOver the last years, a high demand for scenario-specific visualizations of 3D urban models has evolved. At the same time, established service specifications do not yet provide the means to define 3D map products and to deliver them in suitable formats, since they are focused on traditional 2D map products. In this paper, we present an approach for the definition of a 3D urban model view service. This approach consists of a three-step process, in which original geodata is integrated, filtered and then transformed into various scene graph formats such as X3D. We were able to maintain a high degree of compatibility with existing services and specifications such as Styled Layer Descriptors and the Web Map Service interface. The paper concludes with the experiences gathered from implementing and using this approach and provides an outlook as to how the lessons learned can be used in application and standardization.Item Enterprise-level architecture for interactive web-based 3D visualization of geo-referenced repositories(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Simoes, Bruno; Conti, Giuseppe; Piffer, Stefano; Amicis, Raffaele de; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakInteroperability, interactivity and 3D visualization are three of the most important challenges related to Geographical Information Systems. In the last few years, research on interoperability has evolved from simple exchange of spatial data files, through the establishment of standardized spatial data repositories, to the first initiatives allowing management of semantic aspects of data. Interoperability has been mainly hampered by the need to agree on standards, and to develop appropriate tools and methods. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has proposed a number of standards with the intention of promoting interoperability through the use of open services such asWeb Mapping Service (WMS),Web Processing Service (WPS),Web Feature Service (WFS) andWeb Coverage Service (WCS). However, there are a number of open issues regarding interactivity, 3D data visualization, fault tolerance, scalability, server-independent implementation, delayed-time transactions, to name but a few, that clearly reflect the need for further study and discussion. This paper presents a service-oriented architecture in the context of interoperable Web 3D GIS applications, designed to support features such as manipulation, processing and visual analysis of geographical information.Item Function-based haptic collaboration in X3D(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Wei, Lei; Sourin, Alexei; Stocker, Herbert; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakWe seek to further expand X3D by augmenting it with functionbased definitions of geometry, appearance and tangible physical properties. Besides using alone, the introduced nodes can augment and enrich the standard X3D shapes by function-defined geometry, appearance and tangible physical properties. These new virtual objects can be explored haptically with various desktop forcefeedback devices. We also propose a general visual and haptic collaborative framework for using it with X3D. We implement it as new pilot versions of BS Collaborate server and BS Contact VRML/X3D viewer. In our collaborative framework, two pipelines - visual and haptic-complement each other to provide a simple and efficient solution to problems requiring collaboration in shared virtual spaces on the web.Item Extending X3D for Distributed Multimedia Processing and Control(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Repplinger, Michael; Löffler, Alexander; Schug, Benjamin; Slusallek, Philipp; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakWeb-based applications of interactive 3D computer graphics are showing a tendency to get more interconnected and visually complex. Virtual communities like Second Life demand realism not only in terms of realistic rendering, but also in terms of integrated multimedia content. For these Web-based applications, X3D is the ISO-standard way to specify and manipulate scene descriptions. In terms of multimedia integration, however, X3D offers to specify content only in the form of URLs pointing to files. Modern middleware for distributed multimedia, on the other hand, allows applications to harness the full range of multimedia processing as well as transparent use and full control of both local and remote components. Integrating a full multimedia processing pipeline into X3D would enable Web authors to use, for example, streaming media, post-processing on media streams, or routing between scene elements (e.g., sensors) and elements of multimedia processing (e.g., TV cards). A full integration of multimedia in X3D is yet missing. In this paper, we propose X3D extensions for a seamless mapping of a distributed multimedia flow graph onto an X3D scene graph, making all the features of a distributed multimedia middleware accessible and usable within an X3D scene. We present our proposed specification and implementation of multimedia nodes for X3D. Using examples and implemented X3D application scenarios, we show the simplicity and feasibility of our approach.Item 2LIP: Filling The Gap Between The Current And The Three-Dimensional Web(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Jankowski, Jacek; Decker, Stefan; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakParadigm (2LIP), for designing simple yet interactive 3D web applications, an attempt to marry advantages of 3D experience with the advantages of the narrative structure of hypertext. The hypertext information, together with graphics, and multimedia, is presented semi-transparently on the foreground layer. It overlays the 3D representation of the information displayed in the background of the interface. Hyperlinks are used for navigation in the 3D scenes (in both layers). We introduce a reference implementation of 2LIP: Copernicus - The Virtual 3D Encyclopedia, which can become a model for building 3D Wikipedia. Based on the evaluation of Copernicus we show that designing web interfaces according to 2LIP provides users with a better experience during browsing the Web, has a positive effect on the visual and associative memory, improves spatial cognition of presented information, and increases overall user's satisfaction without harming the interaction.Item Web Based Presentation of Semantically Tagged 3D Content for Public Sculptures and Monuments in the UK(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Rodriguez-Echavarria, Karina; Morris, David; Arnold, David; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakThe documentation and presentation of 3D digital content is a critical but non-trivial task for the Cultural Heritage sector. Curators are often faced with the task of cataloguing every piece of heritage and maintaining the resulting information in such a way which is suitable for scholarly research and public dissemination. Hence, the integration of 3D content poses additional challenges. This paper introduces research conducted to integrate semantically tagged 3D content to the catalogue acquired within the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association's National Recording Project (NRP) in the UK. This research involves the combination of graphical APIs and semantic technologies in order to integrate 3D content with semantic tags in a web browser. Although the initial results are still experimental; it is expected that they will support scholarly research and public dissemination by presenting a variety of integrated documentation on the project website: http://www.publicsculpturesofsussex.co.ukItem ADML: A framework for representing inhabitants in 3D Virtual Worlds(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Oyarzun, David; Ortiz, Amalia; Carretero, Maria del Puy; Gelissen, Jean; Garcia-Alonso, Alex; Sivan, Yesha; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakLast years, a new fashion over Internet and computer networks has been established: the 3D virtual worlds. Reports about Future Internet predict virtual worlds will play a major role in the configuration of the future network. They bet on those virtual environments will encompass the ability to become highly adaptive to user preferences (having into account eInclusion aspects), and they will provide a high level of interoperability. However, current 3D virtual worlds are far from cover these issues. This work is focused in providing a preliminary solution about customization and interoperability in the field of avatars representation. They are a key element in the 3D virtual worlds because using 3D avatars is a common way for representing virtual world inhabitants. First of all, nowadays there is not a way for defining all the avatar features that are important for simulating a real person, and for defining their identity. Besides, features that can be specified are usually defined in a closed and proprietary format that does not allow migration among virtual worlds. Thirdly, eInclusion aspects are not taken into account. This work proposes a preliminary framework for specifying a complete avatar identity by means of features that are not dependent on the virtual world context or interaction events. Those are appearance, personality and communication skills. Moreover, for providing a tool that describes the framework, the base for a new XML-based language -ADML- has been created. The language will allow specify avatar identity features taking into account eInclusion aspects and it will allow migration among worlds. Part of this language has been accepted into the new MPEG-V standard proposal.Item Digital Oil and Gas Pipeline Visualization using X3D(The Eurographics Association, 2009) Zhen-pei, Li; Ping, Li; Ming, Wu; Dieter W. Fellner and Alexei Sourin and Johannes Behr and Krzysztof WalczakWith the development of oil and gas pipeline construction, management technology and information technology, it is highly desirable to create a visual oil and gas pipeline management system to improve pipeline management efficiency. Meanwhile, with the increasing network tendency of digital oil and gas pipeline, it is urgent to publish pipeline data to the internet to enhance pipeline information sharing. In this study, we use Extensible 3D (X3D), which is a software standard for defining interactive web- and broadcast-based 3D content integrated with multimedia, to build a web-based, interactive and 3D dynamic virtual oil and gas pipeline system. The implementation process and method of 3D terrain modeling, pipeline modeling, pipeline affiliated facilities modeling, and pipeline parameters real-time displaying through integrating X3D with Java and OPC are also introduced. The digital oil and gas pipeline visualization system provides an effective way for pipeline staffs and managers to visually fetch pipeline information through web. The system also provides some useful functions such as over standard early-warning, linkage alarm for pipeline routine administering and maintaining. Our application results also indicate that X3D is a practical solution for web3D and virtual reality applications.