X3D Scenarios and Case Studies:
Real World Applications - Real World Solutions
X3D has a strong presence internationally and throughout many different industries. From healthcare science to oil exploration, X3D is being deployed for many important as well diverse uses. Our goal is to explore the very multi-faceted nature of X3D from an industry perspective.
If you have a case study using X3D, please submit it for review.
Lunar orbit and landing site visualization
The Integrated Modeling and Simulation (IM&S) project at NASA Langley Research was tasked with supporting an orbital mechanics analysis for a lunar mission study. The broader challenge was to develop the next generation collaborative engineering environment, complete with distributed engineering capabilities, integrated analysis tools, and interactive web graphics.
IM&S developed an interactive lunar globe web application, showing 7 landing sites, contour lines depicting the energy required to reach a given site, and the optimal lunar orbit orientation. X3D enabled rapid application development and provides future ability to interface with collaboration systems using XML messaging
3D graphical simulator for radiation therapy/surgery medical systems
Radiation therapy uses a robotic radiation emitter which orients and positions to deliver radition doses based on the tumor location in the patient. Current treatment planning systems do not accurately model the geometry of the various hardware components in combination with actual patient geometries on the treatment table. This can result in collisions between different hardware components and with the patient during treaments with complex beam arrangements.
3DRTT is a real-time 3D graphical simulator for an advanced radiation therapy/surgery medical system that significantly improves the radiation planning process. The simulator use laser-scanned 3D models, real patient 3D data models, X3D and Java to create a scalable, easy to use system.
Mobile fitness using an X3D H-Anim virtual trainer
Mobile devices can be used for instruction on how to train safely and correctly for physical activities, such as cycling and exercising on fitness trails. In the case of fitness trails, HCI Lab wanted to develop a training solution that would offer navigation, intelligently know what exercises to show at each station, and demonstrate the correct way to perform an exercise.
MOPET is a PocketPC-based application that uses a GPS device to monitor a user’s position and speed on outdoor fitness trails, providing map and speech-based navigation assistance. It also offers motivation support and context-aware exercise demonstrations using an X3D H-Anim virtual trainer. When the user approaches a fitness trail station, the GPS identifies the station, and a humanoid demonstrates how to correctly perform the exercise.
NASA’s interactive “plug-in free” 3D Guide to the Galaxy
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab’s PlanetQuest website aims to make astronomy understandable and accessible. However, the massive scale of galaxies are impossible to visualize using 2D images. Product Visualization Services (PVS) was asked to develop an interactive “3D Guide to the Galaxy” with the stipulation that it had to be web-based and would work on every modern browser across all platforms.
PVS created a 3D model and exported it as X3D, taking advantages of X3D’s multiple texture layers to create a Milky Way that was both visually compelling, and easily navigable. Wirefusion was used to enhance the X3D file with animation, interactivity, text, and audio. WireFusion’s Java/X3D presentation format allows the immersive presentation to be delivered “plug-in free”, viewable by virtually anyone with internet access.
X3D protein ribbon models for the visual analysis of co-evolving amino acids structural relationship
The challenge for statistical modeling of protein data sequences (e.g. for pharmaceutical protein engineering) is understanding how the statistical 2D data relates to protein structures. Existing protein viewers do not provide an easy to use method for adding visual representation of data relationships. The ProteinX3D project was developed to map statistical relationships found in a protein sequence onto 3D models of the protein.
ProteinX3D is a Java program that uses XML data from the worldwide Protein Data Bank and the XPATH to query amino acids coordinates to create XML X3D ribbon model visualizations. The use of XML as a common data language reduced the amount of code needed for data organization and made it straightforward to add graphic elements representing statistical relationships of amino acids coordinates to the X3D structures.
High-fidelity diamond simulation for sales and marketing
A diamond jewlery retailer wanted a way to let people learn about and interact with diamonds in order to facilitate sales. They needed a solution that would work over the Web, provide good diamond simulations, and could be easily manipulated by a customer online.
Construct 3D created a real-time web diamond simulation using X3D with its support for scripting, custom nodes and shaders. The diamond can be viewed loose (on its own), within a cathedral style ring setting and on a female hand model. Most of the diamond’s characteristics can be modified in real-time and a GIA classification report is sent back to the web page.
EMI uses BS Contact VRML/X3D for real-time GIS-3D visualization for incident management
To improve coordination of local emergency responders, the French software producer EMI, Port de Book, needed to develop a 3D visualization tool to extend traditional GIS (Geographic Information System) 2D mapping solutions. A key requirement was that the visualization solution would be able to process and display GIS data in real-time.
EMI integrated the BS Contact VRML/X3D into their GIS disaster control program. Information from the GIS is visualized in 3D in real time over the internet using Open Process Communication (OPC) supported in BS Contact. X3D provides the real-time integration capabiliy.