TREE-D-SEEK: A Framework for Retrieving Three-Dimensional Scenes

In this dissertation, a strategy and framework for retrieving 3D scenes is proposed. The strategy is to retrieve 3D scenes based on a unified approach for indexing content from disparate information sources and information levels. The TREE-D-SEEK framework implements the proposed strategy for retrieving 3D scenes and is capable of indexing content from a variety of corpora at distinct information levels. A semantic annotation model for indexing 3D scenes in the TREE-D-SEEK framework is also proposed. The semantic annotation model is based on an ontology for rapid prototyping of 3D virtual worlds. With ongoing improvements in computer hardware and 3D technology, the cost associated with the acquisition, production and deployment of 3D scenes is decreasing. As a consequence, there is a need for efficient 3D retrieval systems for the increasing number of 3D scenes in corpora. An efficient 3D retrieval system provides several benefits such as enhanced sharing and reuse of 3D scenes and 3D content. Existing 3D retrieval systems are closed systems and provide search solutions based on a predefined set of indexing and matching algorithms Existing 3D search systems and search solutions cannot be customized for specific requirements, type of information source and information level. In this research, TREE-D-SEEK—an open, extensible framework for retrieving 3D scenes—is proposed. The TREE-D-SEEK framework is capable of retrieving 3D scenes based on indexing low level content to high-level semantic metadata. The TREE-D-SEEK framework is discussed from a software architecture perspective. The architecture is based on a common process flow derived from indexing disparate information sources. Several indexing and matching algorithms are implemented. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the usability and performance of the framework. Retrieval performance of the framework is evaluated using benchmarks and manually collected corpora. A generic, semantic annotation model is proposed for indexing a 3D scene. The primary objective of using the semantic annotation model in the TREE-D-SEEK framework is to improve retrieval relevance and to support richer queries within a 3D scene. The semantic annotation model is driven by an ontology. The ontology is derived from a 3D rapid prototyping framework. The TREE-D-SEEK framework supports querying by example, keyword based and semantic annotation based query types for retrieving 3D scenes

Virtual Walkthrough to Pocket D Building

The main objective of this project, virtual walkthrough to Pocket D building project is to provide a 3D simulation walkthrough environment to the Pocket D building via UTP website. Looking at the current situation, the UTP website provides 2D images of the campus building. No information was provided about the usage of lecture theatres, staff offices nor cafeterias. Since the current website did not provide enough information of the Pocket D building, a simulation or walkthrough project has come to an idea to implement. This project, undertaken by the writer is to develop a virtual environment of a certain section of the university’s building using non immersive VR. The section to be concentrated in this project would be the Pocket D located within the campus. The project could benefit to public on having a clearer picture what a real campus in a 3D setting. The concepts of visual feedback and interaction feedback and acoustic feedback are considered in this virtual environment. All these concepts are incorporated to create a realistic virtual environment and this is where this project is going to concentrated on

Realization of exposition-like events in cyber-space

Realisation of exposition-like events, like conferences, exhibitions, etc., involves a multifaceted process regarding aspects such as: general planning, administration of the event’s ground, exhibitors and visitors support, local event’s time scheduling during de exposition or simple staff management. Depending on the complexity of the exposition, this usually requires considerable logistics efforts, which could be decisively facilitated through information technologies such as Internet/Intranet/Web-based systems. The aim of this paper is to propose a generic web-based solution to support exposition-like events. A prototype designed to support any type of expositionlike events - the Exvent System, is in detail described and discussed. It supports specific services and interfaces regarding different users such as: organisers, exhibitors and visitors. Users have a multimedia environment available, displaying a graphical model of the exposition-ground along with specific on-line facilities

Online 3D Housing Showroom

Online virtual housing showroom is developed for the housing estate developers to promote and advertise their houses effectively. By using this method, they do not haveto build a model house for the potential buyers to evaluate their housing project. They can promote their housing by publishing it in the internet andat the same time giving the user the same experience as visiting the site. Currently, the potential buyers have to visit the site to see and evaluate the house offered by the developers. The needs to visit the site lead to time consuming for the potential buyers. They have to spend their time to visit a few sites in order to see and evaluate the houses before making the decision. There are a lot of websites offered to promote the housing estate; however, they did not have an ability to explore the house itself. The potential buyers still have to visit the site in order to have a closer look of the house. The approach taken for handling this project will be divided into two parts; 3D model development and website development. The modeling stage will developed a model house that will be able to view thoroughly inside and outside the house. The model will be integrated with web page developed to create online housing showroom. As conclusion, the application is beneficial for both housing estate developers and potential buyers because it helps the buyers save their time and cost to make purchasing decision and offers the housing estate developers an interactive promotion strategy for their housing project

Three Dimensional Computer Graphics Federates for the 2012 Smackdown Simulation

The Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Smackdown is a two-year old annual event held at the 2012 Spring Simulation Interoperability Workshop (SIW). A primary objective of the Smackdown event is to provide college students with hands-on experience in developing distributed simulations using High Level Architecture (HLA). Participating for the second time, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) deployed four federates, two federates simulated a communications server and a lunar communications satellite with a radio. The other two federates generated 3D computer graphics displays for the communication satellite constellation and for the surface based lunar resupply mission. Using the Light-Weight Java Graphics Library, the satellite display federate presented a lunar-texture mapped sphere of the moon and four Telemetry Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), which received object attributes from the lunar communications satellite federate to drive their motion. The surface mission display federate was an enhanced version of the federate developed by ForwardSim, Inc. for the 2011 Smackdown simulation. Enhancements included a dead-reckoning algorithm and a visual indication of which communication satellite was in line of sight of Hadley Rille. This paper concentrates on these two federates by describing the functions, algorithms, HLA object attributes received from other federates, development experiences and recommendations for future, participating Smackdown teams

Online participation: the Woodberry Down experiment

The internet and world wide web are generating radical changes in the way we are able tocommunicate. Our ability to engage communities and individuals in designing theirenvironment is also beginning to change as new digital media provide ways in whichindividuals and groups can interact with planners and politicians in exploring their future.This paper tells the story of how the residents of one of the most disadvantagedcommunities in Britain ? the Woodberry Down Estate in the London borough ofHackney ? have begun to use an online system which delivers everything from routineservices about their housing to ideas about options for their future. Woodberry Down isone of the biggest regeneration projects in Western Europe. It will take at least 10 years,probably much longer, to complete, at a cost of over £150 million. Online participation isone of the many ways in which this community is being engaged but as we will show, itis beginning to act as a catalyst. The kinds of networks which are evolving aroundsystems like these will change the nature of participation itself, the ways we need to thinkabout it, and the ways we need to respond. Before the experiment is described, we set thecontext by describing the wide range of digital media for communicating plans andplanning which suggests a new typology for web participation consistent with this fastemerging network culture

An Approach to Conserve Gaza Architectural Heritage Through Digital Technology

Heritage is considered as one of the constituents that preserve culture and national identity of any community. This is because heritage is a witness of accumulating experiences of that community. During recent years, architectural styles have changed dramatically in our country. Modern and western styles of housing prevailed so much that the Palestinian heritage touches nearly disappeared. In addition, many of the historic buildings in Gaza City have been destroyed due to the lack of public awareness about the importance of this heritage. This situation created the need for restoring the inveterate Palestinian culture and heritage through 3D Visualizing of Architectural Heritage. Awareness of cultural heritage through publicizing the digitized simulation of this heritage by using virtual reality and 3D modelling and animation techni-ques would help in preserving it and achieving balanced environment which reflects both originality of past and modernity of contemporaneity

Extending DoD modeling and simulation with Web 2.0, Ajax and X3D

DoD has much to gain from Web 2.0 and the Ajax paradigm in open source. The Java language has come a long way in providing real world case studies and scalable solutions for the enterprise that are currently in production on sites such as eBay.com (http://www.ebay.com) and MLB.com (http://www.mlb.com). The most popular Ajax application in production is Google Maps (http://maps.google.com), which serves as a good example of the power of the technology. Open Source technology has matured greatly in the past three years and is now mature enough for deployment within DoD systems. In the past, management within the DoD has been reluctant to consider Enterprise Level Open Source Technologies as a solution, fearing that they might receive little to no support. In fact, the Open Source Business Model is entirely based on first developing a broad user base then providing support as a service for their clients. DoD Modeling and Simulation can create dynamic and compelling content that is ready for the challenges of the 21st century and completely integrated with the Global Information Grid (GIG) concept. This paper presents a short history of Model View Controller (MVC) architectures and goes over various pros and cons of each framework (Struts, Spring, Java Server Faces), which is critical for the deployment of a modern Java web application. Ajax and various frameworks are then discussed (Dojo, Google Web Toolkit, ZK, and Echo2). The paper then touches on Ajax3D technologies and the use of Rez to generate 3D models of entire cities and goes on to discuss possible extended functionality of the Rez concept to create a terrain system like Google Earth in X3D-Earth.http://archive.org/details/extendingdodmode109453282US Navy (USN) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited