Evans & Sutherland Introduces Unique New Features in E&S RAPIDsite.Business Editors/Computer Writers SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2000 Version 1.1 Delivers Major Improvements to Modeling Efficiency and Ease of Use For Land Development Tool Evans & Sutherland (E&S(R)) (Nasdaq: ESCC ESCC Eastern Shore Community College ESCC East Sussex County Council ESCC Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ESCC Enhanced Serial Communication(s) Controller ESCC Electrically Self-Calibrating Cavity ), Wednesday released an upgraded version of E&S RAPIDsite(TM), the company's new land development visualization tool. Version 1.1 offers significant enhancements to this unique visualization software, including the new Cutout cut·out n. 1. Something cut out or intended to be cut out from something else. 2. Electricity A device that interrupts, bypasses, or disconnects a circuit or circuit element. 3. Modeler, significant expansion of the source data options for constructing terrain geometry and texture, floating licenses, and enhancements to the Picture Modeler. "E&S developed RAPIDsite based on a need in the market, and we have been gratified grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. with the positive reception it has received in the few months since the release of Version 1.0," said Bob Ard, E&S group vice president, Applications Group. "The enhancements in Version 1.1 were also created in response to feedback from customers and experts in the market. E&S is committed to continually listening to the needs of our customers and to responding rapidly with improvements that will enhance their success." E&S RAPIDsite is the only software tool designed expressly for in-context visual impact analysis. RAPIDsite features fast 3D-model construction, fast graphics rendering performance, and interactive exploration of a proposed development on a Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. (R) computer with an OpenGL graphics accelerator A display adapter that performs a specialized set of graphics functions to render an image on screen. Today, all display adapters provide basic rendering functions in hardware, but many have graphics processing units (GPUs) that are sophisticated computers. . Cost effective and easy-to-use, this new tool enables the development of a photo-realistic model of a site and its surroundings, new and existing buildings, and new and existing landscape in a fraction of the time required by other visualization tools. The Cutout Modeler The Cutout Modeler provides users with a quick method for constructing simple billboard-like models composed of only a few polygons with photo-realistic texture and a transparency mask or "alpha channel An 8-bit layer in a graphics file format that is used for expressing translucency (transparency). The extra eight bits per pixel serves as a mask and represents 256 levels of translucency. For example, TIFF and PNG are graphics formats that support the 8-bit alpha channel. ." This new tool includes interactive transparency mask creation, which works like a cookie cutter on a digital photograph, creating a photo-realistic model of an object with a very complex silhouette, such as a tree, using a minimum of polygons. Generation of polygon geometry, texture mapping In computer graphics, the application of a type of surface to a 3D image. A texture can be uniform, such as a brick wall, or irregular, such as wood grain or marble. The common method is to create a 2D bitmapped image of the texture, called a "texture map," which is then "wrapped around" , image resampling, and model scaling are all done automatically in the Cutout Modeler. Cutout models offer a very powerful alternative to common geometric modeling approaches, which can result in a tree model with 1,000s or 10,000s of polygons that cannot be rendered interactively. "In addition to the library of generic 'parkway tree models' already included with RAPIDsite, market research and requests from early customers called for a way to create models of 'landmark trees' and other recognizable vegetation on a site. The Cutout Modeler answers this call," said Ard. "Its embedded, interactive mask creation tools enable users to quickly create high-quality transparency masks in E&S RAPIDsite instead of relying on third-party image editing Changing or improving graphics images. It typically refers to bitmapped images rather than vector graphics drawings. Using an image editor, images can be modified by an artist using pen, brush, airbrush and other "painting" tools. applications. The rest of the cutout modeling process is automatic, enabling the user to create a photo-realistic cutout model from digital photographs in just a few minutes." Source Data Options E&S RAPIDsite v1.1 imports data from an expanded set of CAD, GIS, and image data sources to support the creation of site terrain geometry and texture. Terrain geometry is automatically extracted from ESRI grid files, USGS USGS United States Geological Survey (US Department of the Interior) SDTS SDTS Spatial Data Transfer Standard SDTS Self Defense Test Ship SDTS Spatial Data Transfer Specification SDTS State Diplomatic Telecommunications System and DEM See digital elevation model. gridded terrain data, and site plans and terrain contours in ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., Redlands, CA, www.esri.com) The world's leading developer of geographic information systems (GIS) software, including programs that plot ZIP codes and addresses, demographic information and detailed, color-coded data. shape file and AutoCAD DWG (filename extension) dwg - The filename extension for Autodesk drawing files. http://faqs.org/faqs/graphics/fileformats-faq/part3/. file formats. Terrain texture sources now include monochrome and color aerial images in standard image formats, as well as USGS DOQ DOQ Depending On Qualifications DOQ Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle DOQ Documentation Quality DOQ Digital Ortho Quads orthorectified images. E&S RAPIDsite v1.1 allows users to co-register useful combinations of these data sources, including multi-point registration (rubber sheeting) of non-orthorectified aerial imagery so that it conforms to CAD and GIS data. These expanded source data options cover most of the source data available to engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning professionals worldwide, strengthening the appeal of E&S RAPIDsite to international markets. Floating Licenses E&S RAPIDsite customers have requested the ability to use their licenses on multiple PCs to accommodate the changing demands of their companies' current projects. In E&S RAPIDsite v1.1, RAPIDsite licenses are able to "float" to any networked PC on the customer's site, without additional licensing fees or uplifts. This also makes it easier for educational institutions to use RAPIDsite in multiple engineering, architecture, landscaping, and land use planning
Land use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy which encompasses various disciplines which seek to order and regulate the use of land in an efficient and ethical way. classes. Picture Modeler E&S RAPIDsite v1.1 also offers single-photo calibration in the Picture Modeler. Single-photo calibration reduces the required number of calibration photographs, makes the process for taking the pictures more straightforward, and simplifies the initial setup in the Picture Modeler. This feature streamlines the process of constructing 3D models of existing buildings from digital photographs, making it easier and faster. Pricing and Availability The base price for RAPIDsite v1.1 is $1,995. E&S RAPIDsite v1.1 is currently shipping. Customers can learn more about, request evaluation software, or purchase the product, via the E&S RAPIDsite web page at www.es-rapidsite.com or by calling 1-800-574-7333. About Evans & Sutherland Evans & Sutherland develops and manufactures hardware and software to produce highly realistic 3D images. E&S business units deliver high-quality visual systems for simulation and training in defense and commercial applications; graphics systems for high-performance workstations; and related applications throughout the world. Visit the E&S web page at http://www.es.com. E&S RAPIDsite is a trademark, and E&S is a registered trademark of Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City. All other trade names or marks are the properties of their respective owners. |
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