The 3D - Lab is a project of the University of Potsdam within PROGRESS.

Since June 2011 a 3-sided virtual reality Cave has been operative at the Institute of Environmental and Earth Sciences at Potsdam University. This facility, which is open to industry and academic partners, is an integrative part of PROGRESS, the Potsdam Research Cluster for Georisk Analysis, Environmental Change and Sustainability. Already during the initial planning and setup phase of the installation, the focus was on the usability for research and teaching. Key for usability are (1) a fast and smooth data/model transfer from standard geological software (e.g. Visit, MOVE, PETREL, ArcGIS) to the 3-dimensional visualization in order to avoid time consuming data transformation to highly specified visualization software, and (2) the capability to modify models directly within the visualization cluster by the user with the familiar standard software. This is achieved with Techviz, a software that allows to run at a level above the mentioned standard applications in a Cave setting. The Cave comprises three 3.84 x 2.4 m screens (two side walls, one floor) with a resolution of 2 mm per pixel. The applied 3D stereo technology is Active Stereo for small groups (up to five persons) and Active Infitec for groups of up to ten persons. Users are tracked with an ART head-, flightstick- and finger-tracking system.

Poster presentation at EGU 2011, Vienna                          Cave in action, MOVE

CAVE Software

• Arc Scene
• Petrel
• Visit
• Move
• Fledermaus
• VRML
• Google Earth and Google Sketchup
• ... and more (please contact us for more detailed information)

Technical Details

• 3 sided Cave
  • 2 Screens in 90°-angle (backprojection)
  • 1 Floorprojection (frontprojection)
  • each 3.84m x 2.40m (width x height)
• 3 Projectors Barco NW - 12
  
  • Resolution 1920x1200px (WUXGA)
  • Data link over DVI, RGBHV, VGA
  • Control over Ethernet
• Stereoprojections
  
  • Aktive Stereo
  • Aktiv Infitec
• 4 Workstations
  
  • 3 Workstations each for one Screen: Intel Xeon X5550, 12 GB memory, NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800
  • 1 Controlworkstation : 2 x Intel Xeon X5550, 24 GB memory, NVIDIA Quadroplex D2200
• A.R.T.-Trackingsystem
  
  • optical Trackingsystem
  • six cameras
  • Input devices: Flystick 3, Fingertracking
• Controlsystem
  • Crestron
• Soundsystem
  • Denon 7.1 Receiver
  • Teufel 7.1 Soundsystem

In the research realm using 3-dimensional visualization in the Cave provides improved and much faster recognition of complex structures and offers the immediate possibility of discussing and manipulating models during discussions with peers. A successful utilization of this system by many researchers requires, however that the familiarization with the technical and management aspects is brief in order to attract frequent users that can implement and visualize own data/models. The user will use familiar software for display and manipulation, while the software organizing the display signal in the Cave works in the background. One shortcoming is that the perspective is only calculated for the tracked head (of the principal user), while other users do not have a similar perspective.

This circumstance requires moderate changes of viewing angles from the main user. Nevertheless, this projection technique allows groups to discuss scientific questions through advanced visualization and combination of diverse spatiotemporal data.

Our experience with this system as a teaching tool is excellent. Student feedback emphasized the improved visual recognition of complex structures compared to classical 2D figures. This very important aspect will ultimately lead to an increase of 3-dimensional visualization covering many geologically relevant structures and patterns (e.g. crystal lattice, fossil shapes, seismic cubes, phase diagrams, folds etc.), providing a profound introduction into the 3-dimensionality of Earth Sciences starting already at the BSc level. Without doubt, virtual reality is an excellent tool for visualizing, researching and teaching geological data/models and complex spatial relationships that will ultimately lead to frequent use in education.