#Forensic Software
13 messages in this thread
I just read an article by Terry Day of Engineering Dynamics Corp about
their new 3D software for accident simulations that is under development. The
article is about 8 months old but in talking with EDC the program is nearing
completion. It is called HVE (for now) (Human-Vehicle-Environment) and it is
very impressive the only problem (for me and alot of other people) is that it
runs on Silicon Graphics workstations. It uses Mannequin people and Viewpoint
vehicles so nothing new there, but it does have an editor which is equipped
with five tools, Road Builder,Intersection Builder, Landscaper, Friction Zones
and Highway Furnishings.
These and other supplied tools according to Mr Day make putting
together a motor vehicle simulation/animation very easy. This combined with
their EDSMAC and CRASH front end programs for 2-D reconstruction of single and
two car collisons makes for some pretty stiff competition for 3DS for this type
of forensic work.
Mr Day mentions that this system has about a ten to one advantage in
speed over a 486/3DS system. Suggesting that even with the higher costs of the
SG machines the cost per animation will be lower than with 3DS.
The reason I am mentioning this is that although I believe this is
going to present some challenges for those companies using 3DS and competing
against HVE or whatever it's finally called, some great new IPAS routines yet
to be released could give us some powerful tools to level the playing field
again. So to all of you IPAS programmers who are interested in this type of
development, as soon as you get the new developers toolkit please work
overtime. We need them sooner than later. Nick
Nicholas,
We are much closer then he would have you believe. We provide 3D Studio
software today to build the entire crash environment. We can setup an entire
site in a matter of hours in complete 3D and render ready.
The only missing piece at this point is the crash dynamics. Several
programs can calculate these parameters outside 3D Studio on a PC but at this
time no one has produced a IPAS module. (No keyframe access in R2 IPAS)
The ten to one speed margin is a joke. The SGI machines available in the
30-50k margin will only give about 2-3 times the performance. Of course with
30-50k machines you need 10k+ software. (more likely 30k) Compare that to
buying a PC rendering farm and all the software you can use.
Keith.
>>The ten to one speed margin is a joke. The SGI machines available in >>the
30-50k margin will only give about 2-3 times the performance. Of course >>with
30-50k machines you need 10k+ software. (more likely 30k) Compare that >>to
buying a PC rendering farm and all the software you can use.
Bull. I've seen VisLab on an SGI, and it is way more than 10 times faster than
3DS for forensic animation.
Evan
Evan
>>I've seen VisLab on a SGI<<
OK what's VisLab
Nick
It is a native SGI based animation system which provides strong linkages and
keyframing tools. It uses the SGIs hardware based rendering tools, and is
quite impressive. If I were a forensic animator, I'd buy a Crimson and VisLab.
If I had the money.
Evan
Evan,
Let us not forget that there is much more to forensic animation than automobile
crashes. A PC with 3DS and AAP will do very nicely for most forensic animation
applications.
What you are really referring to is not forensic animation but "simulations"
(where the computer/software graphically represents mathmatical algorithms) In
a computer simulation, the variables in a car crash (speed of vehicles A and B,
coefficient of friction of the road surface, vehicle mass, etc) are entered and
the results are shown in a graphic form which resembles simple animation.
For simulations, workstations are best. But for most of the
graphics/illustrations needed in the courtroom, all that fancy hardware and
expensive software just puts you into the unnessarily high-priced end of the
business.
Alec Jason
I second that Alec. A "simulation" is an entirely different process than
an animation. Although, with the next couple generations of PC's and multiple
processer support from the OS, PC's will begin to make in roads in the
simulation market as well.
Keith.
Alec:
You, of course, are right. But, if I were crashing virtual cars and airplanes,
I'd want VisLab.
Evan
I have seen VisLab too. They tend to run it on a $80k+ Crimson Box. If
you are seeing Reality Engine Graphics add $50k. Any software will look very
good running on this type of hardware. That does not make it ten times faster
than an equal dollar value of PC hardware running 3DS.
With our 3DS modules I have built complete 3D scenes ready for rendering
in less than 3 hours using only one PC. These were very complex roadway scenes
with more detail than is generally used.
Keith.
Keith
>> We provide 3D Studio software today to build the entire crash environment<<
Could you send me your latest software flyers on these.
>> The only missing piece is the crash dynamics<<
If you mean a IPAS to replace EDSMAC and EDCRASH I don't think that is going to
happen any time soon since EDC pretty much owns that market and isn't about to
write a IPAS now with HVE about to ship. I asked them about a DXF output module
for EDSMAC and they said no!
Nick
If you are in the states call 1-800-252-1024 else 303-759-1024 for our
lastest catalog. You can also check with your multimedia dealer.
They may "own the market" now but the numbers will be in favor of 3DS
down the line. The pricing structure for IPAS routines is way below the pricing
on the workstations. Someone will create an IPAS program for calculation and
animation of crashes as soon as the demand can support a product. A IPAS
product of that nature might sell in the 500 – 995 dollar range would be my
guess.
Keith.
Keith
>>If you are in the States<< I'm in your state Colorado!
>>A IPAS product of that nature might sell in the 500-995 dollar range would be
my guess<< Are you guys thinking of writing such a program. If so I'll buy two.
Does that constitute sufficient demand.<g>
Nick
Hard to tell where anyone's from on CIS.
That makes you about number six on the list. It is just with the growth
of the 3DS market if there a software product that sells elsewhere to enhance
animation someone will create a 3DS version.
Keith.