Main Features

  • Designed on the basis of many years of human factors research and experience in control room design as well as research into the application of virtual reality technology to control room design activities

  • Powerful yet easy to use layout design tools

    • Designers construct room layouts in 3D using an advanced and intuitive drag and drop method

    • You can see and work with a layout from any location and angle as you build it

      • The 3D view is rendered in real-time so the results of user actions are seen immediately
    • Objects automatically align to surfaces and can easily be rotated interactively
    • Objects are automatically associated with each other, but the user can also define associations
    • Manikins and measurement tools used for reviewing layouts are also available for informally testing it as it is constructed
    • Participatory design techniques are possible and encouraged
  • Supplied with templates to create your own design and review guideline sets
  • Supplied with a comprehensive collection of models (Model Bank), including ergonomic manikins for USA and northern Europe Sweden), and ready-to-use CRIOP & NUREG-0700 Rev.2 review guideline sets

  • Can import ISO VRML97 models and JPEG, PNG and GIF images into the Model Bank database

    • 3D models can be imported into the Model Bank from any 3D modelling packages that can export models  in ISO VRML97 format
    • Model Bank can be used to archive "original" 3D model data (e.g. DXF and 3D Studio Max files) with their corresponding ISO VRML 3D representations
  • Can export complete layouts in ISO VRML97, as well as PNG and JPEG screenshots
  • Can export review reports in HTML format for convenient distribution
  • Can generate an inventory report that lists the Model Bank objects used in a layout

  • Web-based system architecture

    • Internet/intranet architecture

    • Server based on web server technology

      • Administration and Project Tools are clients that manipulate data on a server
      • Supports multiple users with passwords
    • Users share data "transparently" without geographical limitations
    • Provides version control facilities to track the development of layout designs

    • Centralised storage of data simplifies backup and reduces risk of losing system or project data

  • English, French, and Norwegian language options included

  • Linux x86, Mac OS X 10.4/10.5/10.6, and Windows XP/2003/Vista/7 are fully supported for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems

    • Requires a graphics card with OpenGL 1.5 or DirectX 9 compliancy
    • Also runs on other platforms that supports Java 3D 1.5.1 or later

Layout Tool & Verification Tool Details

Layout Tool Features

  • Create new layouts
  • Room Wizard to quickly generate empty rooms
  • Open existing layouts
  • Publish/freeze layout version for review
  • Browse layout revisions
  • Print layouts
  • Export Layout geometry to ISO VRML 97
  • Drag and drop to introduce pre-modelled objects into a layout
  • Basic modelling features to create new geometry within a layout
  • Parametric objects support for advanced user-configurable layout objects
  • Unlimited Undo/Redo
  • Duplicate objects
  • Delete objects
  • Group/Ungroup objects
  • Link objects together (define associations)
  • User-configurable selection policy (highest/lowest object in a group)
  • User-configurable visual grid
  • Global snap-to-grid
  • Object-specific snap of position and rotation
  • Automatically assign object-specific snap values
  • Lock objects position/rotation
  • Interactive positioning and rotation of objects
  • Automatic alignment of object surfaces
  • Automatic creation of associations between models
  • Modular objects with snap-points snap together
  • Zoom to selection
  • Pan to selection
  • Align multiple objects along any axis
  • Evenly distribute multiple objects along any axis
  • Free interactive 3D exploration of the layout as it is constructed
  • Pre-defined camera views (top, bottom, left, etc.) with zoom and pan
  • Extensive keyboard shortcuts support for frequently used functions
  • Relative and absolute fine-positioning of objects
  • Scene hierarchy overview
  • Access to model information from the Model Bank
  • Export snapshot image of 3D layout
  • Virtual compass
  • Room configurator to temporarily hide/show parts of the room (depending on the model structure)
  • Export Inventory report
  • Project Message System
  • Access review reports for published layouts
  • Enter layout annotations
  • Access design guidelines
  • Online help system
  • Browsable model bank catalog
  • Sample collection of Model Bank objects included that includes the most commonly required objects
  • Create annotated viewpoints
  • Use manikins to test reach, lines of sight, and field of view
  • Male and female manikins included representing 5th and 95th percentiles of population for USA and Sweden (Northern Europe)
  • Measure distances and angles
  • Visualise viewing angles
  • Visualise readability distances
  • Display orthographic plan views with grid from any of the standard view directions
  • Pan and Zoom navigation available in the orthographic plan overview display mode
  • Add lights to the model and/or use a default lighting configuration
  • User-configurable background colour for the 3D view
  • User-configurable icons size for Model Bank catalog
  • Browse available layouts in the Project Browser
  • Texture MIPMAPing supported
  • Stereoscopic rendering supported (on stereo-capabable 3D hardware)
  • Hardware antialiasing supported (on 3D hardware that support it)
  • Local disk caching of models supported to increase performance
  • Access via HTTP proxy server, with or without authentication supported

Verification Tool* Features

  • Load layout published for review
  • Read annotated viewpoints
  • Read designer's notes
  • Use manikins to test reach, lines of sight, and field of view
  • Male and female manikins included representing 5th and 95th percentiles of population for USA and Sweden (Northern Europe)
  • Measure distances and angles
  • Visualise viewing angles
  • Visualise readability distances
  • Display orthographic plan views with grid from any of the standard view directions
  • Pan and Zoom navigation available in the orthographic plan overview display mode
  • Read review guidelines
  • For each review guideline:
    • Enter review notes
    • Supplement notes with screenshots
    • Set review status
  • Generate review reports
  • See overview of all guidelines and their status
  • Export review report in HTML format
  • Print layouts
  • Free interactive 3D exploration of the layout as it is reviewed
  • Pre-defined camera views (top, bottom, left, etc.) with zoom and pan
  • Room configurator to temporarily hide/show parts of the room (depending on the model structure)
  • Export snapshot image of the layout
  • Virtual compass
  • Project Message System
  • Online help system
  • User-configurable background colour for the 3D view
  • Browse available layouts in the Project Browser
  • CRIOP and NUREG 0700rev2 guideline sets included.
  • Texture MIPMAPing supported
  • Stereoscopic rendering supported (on stereo-capabable 3D hardware)
  • Hardware antialiasing supported (on 3D hardware that support it)
  • Access via HTTP proxy server, with or without authentication supported

*Verification Tool is an option

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