Modeling of complicated structures in a virtual reality environment

Abstract

This chapter proposes a new method of three-dimensional (3D) modeling based on the virtual reality (VR) and traditional CAD modeling technologies. World tool kit (WTK) is selected as the platform for VR environment. It is an advanced cross-platform development environment for high-performance, realtime 3D graphics applications. With the high-level application programmer's interface (API), end-users of WTK can write codes to call the functions in WTK function library, and then create the virtual world. To add and modify data of CAD models in a VR environment, a two-way data transformer between VR and CAD environment should be implemented. When the models are modified on AutoCAD, corresponding data in the VR environment should be automatically updated, and vice versa. Since the modeling functions of AutoCAD will be directly utilized, making changes to the structural models under AutoCAD will be convenient. In order to display the 3D models in a VR environment, data of models generated from AutoCAD must be translated into one of the formats that WTK can process. That is, after constructing the models under AutoCAD, users should save them in a DXF format file at first, and then use the WUM to open this DXF file, and make further conversion or map textures.