VRML97 Primitive Model Exercise

Construct a VRML97 world using the basic geometry nodes: Box{}, Sphere{}, Cylinder{}, and Cone {}. Manipulate these primitives using the translation{}, and rotation{}and scale {}nodes. Add color and lights to the environment using the Material{}, PointLight {}, and SpotLight {} nodes. These files should not be overly complex, but should represent some object or building of interest.

This exercise is intended to introduce the basic VRML file structure of nodes. Most of the worlds we construct will be created within a particular modeling application, however it is important to understand the structure of these files and how you can manipulate them at the base level.

An introductory tutorials page will assist you in getting acquainted with VRML.

DUE: Tuesday January 19, 1999

Common Object Model Exercise:

Construct a 3D model of an common everyday commercial object. For the model select a box of a commond food product, book, or other easily recognizable object. The model should be at a hand scale. Your model can be placed on a simple table or cube for context. Using scanned photographs of the object define materials and texture the object in 3D Studio MAX and export as VRML97.

DUE: Tuesday February 2, 1999

Exterior/Urban Model Exercise:

Construct an exterior model of a building and its immediate surroundings. The building must be located in one of four civic locations: East Lake Union neighbourhood of Seattle; Downtown Bellevue; Downtown Issequa; or Downtown Edmonds. Your model must include the adjacent ground plane at the proper elevations, at least two adjoining structures, and some vegetation.. Using photographs of the buildings create a library of bitmaps which you can use to define texture maps for the geometry.

Export your MAX file as a VRML 1.0 model and prepare for simulation on the Indy's.

DUE: Tuesday February 23,1999

Interior Space Model Exercise:

Select a single interior space from the cannon of 19th or 20th century architecture. A list of potential buildings shall be provided by the instructor. Construct an accurate three-dimensional model of the volume including some level of detail and including a complete set of assumed light sources. This geometry can be constructed in AutoCAD, FormZ or some other modeler, but must be imported for rendering into Lightscape as an .dxf file. In order to successfully construct a model such as this the student must draw by hand or on the computer a plan and at least one section of the selected space.

Once imported into Lightscape prepare a radiosity solution of the interior model and convert this .ls file into OpenInventor format for simulation on the SGI machines.

DUE: Thursday March 11, 1999