The "Best 3D Models" award is given to the organization that has developed the best 3D models using Presagis Creator. The criteria of evaluation for this award included an excellence in efficiency, appearance, and realism of the model.

 

This year's "Best 3D Models" award recipient is Germany's cantaloupe|3D for their sophisticated models of military vehicles. Using Presagis Creator, cantaloupe|3D developed three highly realistic, low-polygon count 3D models.

 

cantaloupe|3D has years of technical experience using low polygon models to create simulations that provide serious game level features as well as advanced visual quality. Achieving this advanced visual quality is especially important in this case where highly detailed models help provide vehicle drivers with realistic training.

 

Presagis Creator helped the team at cantaloupe|3D develop models that contain complex articulations for animated wheels and that are optimized for real-time simulations. They also developed animated tracks, turrets, and weapons for their models and were able to offer an even higher level of realism, particularly in the drivers' sightlines, by developing more complex models that feature up to 10,000 polygons.

 

For these models, the team at cantaloupe|3D was able to combine textures and various levels of detail to offer the ideal balance between performance and realism.

 

 

Best Database: 

 

The "Best Database" award is given to the most sophisticated database created using Presagis Terra Vista tools. The criteria of evaluation for this award included visual appearance, size and complexity of the database, number of formats generated, and correlation. This year's recipient is AEgis Geospatial Programs Group for their aerial simulations for NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

 

These aerial simulations include views of seven Chinese cities, 350 individual structures, and all 35 Olympic venues. One of the unique challenges on the Olympic project was integrating the complex geometry of the terrain models into the database. Working with Presagis Terra Vista in conjunction with Preagis Creator, AEgis Geospatial Programs Group was able to rapidly generate a database to solve this processing challenge.

 

For the project, the Group created close to 90 highly detailed models and several hundred square kilometers of terrain in under 2 months. This was then used in their OpenFlight database. Ultimately, this realistic, real-time 3D content was used by NBC television throughout their coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

 

 

 

The "Best Extension of a Presagis Product Using the API" award is given to the application or solution that has made the best use of a Presagis product API. This year's recipient is General Dynamics, United Kingdom Limited, for its integration of the SoftMap portable software digital map product with the Presagis VAPS and VAPS XT products.

 

General Dynamics UK Ltd. has been workingwith Presagis extensively to integrate SoftMap into the VAPS and VAPS XT development environments. This integration offers VAPS and VAPS XT users a range of digital map and geo-referencing capabilities including multiple raster, terrain, and vector layering to advanced functions that include threat intervisibility and 3D. These features enable users to develop applications with situational awareness by overlaying VAPS and VAPS XT graphics on top of SoftMap generated terrain.

 

Using SoftMap with VAPS or VAPS XT gives users a significant advantage when developing interfaces as it allows the end user to view and influence the interface design early on in the process. This ensures that the final product will meet the requirements and expectations of all involved. The Softmap and VAPS combination has already proven to be highly beneficial in a number of major embedded avionics programs.

 

 

 

This award is for the best visualization application built using Vega Prime. The application must be both deployable as an independent visualization application and must also be an Image Generator (IG), a stealth viewer, an out-the-window (OTW) view, or another visualization application for simulations. The criteria for evaluation include realism and performance as well as the scope of both the application and its configuration. This year's recipient is CAD Center Corporation for their image generator of ship handling simulation systems for marine training.

 

This image generator represents some of the most sophisticated visuals currently available. The IG system contains 3-7 projector out-thewindow channels for a cylindrical screen, 2 plasma display channels for rear view, and 1-2 binocular channels with gyro-sensors.

 

Developed with Presagis Vega Prime Marine, this application renders out-the-window views from the ship's bridge as it traverses the ocean. The system can produce multi-projector channels and binoculars using the Vega Prime Distribute option. Also, by incorporating wave algorithms into the open architecture of Vega Prime Marine, the team at CAD Center Corporation is able to achieve wave motion for this simulation. 

 

 

Most Innovative Application:  

 

The "Most Innovative Application" award is given to the customer or partner who demonstrates the greatest innovation with Presagis tools. This innovation can be related to a new application of tools, to an emerging market, or to accomplishing something no one else has even considered. The criteria for evaluating the "Most Innovative Application" include method of approach, real-world applicability, and uniqueness. This year's recipient is Rontal Applications for their SimGuard Management System.

 

SimGuard is an advanced incident management system developed to provide geospatial situational awareness and decision support tools. Using Presagis Vega Prime and Creator Terrain Studio (CTS), Rontal Applications created this revolutionary system that assures operational continuity by holistically handling safety, security, and facility management. It integrates key safety and security functionalities including alert management, video management and surveillance, e-Logging, reporting, and information distribution in a single unified system.

 

To achieve this holistic approach to incident management, the team at Rontal developed a simulation that is based on a Vega Prime platform that allows for unique 3D-based incident management. In addition, they used CTS for generating base terrain while Creator was employed for developing the complex models.

 

By integrating real-time information into a virtual 3D geographically-based model alongside advanced simulations based algorithms, SimGuard provides managers with maximum security and safety control.

 

 

Most Valuable Industry Partner:  

The "Most Valuable Industry Partner" is awarded to the partner that has excelled in delivering exceptional value to the industry over the course of the year. The criteria for evaluation for this award were based on Presagis customers' adoption of an integrated Presagis COTS software and Partner products/services application; as well as the derived benefits of the Partner solution including time and cost savings, application performance improvements, overall improvement of application quality and aesthetics, and demonstrated technology innovation.

 

This year's "Most Valuable Industry Partner" award recipient is Concurrent Computer Corporation for their ImaGen visual server integrated with Presagis visualization software, Vega Prime and Lyra.

 

Concurrent has a legacy of developing innovative deterministic solutions that meet the most challenging technical requirements of simulation customers. The ImaGen family continues this tradition by utilizing the latest industry technology advancements, including multi-core, NUMA, and high-performance graphics cards. ImaGen visual servers offer Presagis customers a high performance, low-latency image generation host platform with all the advantages of COTS technology. It is a fully integrated Linux/ COTS PC-IG visual server powered by Concurrent's RedHawk real-time Linux. Concurrent's ImaGen visual servers are complete, highly-scalable IG solutions that are fully integrated with Presagis visual rendering software and that encompass all required IG components.

 

Customers using ImaGen visual servers include Hyundai Rotem for the K-Series Tank Platoon Simulator Program (KTPS) in South Korea as well as Lockheed Martin for the existing F16 Pilot training systems and for their new F16 Pilot training systems at Luke AFB NTC.