Installation at West Virginia University GeoVirtual Lab Shows Power of Immersive 3D in Mapping/GIS

Virginia Beach, Virginia-The VRCO division of Mechdyne Corporation recently announced that it has joined ESRI's Business Partner Program and is now offering its Conduit software for ESRI's ArcGIS 3D Analyst software, enabling stereoscopic display of desktop-based imagery mapping and geographic information system (GIS) applications in large-scale immersive and interactive visualization systems.

By bringing large-scale visualization to ArcGIS applications, VRCO extends the power of mapping and GIS to bring new insights to planning and operations support professionals in a range of industry, institutional and government settings. The Conduit software package makes the ArcGIS desktop-resident applications fully "VR Aware," supporting rich stereoscopic display, real-time navigation and interaction with immersive imagery on projection display systems ranging from wall-size to enclosed rooms and large-scale theater viewing environments.

Conduit for ArcGIS was installed, along with a new FLEX™ room-size display system, at the West Virginia University (WVU) GeoVirtual Laboratory in August 2006.  The four-wall immersive visualization environment is used to explore "real world" data, such as locations of cellular phone towers and electrical transmission lines, as well as recreations of historical landscapes and urban centers.

"The unique experiential nature of the FLEX display and the feeling of 'being there' created by immersion in the data scene provides powerful insights into complex spatial data and landscape forms," said Dr. Trevor Harris, Chairman of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Geology and Geography Department at WVU.  "The Conduit software allows WVU users to intuitively navigate through the virtual landscapes created by the ArcGIS applications, which makes the environment dramatically more dynamic and interactive than the single-screen display of most GIS applications."

ArcGIS 3D Analyst is an ArcGIS extension that provides advanced tools for three-dimensional visualization, analysis, and surface generation of GIS datasets.  With the addition of Conduit middleware to the ArcGIS 3D Analyst application, users can leverage these visualization capabilities for improved communication and representation of GIS data and ideas. For example, users can examine the visual impact of building new structures; analyze atmospheric, surface, and subsurface pollution dispersion; study the income distribution in their community; and much more.

"VRCO is very excited about the potential for Conduit to extend the value of GIS, and we are pleased to help users realize this potential by joining the ESRI Business Partner Program." said Julien Berta, Conduit product manager at VRCO. "The Conduit interface to ArcGIS 3D Analyst is a logical step to provide our customers with a way to leverage GIS in high-end displays. We are looking forward to seeing how ESRI's ArcGlobe and ArcScene applications will be used in immersive contexts"

About ESRI.

Founded in 1969, ESRI is the world leader in the GIS software industry. ESRI offers innovative solutions that help users create, manage, analyze, and display information to make timely decisions and solve problems they encounter every day. ESRI's comprehensive product line ranges from desktop to mobile to enterprise GIS.
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VRCO and Fakespace Systems collaborated in the design and implementation of the FLEX system and Conduit integration at WVU.  Both companies are subsidiaries of Mechdyne Corporation, the world's largest company dedicated to development of immersive, networked and collaborative visualization systems. Fakespace Systems Inc. provides advanced display technology and implementation services. VRCO, Inc. specializes in immersive and interactive software development and support.

Mechdyne, headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, serves customers in leading government laboratories, military research programs, energy companies and a variety of 'edutainment,' manufacturing, and other visualization technology applications.  More information is available at www.mechdyne.com, www.fakespace.com and www.vrco.com.

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ESRI, ArcGIS 3D Analyst, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, and www.esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Conduit is a trademark of VRCO, Inc.