Because we are serving datasets with textures 16 times larger than anything achieved online before, we have spent considerable effort managing the way the textures are loading into the limited graphics card memory available. As you move around the built environment you will notice how textures will swap resolution, so when you are focused on the area you are really interested in, the highest resolution data will become available. The end result is an online package that can handle models of the highest resolution that would make many other packages run out of memory. The user can move around Skape either using the keyboard or mouse. These can be configured through the preferences panel. We have also built support for the 3D Connection Space Mouse within Skape. This tool provides the ideal solution for moving around a 3D environment (http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/spacenavigator.html).

The measure tool is used to calculate the distance or area on the ground or on a building. It also uses the underlying terrain to show the difference in height between two points.

Shadow analysis uses NASA's sun position algorithm and our accurate terrain and building geometries to cast a shadow over the surrounding urban environment. Alternatively you can cast a shadow from your imported design to see how the building will impact on surrounding locations. The shadow can be changed dynamically to see how it changes during the day and time of the year. This change can then be output through the video or through a series of screenshots.

View from allows you to click on the ground surface or buildings to see how the built environment or your imported building looks from that location. Try moving to new AOI's to see the design from further away.

Snapshot allows you to export the current view within the screen. This will include any imported buildings, shadow, annotations or measurements. On order the system will process the image to ensure that it contains the highest resolution textures.

The path of the video output in Skape is defined through the use of a series of waypoints. Each one of these can have their location changed to ensure that you are looking at the correct building. The video will record time changes, shadows, annotations and measurements in the output. To ensure that you have the highest quality output for later editing, each frame of the video is a full resolution representation of the scene. You may wish to compress the video to make it run smoother on your PC when you are happy with the final product.

Video sample

Skape offers a two main export option to allow you to extract data. The layer export allows you to export the different data products in the format you require and import them into your system, typical of many online solutions available today. The scene export is a new innovation for Skape. This is designed for exporting 3D data and bringing the data directly into you CAD environment. The 3D building layers are exported either as 3DS or OBJ with associated texture files (if RealSkape is selected). To provide positional context to the buildings, terrain and base information can be ordered. This will be delivered as a terrain mesh with an associated map or image texture. To make the data easier to manage all the building can be merged into a single file or if you wish to add and remove building objects then export each building as a separate file. Options are also available for the model coordinate system. Either the OS GB coordinate system can be used or a system where the centre of origin is within the middle of the export area.

The final export format within the scene export is 3D PDF. This allows the exported data to be viewed within the latest Adobe Reader as a PDF.

Click on the links below to download samples of the scene export.

RealSkape Sample

Urbanskape Sample

3D PDF Sample