The simulation landscape of today is beset with a multitude of simulation systems and visual image generators, each requiring multiple, often proprietary, data formats along with stringent hardware requirements and a team of qualified technical personnel for proper utilization. Many of the next generation, streamlined gaming engines even require at least a high-performance PC for optimal operation. These strict infrastructure requirements can create burdensome barriers for users looking for rapid verification of elements such as the contents of a synthetic environment representation or the visual representation of a 3D entity model. Other limitations such as geographic proximity, unavailability of qualified technical manpower, and cybersecurity are very real issues faced by users when timely access to a simulation environment or model is required. Through experience with limitations like these, the Synthetic Environment Core (SE Core) program has validated the need and developed the capability to export a system agnostic three-dimensional (3D) model format that is accessible to all simulation stakeholders regardless of technical competency or infrastructure availability. This capability relies upon the widely utilized and globally recognized open Portable Document Format standard, more commonly known as PDF. Much like its two-dimensional counterpart, a 3D PDF retains all the visual formatting and geospatial registered attribution of its original source, while allowing it to be commonly accessible by all users across the full spectrum of computing hardware and portable devices. The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for the generation of these common 3D PDF documents utilizing both synthetic environment terrain and 3D model data. This paper will also highlight ongoing innovative use cases for this capability across the Department of Defense (DoD) Modeling and Simulation (M&S) domain from terrain or model validation to end user mission planning, as well as discuss implications to the wider M&S user community as a whole.
Making Terrain and Models Portable Using 3D GeoPDFs
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