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SpatialNews Press Release
E&S Offers New 3D Site Visualization Tool for ESRI GIS
Software Users
SALT LAKE CITY & REDLANDS, Calif., Nov. 13, 2000--
RAPIDsite Producer Allows Photorealistic 3D Visualization
Of ESRI's ArcView 3D Analyst Data
Evans & Sutherland (E&S(R)) (Nasdaq: ESCC) is bringing 3D GIS data to life with its RAPIDsite(TM) Producer product, which enables
users of ESRI's ArcView 3D Analyst software to create photorealistic 3D site visualizations from their cartographic site data.
Producer takes the communication of 3D Analyst site data to the next level, increasing its realism, credibility, and impact. GIS professionals
can now "walk," "drive," or "fly" their audiences interactively through a photorealistic visualization of their 3D site data, making it
understandable to everyone.
Producer also allows users to create digital images and video for electronic publication and distribution.
"We're excited to be offering RAPIDsite Producer in conjunction with ESRI," said Bob Ard, E&S Applications Group vice president.
"Adding a third dimension to traditional 2D cartographic data significantly enhances its analytical value, and ESRI's 3D Analyst is a powerful
analysis and visualization tool for 3D GIS data.
"The inherent symbolic and cartographic nature of this type of data visualization is invaluable to GIS professionals. However, many people
find it difficult to interpret accurately symbolic representations, whether presented in a 2D or 3D form.
"Producer solves this problem for 3D Analyst users, enabling them to transform their 3D GIS site data into a photorealistic 3D site
visualization that appears literal and natural, rather than symbolic. This enables them to present their data in a way that everyone can
understand."
"ESRI is pleased to have E&S as a business partner, which enables us to offer our customers the world's most advanced 3D visualization
technology," said Jack Dangermond, president, ESRI.
"RAPIDsite Producer complements our ArcView GIS, 3D Analyst, and Spatial Analyst products, augmenting the GIS professional's toolbox
of GIS and spatial analysis tools from ESRI with something new and powerful -- photorealistic, interactive 3D site visualization and
presentation that is both affordable and easy to use.
"Recently, we had the opportunity to try this software to visualize the placement of a new building planned for our Redlands campus. I was
able to move the buildings and structures around on the site quickly, experiment with various alternative positions, and evaluate their visual
impact.
"This gave us new insight into how best to locate the building on the site and helped us determine the best position of the associated air
conditioning unit. RAPIDsite really made a difference in the planning of our ESRI campus."
RAPIDsite Producer reads TINs, GRIDS, and shapefiles from 3D Analyst, plus aerial or satellite orthoimages and enables the user to
transform the data into a photorealistic, 3D site visualization. The realism of the site model can be enhanced with models of typical buildings,
vehicles, trees, and people from Producer's model library.
Alternatively, users may place VRML models from the Web and other applications into the 3D site visualization or they may purchase
"snap-on" modeling tools to construct their own custom models of specific existing and planned buildings, vegetation, terrain, and background
scenery. The result is a 3D site visualization with a photorealistic, not symbolic, appearance.
Producer also enables the creation of stunning 3D visual content for presentation purposes. Using an appropriate PC and graphics card,
users can "walk," "drive," or "fly" their audiences interactively through the 3D site visualization. Producer also outputs still images and digital
video for distribution via the Web, email, CD-ROMs, and DVDs.
"As a user of both ESRI and E&S software, I am excited about the potential of RAPIDsite Producer as a communication and presentation
tool," said Patrick Moore, director of Integral GIS Inc.
"I have long wished for a photorealistic, interactive way to visualize and present my 3D GIS data. With Producer, I can use E&S's
world-class 3D graphics technology to communicate my 3D Analyst site data in a way that virtually anyone can understand."
E&S RAPIDsite Technology
Producer is based on E&S RAPIDsite 2.1, the first professional software product expressly designed for interactive 3D site visualization by
real estate developers, civil engineers, and landscape architects.
E&S RAPIDsite enables the creation, assembly, editing, exploration, and presentation of a photorealistic model of a real estate development
site and its surroundings and new and existing buildings and landscaping in a fraction of the time required by other visualization tools.
RAPIDsite features fast 3D-model construction and interactive graphics rendering performance on a Windows NT(R) or Windows 2000
computer with an appropriate OpenGL graphics accelerator.
In use nationwide for over a year, E&S RAPIDsite has been recognized for excellence, receiving the Cadence magazine 1999 Editor's
Choice Award and being named one of the Top 10 Software Products of 1999 by IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications magazine.
"Snap-On" Modeling Tool Upgrades
Producer customers may purchase RAPIDsite modeling tool "snap-ons" from E&S for constructing their own custom models of existing
and planned buildings, landscaping, and background scenery. These custom models dramatically enhance the realism of 3D site visualizations
created from 3D Analyst data.
Easy to learn and use, this powerful software features a simple user interface optimized for fast modeling and requires only a few days of
training to achieve full proficiency.
Pricing and Availability
Producer is available directly from E&S and may be purchased as an individual software package or for a limited time bundled with
ArcView 3D Analyst and ArcView GIS. Producer is available at a base price of $2,395, and ArcView 3D Producer Bundles are available at
attractive discounts.
Customers can learn more about or purchase the product via the Web at www.es-rapidsite.com, by sending email to rs-sales@es.com, or
by calling 800/574-7333.
About Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland produces hardware and software to create highly realistic 3D images. A leader in visual simulation for over 30 years,
E&S offers a full range of advanced image generation and display products designed to meet the most demanding military and commercial
simulation and training requirements.
In addition, E&S business units deliver state-of-the-art visualization solutions for land developers, digital theater systems for science centers
and entertainment venues, and high-performance graphics systems for professional artists and animators. Visit the E&S web page at
www.es.com.
About ESRI
For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the leading developer of geographic information system (GIS) software with more than 300,000
clients worldwide. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services.
In addition to its headquarters in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90
countries, and more than 1,000 resellers and developers.
ESRI's goal is to provide users with comprehensive tools to help them quickly and efficiently manage and use geographic information to
make a real difference in the world around them. ESRI can be found on the Web at www.esri.com.
RAPIDsite Producer and E&S RAPIDsite are trademarks, and E&S is a registered trademark of Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.,
Salt Lake City. All other trade names or marks are the properties of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City
Joan Mitchell, 801/588-1000
Fax: 801/588-4538
jmitchel@es.com
or
ESRI, Redlands
Karen Hurlbut, 909/793-2853
Fax: 909/307-3051
khurlbut@esri.com
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