Arithmetica has announced that it's aiding 3D model project collaboration through the use of Sketchfab, an online platform for sharing 3D files. By automatically converting very large point clouds into manageable 3D models, at a fraction of the size, and uploading its Pointfuse Pro generated textured 3D models to Sketchfab, Arithmetica can share content and help users visualise their projects in true 3D.
Arithmetica has shared many visually stunning 3D models created from the millions of individual measurements recorded by laser scanners. These models include the interior of a Byzantine Church, a detailed model of a turbine, and a city centre hotel – converted using Pointfuse Pro from a 700 million point dataset recorded by Belgian based RealVisuals.
With more than 200,000 online 3D models and counting, Sketchfab is described as ‘doing for creators of 3D content what YouTube did for video makers and what SoundCloud did for musicians’. At the heart of Sketchfab is a 3D viewer that uses the WebGL JavaScript API, built using open-source JavaScript libraries, to display 3D models. Files can be uploaded to Sketchfab in virtually any 3D format – the site even has exporter tools to help – and once models are on Sketchfab they can be embedded in any web page or shared on other platforms, including Tumblr, WordPress, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Pointfuse is a powerful modelling engine developed by Arithmetica, a hi-tech company based at Shepperton Studios. Pointfuse gives professionals an fast, precise and flexible way of converting the vast point cloud datasets generated by laser scanners or photogrammetry into high fidelity vector models. Designed for engineers, architects and construction professionals, Pointfuse uses advanced statistical techniques to create vector models which can then be manipulated using any industry-standard CAD system.
An example of a Pointfuse-generated model on Sketchfab can be viewed here.
