Building Information Modelling

VDB4313

Chapter-4

Computer Visualization
Learning Objectives of this Chapter

 This chapter focuses on creating the Visualization

model in a BIM Environment.
 Visualization is necessary for understanding of the
project concept by all stakeholders
Introduction to Computer
Visualization
 The ability to virtually explore the design with 3D
views, perspectives, fly-through animations, sun
studies and sections supports architects in critical
design decisions.
 Computer visualization in the AEC industry is the topic
of today’s presentation.
 Computer Visualization Methods

 Visualization Workflow

 Technology Background
VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES

 Of the many computer visualization methods which

have been
 invented, we introduce here just the five computer
visualizations techniques most widely used by
architects:
 Photorealistic Images (rendering)
 Artistic Images
 Fly-through animations
 Sun studies
 Virtual Reality (VR)
STANDARD BIM VISUALIZATION
WORKFLOW

 BIM applications typically have built-in tools for creating different

visualization materials.
 Simple ones support only the taking of photo rendered pictures,
while advanced BIM packages also allow the creation of
animations, artistic images or even VR scenes.
 The main advantage of the BIM visualization solution is that there
is no need to import and export the 3D model data among various
visualization and modeling applications.
 This workflow is very easy to learn and adopt for architects;
 all the visualization materials be derived straight from the Building
Information Model using the BIM application interface and tools which the
architect is already familiar with.
STANDARD BIM VISUALIZATION
WORKFLOW
COMPLEX VISUALIZATION
WORKFLOW
 While the integrated BIM approach can be effective for small to
medium scale buildings, it may fail with large or complex projects
due to the limited capabilities of built-in visualization engines.
 Specialized external visualization applications allow more
freedom for design professionals in creating artistic images, high-
end renderings or movie quality animations.
 The use of external applications (e.g., rendering software) can
also reduce the time of visualization works in case of small to
medium size projects.
 Most of these standalone programs can import the 3D model in various
formats, so they can be easily connected to the BIM applications.
COMPLEX VISUALIZATION
WORKFLOW
PHOTORENDERING

 Creating photorealistic images - or photo rendering as this

process is often called - is the most commonly used computer
visualization technique in contemporary architecture.
 Photorealistic pictures of the BIM model can be made with
internal (included in the BIM package) or external rendering
engines.
 Photo rendering is a three-step process:

1. Modeling
 First, the 3D model is created in the BIM program or in other modeling
software.
 This step also includes the arrangement of various scene elements (trees,
PHOTORENDERING

2. Scene layout setup

 Next, the scene for image making has to be adjusted
(this process will be discussed in more detail on the
next slide)

3. Rendering
 Finally, the image is calculated by the photo rendering
engine according to the previously set conditions
PHOTORENDERING
SCENE LAYOUT SETUP

 The scene layout setup is the most critical part of image making.

 It includes the setting of materials, lighting conditions and

camera positions. Creating attractive renderings takes a lot of
practice and a full understanding of the program’s capabilities.
 The steps of scene layout setup are the following:

1. Adjusting the materials

 Texture positioning
 Color adjustment
 Shininess
 Bump mapping, transparency
SCENE LAYOUT SETUP

2. Light Settings
 General light
 Sun light
 Brightener lights

3. Placing Cameras
 Positioning
 Camera angles
COMPUTER SHADING TECHNIQUES

 Let’s take a closer look at the technological

foundations of computer visualization.
 CAD programs use different shading algorithms to
display the objects in the 3D window.
 The most common ones are the Flat, Goraud and Phong
shading methods.

Flat Shading
 Shades each polygon of an object based on

the angle between the polygon's surface normal

and the direction of the light source

COMPUTER SHADING TECHNIQUES

Goraud Shading
 Simulates the differing
effects of light and color
across the surface of an
object

Phong Shading
 Improved version of Goraud
shading that provides a
better approximation of
light and color
COMPUTER RENDERING
TECHNIQUES
 Photo rendering engines are based on different rendering algorithms.

 Ray tracing is the most common one, capable of producing high-

quality images with cast shadows, reflections and refractions in a
relatively short time.
 This method, however, is not able to calculate the additional lights
coming from the reflections among the many 3D surfaces.
 The more advanced Radiosity algorithm can calculate these tiny local
lights, so that it is able to generate highly realistic images with soft
shadows and multiple light reflections.
 The price that the user has to pay for this better image quality is the
significantly greater rendering time and higher computer hardware
requirements.
COMPUTER RENDERING
TECHNIQUES

Ray Tracing
 General technique of
studying the path
taken by light by
following rays of light
as they interact with
optical surfaces
 Simulates light
reflecting only once
Ray Tracing
Ray Tracing
COMPUTER RENDERING
TECHNIQUES

Radiosity
 A global illumination
algorithm that
simulates the many
reflections of light
around a scene,
generally resulting in
softer, more natural
shadows and
reflections than Ray
Tracing
ADVANCED RENDERING
TECHNIQUES
 To reduce model size and shorten rendering time, most rendering
engines support texture mapping and bump mapping.
 Both techniques can be used effectively to imitate complex or organic
structures (e.g., plants, people, fences etc.) on photorealistic images without
physically modeling them in 3D.

 The depth-of-field effect adds more reality to the renderings by reducing the
contrasts of elements that are not in the focus of the camera.

Texture mapping
 Wrapping a texture image onto a surface to create a realistic representation
ADVANCED RENDERING
TECHNIQUES
Bump mapping
 Similar to texture
mapping, but the map
image adds
roughness to the
model

Depth of Field
 Objects appear blurry
when too far in front
of or behind the
object in focus
NON-PHOTOREALISTIC RENDERINGS

 A relatively new area of

computer visualization is
support for non-photorealistic,
or artistic, image-making.
 Most non-photorealistic engines
imitate human drawing and
painting styles by reducing
certain naturalistic/realistic
parameters of model elements
or adding blurry effects to the
objects’ contours.
NON-PHOTOREALISTIC RENDERINGS

There are two ways to create non-photorealistic renderings:

 The first method requires a special rendering engine that is able to produce artistic
renderings straight from the 3D model.
 Some BIM applications already include such tools; others can import the 3D model
into external rendering applications.
 For the second method, a traditional photorealistic rendering tool and a photo
editing software is needed.
 After the photorealistic image is created by the rendering engine, it is imported into
the photo editing application (e.g. Photoshop) to add artistic effects to it.

 The two workflows are as follows:

Process A:
1. Modeling

2. Scene layout setup

NON-PHOTOREALISTIC RENDERINGS

Process B:
1. Modeling

2. Scene layout setup

3. Photorealistic Rendering

4. Modifying the image in a photo-editing software

 There is a wide range of non-photorealistic rendering

tools available on the market.
 Users can choose from various rendering styles;
techniques include pencil, ink, ball-point pen, water-
FLY-THROUGH ANIMATIONS

 An advanced way to present a project to a client is to create fly-through

animations.
 Animations allow the viewers to understand the hierarchy of spaces within the
building envelope.
 The most professional architectural presentations may also include real movies
with animated model elements (e.g., cars moving, people walking),
continuously changing lighting effects and high-quality background music or
narration.
 The process of making an animation is similar to creating photo rendering
images, except that for animations, the entire camera path has to be defined in
addition to the location of standalone cameras.
 Furthermore, lighting setting can be more time-consuming for fly-through
animations, because all the spaces along the camera path have to be
FLY-THROUGH ANIMATIONS

 Objective: Creating movies of the building along a predefined

camera path, based on the BIM model, using internal or external
animation tools

Workflow
1. Modeling

2. Scene layout setup

3. Defining camera path

4. Movie calculation
ANIMATION BASICS

 The technology of computer animation is like movie making.

 First, a set of still images is created to suggest the illusion of continuous
movement when played one after each other.
 But while in movies the individual pictures are taken by the camera, in
computer animations the images are generated by the animation software.
 The number of frames played per second determines the smoothness of the
animation.

Facts about computer animations:

 Animation is the optical illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of
images of static elements.
 In computer animations, each frame of the movie is produced individually by a
computer software.
 When the frames are strung together there is an illusion of continuous movement
 Typical Frame rates are 12-25 frames per second
SUN STUDIES

 Sun studies are special-purpose computer animations that

help architects explore the natural lighting conditions at a
given part of the building on a particular day of the year.
 Unlike in fly-through animations, the camera position is
fixed while the sun location is continuously changing.

Workflow
1. Modeling

2. Scene layout setup

3. Day settings

4. Sun study calculation

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)

 Virtual Reality is a computer-simulated interactive environment

that allows users to navigate in space in real time.
 VR’s offer more freedom in exploring buildings than pre-recorded
computer animations, since viewers can modify the camera
position and the target just by moving the mouse.
 Most virtual reality environments are primarily for visual
purposes.

Workflow
1. Modeling

2. Scene layout setup

3. VR camera settings
QUICKTIME VR

 QuickTime VR is an Apple
technology that provides a
fast and easy way for
making virtual reality
scenes.
 Some BIM applications
have built-in tools for
generating QuickTime VR’s
directly from the BIM
QUICKTIME VR

Facts about QuickTime VR

 QuickTime VR is a type of interactive movie supported
by Apple’s QuickTime file format.
 QTVRs can be “stitched” together from several normal
photographs, or captured with specialized panoramic
cameras, or rendered from 3D-modelled scenes.
QUICKTIME VR

There are two types of

QuickTime VR’s:
 QuickTime VR is a type of
interactive movie supported by
Apple’s QuickTime file format.
 QTVRs can be “stitched”
together from several normal
photographs, or captured with
specialized panoramic cameras,
or rendered from 3D-modelled
scenes.