While 3D Max is of use for crowd and particle simulation when it comes to modelling complex systems an external package is required, such as NetLogo. The movie below details our first steps at CASA (home of digital urban) to export a basic traffic model from NetLogo into 3D Studio Max. The import script was written by our new PhD student, Ateen Patel and opens up a vast array of opportunities to both visualise and model the city.
NetLogo to 3D Max - Proof of Concept from digitalurban on Vimeo.
Music by The Tedd-Z Cookbook, Aerodrome (Funky Shuffle Remix)
NetLogo is a cross-platform multi-agent programmable modeling environment that is widely. It is particularly well suited for modeling complex systems developing over time. Modelers can give instructions to hundreds or thousands of independent "agents" all operating concurrently. This makes it possible to explore the connection between the micro-level behavior of individuals and the macro-level patterns that emerge from the interaction of many individuals.(Nation Master Encyclopedia)
We will have more posts on complex systems and visualising the city over the coming weeks and months.
See http://gisagents.blogspot.com/ for more on modelling, agents and the city.
Very cool, work!
ReplyDeleteFor folks interested in going from Netlogo to Blender, here's an example we did for a pedestrian subway model:
http://www.redfish.com/subway/Subway0006_0315.mov
The Blender file with python import scripts is here:
http://www.redfish.com/subway/MetroCenter_16.blend
The potential seems great!
ReplyDeleteAre you essentially exporting per-tick keyframes containing agent coordinates, or is it less direct?
Do you have the ability to incorporate other agent variables in the output, to drive other visualization properties, i.e. affect the 3d max visualizion based on the per-frame value of "age" or whatever arbitrary variable?
Can't wait to see the next steps.
Great ! Can you briefly explain the data format you used (on the netlogo side and on the max side) in more detail ? Furthermore, is there any place you could get the max script and netlogo model from ?
ReplyDeleteWe are exporting per tick - see the latest post on flocking. Its early days but we have patches exporting now and are just working on colour.
ReplyDeleteWe should have news on use of the script once it is a bit more refined..
The netlogo model is part of the model library that comes with the install. If your new to NetLogo then the manual has an excellent tutorial to get started.
The Blender scripts from Redfish are well worth a look as well :)
I can't expect the script for max ;D
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for a 3d max script
ReplyDelete