What Questions can be Answered by 3D modeling?
3D modeling and simulation is useful for answering and understanding many questions. Under certain circumstances and when used properly it can deepen our understanding and appreciation for what static pictures, sketches, and writing lack. Whether you want to model an ancient town that was destroyed thousands of years ago, archive cultural and religious artifacts before they are altered, create a museum exhibit to better engage the audience, or simply plan for the future, 3D modeling and simulation can be useful, if not, necessary.
Types of 3D Modeling
Photogrammetry, an example of 3D modeling, can be used to preserve objects of great significance before they are damaged, lost, or destroyed. This is useful for museum artifacts, where the object is available and it is possible to take 360 degree shots of the object. This technique can be very accurate and is relatively inexpensive if you have a camera and way to take pictures from all sides of the object. Procedural Modeling is useful for modeling cities or historical areas/landscapes. This type of modeling takes geometric shapes, assigns a set of rules to the data, maybe to model multiple buildings that are similar in some way, and creates a “physical” model. The urban simulation team at UCLA used procedural modeling to model the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Viewers are able to look at the exposition in new ways and gain a deeper understanding what it might have felt like to be at the exposition through their models and simulation. Scanning can be useful if you have the technology to scan the object or subject manner at hand. Manual modeling can be tedious but can be used to answer very specific questions and allows the user to manipulate the question that they are analyzing and perfect their model. This might mean physically creating the model or using technology in a limited scope.
Conclusion
An introduction to 3D modeling and simulation has encouraged me to look into these types of projects more and gain greater appreciation for the people that do this type of work.
