It is Alive in the Lab

YouTube: Project Newport Software on MRI Hardware

Many of you have watched:

TED Project Newport Autodesk Labs Living Homes v3

This video is about 3 minutes long. Some of you asked for a condensed 1 minute version that you could show to your colleagues as part of your own internal presentations. Your wish is our command as Technical Evangelist, Brian Pene, created a one minute version with subtitles. I have placed it on YouTube:

Project Newport software on MRI hardware

For those who do not have YouTube access, a silent version is available:

Download MRI_1min_subtitles.wmv (11703.0K)

Making movies is alive in the lab.

Autodesk's Excellent Adventure: TED video on Project Newport

In a recent blog posting I shared how the BBC News covered our work at the most recent TED Conference with a video. Well Research Strategist, Brian Pene, captured our own video from TED 2009. His video shows the integration of KOMMERZ MRI hardware with our own software technology preview called Project Newport. Project Newport is a real-time 3D story building technology for architectural visualization and presentation. Highlights from the video include:

1. Notice how movement of the camera marker corresponds to navigation commands in Project Newport. This movement allows walking around the 2D floor plan on the surface and viewing the corresponding 3D scene on the monitor. The camera can be titled to look up or down. It is easy to see the relationship between the traditional blue print and what the finished building will look like.

2. Notice how tiles are placed on the surface to alter room characteristics, such as wall color, and the results immediately appear in Project Newport. These changes remain in effect as you navigate about the space. Applying changes to and navigating a 3D model is way better than a photograph.

3. Notice how Project Newport is not limited to showing what is on the inside of the building. Using Project Newport, Revit models can be viewed in environmental contexts. This includes time of day scenarios where you can control the movement of the sun by simply twisting a designated marker. Project Newport shows you the shadows and their effects.

The video is available for you as:

• YouTube: TED Project Newport Autodesk Labs Living Homes v3
• non-YouTube: TED_MRI_v3.wmv (25176.3K)

Check out how cool this is. To get on our mailing list to be notified when Project Newport is available for download from Autodesk Labs, please:

Visualizing and interacting with architecture before its real is alive in the lab.

Project Newport was Worldwide Appeal

Based on our request for sign up:

people from all around the world are getting on our email list to be notified when Project Newport is available.

Have you signed up yet? You can do so at:

email sign up form

Spreading the word about a game engine for architects is alive in the lab.

FAQ: How does Project Newport compare to Navisworks?

Q. How does Project Newport compare to Navisworks?

A. Project Newport is used for aesthetic evaluation and presentation whereas Autodesk Navisworks is used for technical validation, simulation, and analysis of building design performance. Architects can use Project Newport to validate design aesthetics, and Autodesk Navisworks to study construction feasibility. In the future, scenes developed in Autodesk Navisworks will be able to be imported into Project Newport for architectural visualization and presentation.

FAQ: How does Project Newport compare to Showcase?

Q. How does Project Newport compare to Showcase?

A. Autodesk® Showcase^TM visualization software creates accurate, realistic imagery from 3D CAD data to communicate form and brand character. Autodesk Showcase presents designs in an environment in which design team members can make reliable decisions. If that sounds very much like Project Newport, it's because Project Newport is based on the same Autodesk technology that is used for Autodesk Showcase.

Updated Project Newport Page now available on Autodesk Labs site

Project Newport booth at Autodesk University

The Project Newport page has been updated:

Autodesk Labs Project Newport page

I have been working with Product Marketing Manager, Elisabeth Garreau, on updating the Project Newport page. Last week many of you saw that I posted several FAQ entries on the blog. I wanted to be able to link to these blog postings from the Autodesk Labs page. Having them appear on the blog as well as be accessible from the Labs site makes it easier for people to find them.

The updated Project Newport page also includes some videos. As is my custom, they are available in YouTube and non-YouTube locations:

Video	non-YouTube	YouTube
Introduction demo	Newport30secVideo.wmv (4055.9K)
Hotel Interior	NewportInteriorDemo.wmv (13228.2K)
City Scene	NewportBigCityDemo.wmv (57224.9K)
CET, Budapest Revit model courtesy of ONL	NewportCET-Budaptest.wmv (915.0K)

There are 3 ways to provide feedback on Project Newport:

• email: labs.newport@autodesk.com
• forum: autodesk.projectnewport
• blog: post comments to any of the articles in the Project Newport category

We look forward to hearing from you... and make sure you get on our mailing list.

Sharing more information about projects in the works is alive in the lab.

FAQ: How is Newport distinct from the rendering technology in Revit Architecture?

Q. How is Newport distinct from the rendering technology in Revit Architecture?

A. Project Newport shares mental ray rendering technology with Revit Architecture and 3ds Max Design. Scenes rendered in Revit should look very similar when rendered with mental ray and 3ds Max Design with the materials and rendering settings. In addition to mental ray, Project Newport offers real-time in-viewport rendering and will also include interactive ray-tracing. All three of Project Newport's renderers are based on Autodesk Pro Materials.

FAQ: How is Project Newport different from Autodesk Navisworks software?

Q. How is Project Newport different from Autodesk® Navisworks® software?

A. Project Newport is used for aesthetic evaluation and presentation whereas Autodesk Navisworks is used for technical validation, simulation, and analysis of building design performance. Architects can use Newport to validate design aesthetics, and Autodesk Navisworks to study construction feasibility. In the future, scenes developed in Autodesk Navisworks will be able to be imported into Newport for architectural visualization and presentation.

FAQ: How is Project Newport different from the Digital Cities initiative?

Q. How is Project Newport different from the Digital Cities initiative?

A. Project Newport is targeted to architectural design workflows, whereas LandXplorer is used by urban developers to develop a digital city model which will be used for detail analysis by civil engineers. City models created by LandXplorer can be imported into Newport for recreating the context of the building site for architectural visualization and presentation.

FAQ: How is Project Newport different from 3ds Max Design?

Q. How is Project Newport different from 3ds Max Design?

A. Project Newport is a visualization and presentation tool for every Revit architect. Autodesk 3ds Max Design is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering solution for professional-quality visualization. Project Newport is an ideal companion tool that 3ds Max Design users can use to create immersive, real-time interactive presentations.