Interactive 3D planning models of infrastructure projects enable public participation

Local authorities, operating and planning companies of big projects have to get public acceptance today / Time is identified as one critical factors of large scale projects like wind power plants / Realisation time can be downsized using 3D visualization in planning process / Objectification of public discussions is supported.

Large scale installations like wind power projects increasingly necessitate public participation already in the forefront of the planning processes. Counter-arguments for such projects like expected changes and impairment of urban environment are mostly cited by citizens. As often the principle of holy St. Florian must pay for in the sense of pretending to support greens energy on the one side, but not to accept “windmills” in the home area. But regarding the new energy concepts e.g. in Germany also on shore wind power projects become more and more essential. However to act without participating citizens big projects can’t be realized as planned. Longer planning periods and often considerably rising costs are the consequences. In order to avoid such effects a consequent participation of citizens is indispensable preferably beginning from the first planning step.This is the only way to incorporate defenses into a concept in a very early stage and therefore beeing enabled to complete a big project in time.

Up to now however the influence of local citizens is fairly limited. One of the main reason is the lack of fantasy of affected residents who hardly can imagine how the plans and the concept will look like in reality. Local authorities, operating and planning companies therefore are more and more inclined to visualize the several planning steps with online capable high resolution 3D animated and interactive models. In this way it will succeed avoiding situations like the protest movement around the rail way station project "Stuttgart 21" which already shows a cost rising effect up to now due to timely delays.

Based on interactive 3D software solutions for presentations which 3D software developer Bitmanagement Software GmbH provides e.g. for wind power stations can be shown in a model demonstrate how the planned wind power plants affect a landscape in terms of the seasons or which impact the project has concerning impairment of noise, visibility or security. The interactivity of such models enable users to move the virtual wind masts to find the best solutions according to their own personal feeling. More over citizens can study the planned project at home by downloading a respective presentation on PC or Laptop and interact with it in the Internet.

The interactive visualization allows the realtime presentation of different planning alternatives which incorporate the objections. Moreover interactivity offers users to make a virtual walk through an animated 3D scene so he can find out pros and cons by himself. Even results based on expert testimonies can be integrated into the 3D model, such as visibility relevant calculations, shadow impact analysis or acoustics emission measurings as well as the change from summer to winter vegetation inclusively the different lighting conditions typical for each of the seasons.

Due to the interactive 3D visualization the model - which illustrates the wind power construction even in a realistic scale - provides a significant and realistic preview of the altered characteristic landscape as well as the impact of project related emissions. Likewise the model of the wind generator can make the public discussion less emotional, saves time and counteracts often seen rising costs.

Press
i.A. Norbert Böcker
Bitmanagement Software GmbH
Oberlandstrasse 26, D-82335 Berg

Tel.: 08151-97170-8
Mobile: 0171-3337719
norbert.boecker@bitmanagement.de
www.bitmanagement.de

About Bitmanagement Software GmbH

Bitmanagement is a provider of multimedia software with a focus on online interactive 3D visualization. The multimedia technology for 2D/3D, audio and video is realtime and Internetready. Based on the ISOstandard formats VRML/X3D, CityGML and COLLADA, MPEG-4 and Java, it allows an Interactive visualization of concepts and products.

Bitmanagement develops and markets a product portfolio of visualization software, which is composed of visualization software (BS Contact VRML / X3D, MPEG-4, Geo, Stereo and Mobile), documentation (BS SDK Package) for animation and different programming tools up to Workflow optimization such as BS Encrypt.

Bitmanagement was founded in 2002 by three former employees of the blaxxun interactive AG, Munich. The company achieved sales growth and positive result in 2008 and is "cash flow positive" in since its founding.

Bitmanagement is a board member of the "Web3D Consortium" (USA), which is responsible for the standardization and dissemination of 3D ISO standards for the Internet. Bitmanagement is simultaneously also a member of the" 3D Consortium "for the dissemination of stereoscopic visualization.

More information at: http://www.bitmanagement.com
Company Profile at: http://www.bitmanagement.de/de/company/profile