The Maritime Research Institute (MARIN) of Wageningen (Netherlands) and Tree C Technology BV of Ede have teamed up to develop a new visualisation technology for maritime simulators. The objective is to enhance the present visual system for manoeuvring simulations of seagoing and inland waterway vessels. It is intended to adopt some technologies from the ‘gaming world’, such as light-effects (breaking, reflection, mirroring, shadowing) and build additional capabilities for simulation of engine smoke, fire, clouds, snow, spray, etc.

MARIN’s manoeuvring simulators consist of a number of realistic ship bridges, each located in a cylindrical projection hall. The nautical scene, as observed from a ship’s bridge, is projected on a 360 degree projection wall. This can be an open sea area, ports and port approaches or even nautical scenes that are yet in the development process and form part of a design study.

One of the tasks of this project is to ensure that existing databases can be used in the new visual system. In the next stage new functionality for more specialised applications, such as with dredging operations, will be added. Also specific generic effects such as foam on waves, spray, smoke, etc., will be modelled and added to the contents of the overall simulation system. As a result of this project, all simulators will be based on Tree C’s VR4MAX®-technology. The incorporation of this new visual system into the existing simulation centre and the first test trials are scheduled for the second quarter of 2006.