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This publication presents a synthetic prototype environment to facilitate and stimulate the interaction with industry 4.0 testbed. The proposed solution facilitates a sandboxing approach to support multi-criterion and multi-stakeholder decision making with respect to the configuration challenges in the development of a production environment. The synthetic prototyping environment combines a real tangible scaled version of a (potential) production environment with virtual elements to quickly (re)configure (potential) environments and review the consequences of changes. The solution provides both personalised (AR/VR) and collective visualisations, and (collaborative) interactions with all stages of the digital system reference, enabling an effortless change of perspectives between the digital master, digital prototype and digital twin.

The operational design and its practical application are directly influenced by the training, experiences of the individual command levels and as well they are determined by the economic development of the country. Its quality implementation in the practice is directly addicted upon operational art, which is the real output of the cognitive approach by commanders and staff, by air traffic control instructors and inspectors. And that's what it is sustained by their experience, cognition and as well as verdict - to propose strategies and operations to set up and utilize armed forces. The usage of the simulation tool and synthetic environment is the core part to reach the aim of the high level of the efficiency and at the same time to reach the required level in the flight region safety.

International audience; Guidance of weapon systems relies on sensors to analyze targets signature. Defense weapon systems also need to detect and then identify threats also using sensors. One important class of sensors is radar systems that are very efficient for all weather detection. High frequency radars can produce high quality images with very complex features such as dihedral and corner reflector high scattering contributors, shadows and layover effects. Besides, image quality is very dependent on the carrier velocity and trajectory. Such sensors systems are so complex that they need simulation to be tested in a large variety of operational conditions. This paper presents a state-of-the-art solution, called SE-Workbench-RF, for generating raw data dedicated to radar simulation based on the exploitation of synthetic environments, which means physical modelling of targets and backgrounds (terrains, buildings, vegetation and other entities). The paper gives an overview of the models and their implementation in SE-RAY-EM, which is the rendering module of SE-Workbench-RF, including specific features related to radar simulation in the maritime environment with targets moving on the dynamic sea surface. Several technical topics are also discussed, such as the rendering technique (ray tracing vs. rasterization), the implementation (CPU vs. GP GPU) and the tradeoff between physical accuracy and computational performance.

Bu çalışmada, farklı (sertralin, ibuprofen ve propranolol) ilaçların sucul bir organizma olan Gammarus pulex'teki biyokimyasal yanıtının araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. G. pulex 96 saat süreyle farklı konsantrasyonlarda ilaçlara maruz bırakılarak LC50 değerleri belirlenmiştir. Probit analizi sonucunda sertralin, ibuprofen ve propranolol LC50 değerleri sırasıyla 0,0087 ± 0,002 µgL-1, 3,18 ± 0,3 µgL-1 ve 0,72 ± 0,08 µgL-1 olarak belirlenmiştir. G. pulex organizmaları her bir ilaç için, belirlenen LC değerlerinin 1/4 (A), 1/8 (B) ve 1/16 (C) oranlarında sertralin, ibuprofen ve propranolola maruz bırakılmıştır. Kontrol grubu dahil 4 grupta süperoksit dismutaz (SOD), katalaz (KAT) ve asetilkolinesteraz (AChE) enzim aktivitelerindeki değişimler ELISA kitleri kullanılarak belirlenmiştir.Sertraline maruz bırakılan G. pulex'in SOD enzim aktivitesinde 24. saat uygulamasına bağlı olarak her üç konsantrasyonda da istatistiksel olarak önemli düzeyde azalma olmuştur (p0.05). KAT enzim aktivitesi ise; 24. saat ve 96. saat sonunda da her uygulama konsantrasyonunda anlamlı derecede artmıştır (p0.05). AChE enzim aktivitesinde ise; sertralin uygulaması sonrası genel olarak önemli bir artış bulunmuştur (p0.05).İbuprofen uygulamasına bağlı olarak SOD enzim aktivitesinde 24. saat sonunda her bir uygulama konsantrasyonunda da anlamlı bir azalma görülmüştür (p0.05). 96. saat sonunda ise SOD enzim aktivitesi artmıştır ancak bu artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildir (p0.05). KAT enzim aktivitesi ise; 24 ve 96. saatlerin sonrasında her üç uygulama grubunda da kontrol ile kıyaslandığında anlamlı derecede artmıştır (p0.05). AChE enzim aktivitesi ise; 24. saat sonrasında genel anlamda azalma gösterirken, 96. saat sonunda artmıştır (p0.05).Propranolol uygulamasına bağlı olarak 24. saat sonunda SOD enzim aktivitesi istastistiksel olarak anlamlı olmayan bir azalma gösterirken (p0.05), 96. saatte anlamlı düzeyde artmıştır (p0.05). KAT enzim aktivitesi ise; 24.saat sonrasında genel olarak artmıştır. 96. saatte ise; azalma göstermiştir (p0.05). AChE enzim aktivitesi ise; propanol uygulamasına bağlı olarak 24. saat sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde azalma varken 96. saat sonundaki azalış anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p0.05). Sertralin, ibuprofen ve propranolol ilaçlarına karşı G. pulex' te SOD, KAT ve AChE enzim aktivitelerinde meydana gelen değişikliklere bakıldığında bu enzimlerin yararlı birer biyobelirteç olarak kullanılabileceği kanaatine varılmıştır. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical response of different Pharmaceuticals (sertraline, ibuprofen, propranolol) on an aquatic organism Gammarus pulex. LC50 values were determined by exposing G. pulex to drugs at different concentrations for 96 hours. As a result of probit analysis, sertraline, Ibuprofen and propranolol LC50 values were determined as 0.0087 ± 0.002 µgL-1, 3.18 ± 0.3 µgL-1 and 0.72 ± 0.08 µgL-1, respectively.G. pulex organisms were exposed to sublethal concentrations of sertralin 1/4 (A), propranolol 1/8 (B) and ibuprofen 1/16 (C) of LC values. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (KAT) enzyme activities and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activities were determined in four groups including control group by using ELISA kits.There was a statistically significant decrease in SOD enzyme activity in all three doses depending on 24 hour sertraline administration (p>0.05). CAT enzyme activity was significantly increased of each administration dose at the of the 24 and 96 hours (p>0.05). A significant increase was found in AChE enzyme activity after sertraline administration (p>0.05).There was a significant decrease in SOD enzyme activity for each administration doses at the end of 24 hours depending on the administration of ibuprofen p0.05). CAT enzyme activity after 24 and 96 hours for all three application groups increased significantly compared to control. (p0.05), but increased significantly at 96 hour (p0.05).When the changes in SOD, KAT and AChE enzyme activities against sertraline, ibuprofen and propranololl drugs in G. pulex were considered, these enzymes could be used as useful biomarkers. 57

Elektrokimyasal teknolojiler, ağır metallerin, boyaların, organiklerin ve yağların atık sudan uzaklaştırılması için başarıyla uygulanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, hacimce %2 oranında bor yağı (Petrol Ofisi) kullanılarak hazırlanan sentetik yağlı atıksuların arıtımı, çelik tellerin (SS410) elektrot olarak kullanımı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deneylerde 0.65 mm genişliğinde çelik tellerden oluşan yataklar anot ve katot elektrot olarak kullanılmıştır. Elektrotlara 5, 10 ve 15 V potansiyel farkı uygulanmış ve en yüksek yağ giderim verimi (%90) en yüksek potansiyel farkı uygulamasında elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca çelik tel yatak elektrotlar ile elde edilen yağ giderim verimlerinin çelik levha elektrotlar kullanımında elde edilen giderim verimlerinden daha yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir.Elektrokimyasal arıtımda akım yoğunluğunun arıtım verimine önemli etkisi olduğu bilindiği için deneyler üç farklı elektrot yatak uzunluğu (9, 18 ve 27 cm) sabit potansiyel farkında (15 V) gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elektrot yatak uzunluğu 9 cm olduğunda arıtım verimi düşük olmakla birlikte (%87), 18 cm ve 27 cm uzunluklarda ise %90 yağ giderim verimleri elde edilmiştir. Ancak bu yatak uzunluklarına karşılık gelen spesifik enerji tüketimi hesaplandığında 5.62 ÖZET (devam ediyor)kWsa/m3ve 9.10 kWsa/m3 elde edilmiştir. Bu durumda arıtım verimi ve enerji tüketimi birlikte değerlendirildiğinde en uygun elektrot yatak uzunluğunun 18 cm olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca elektrot yataklar arasına polipropilen ve poliüretan kimyasal malzemeden yapılmış gözenekleri ve emülsiyon içerisinde elektrotlar arası iletkenleri farklı, üç yalıtkan malzeme yerleştirilerek arıtım veriminin değişimi izlenmiştir. Malzemelerin iletkenliklerine bağlı olarak yağ giderim verimlerinin %10 ve %90 aralığında değişebildiği gözlenmiştir. Elektrotlara uygulanan potansiyel farkı 15 V değerinde sabit tutularak elektrokimyasal arıtım deneyleri kesikli ve sürekli akışta üç faklı debide (51, 108, 146 mL/dak) tekrarlanmıştır. Çalışılan debilerde kesikli akışta arıtılan su sürekli olarak sisteme geri gönderilerek karışım sağlanmıştır. Bu nedenle her üç debide elde edilen arıtım verimi yaklaşık olarak aynıdır ve %90 civarındadır. Sürekli akışlı deneylerde ise debinin arıtışı ile %89, %78 ve %55 yağ giderim verimleri elde edilmiştir.Çalışmanın son aşamasında hacimce %5 seyreltilmiş sintine suyu kullanılarak elektrokimyasal hücre arıtım deneyleri ile kesikli akışta %90 giderim verimi elde edilmiştir. Electrochemical technologies have been successfully applied for the removal of heavy metals, dyes, organics and oils from wastewater. In this study, the treatment of synthetic oily wastewaters prepared from 2% by volume of bor oil (Petrol Ofisi) was carried out by using steel wires (SS410) as electrodes. In the experiments, the beds made of strip steel wires with a width of 0.65 mm were used as anode and cathode electrodes. The potential difference of 5, 10 and 15 V was applied to the electrodes and the highest oil removal (90%) was obtained with the highest potential difference applied. It has also been observed that the oil removal efficiencies obtained with steel wire bed electrodes were higher than those obtained with the use of steel plate electrodes.Experiments were also carried out with constant potential difference (15 V) for three different electrode bed lengths (9, 18 and 27 cm) since it is known that the current density is a significant influence on the removal efficiency of the electrochemical treatment. When the electrode bed length was 9 cm, the removal efficiency was low (87%) and 90% oil removal efficiencies were obtained at 18 cm and 27 cm lengths. However, the corresponding specific energy consumption ABSTRACT (continued)for these two bed lengths were calculated as 5.62 kWsa/m3 and 9.10 kWsa/m3 were obtained. When the removal efficiency and energy consumption were analyzed together, it was determined that the optimal electrode bed length was 18 cm. In addition, three materials which were made of polyurethane having different porosities and conductivities were placed in between the electrode beds and were tested for the use of insulating materials. Depending on the conductivities of the materials, it has been observed that the oil removal efficiencies can vary between 10% and 90%. Electrochemical treatment experiments were performed at three different volumetric flowrates (51, 108, 146 mL/min) in batch and continuous flow, with the potential difference applied the electrodes keeping constant at 15 V. In the batch flow, the treated water was continuously recycled to the entrance. Therefore, approximately the same oil removal efficiency was obtained for the three studied flowrates and was around 90%. The corresponding steady state removal efficiencies at the studied volumetric flowrates were 89%, 78% and 55%, respectively, in the continuous flow operation. In the final stage of the study, the electrochemical treatment experiments at batch flow were carried out using bilge water diluted to 5% by volume and 90% oil removal efficiency was obtained. 131

Recent advances in sensor and platform technologies, such as satellite systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), manned aerial platforms, and ground-based sensor networks have resulted in massive volumes of data being produced and collected about the earth. Processing, managing, and analyzing these data is one of the main challenges in 3D synthetic representation used in modeling and simulation (M&S) of the natural environment. M&S devices, such as flight simulators, traditionally require a variety of different databases to provide a synthetic representation of the world. M&S often requires integration of data from a variety of sources stored in different formats. Thus, for simulation of a complex synthetic environment, such as a 3D terrain model, tackling interoperability among its components (geospatial data, natural and man-made objects, dynamic and static models) is a critical challenge. Conventional approaches used local proprietary data models and formats. These approaches often lacked interoperability and created silos of content within the simulation community. Therefore, open geospatial standards are increasingly perceived as a means to promote interoperability and reusability for 3D M&S. In this paper, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) CDB Standard is introduced. “CDB” originally referred to Common DataBase, which is currently considered as a name with no abbreviation in the OGC community. The OGC CDB is an international standard for structuring, modeling, and storing geospatial information required in high-performance modeling and simulation applications. CDB defines the core conceptual models, use cases, requirements, and specifications for employing geospatial data in 3D M&S. The main features of the OGC CDB Standard are described as the run-time performance, full plug-and-play interoperable geospatial data store, usefulness in 3D and dynamic simulation environment, ability to integrate proprietary and open-source data formats. Furthermore, compatibility with the OGC standards baseline reduces the complexity of discovering, transforming, and streaming geospatial data into the synthetic environment and makes them more widely acceptable to major geospatial data/software producers. This paper includes an overview of OGC CDB version 1.0, which defines a conceptual model and file structure for the storage, access, and modification of a multi-resolution 3D synthetic environment data store. Finally, this paper presents a perspective of future versions of the OGC CDB and what the steps are for humanizing the OGC CDB standard with the other OGC/ISO standards baseline.

Запропоновано технологію до формалізованого подання імітаційних моделей систем інформаційної безпеки на основі конвертації формалізованих описів моделей, отриманих за допомогою інших програм моделювання бізнес-процесів синтетичного оточення систем в XML-файли.

Despite the abundance of supporting tools and methods engineers have at their disposal nowadays, the early stages of design processes are still not extensively supported. Strikingly, the whole of design aids is characterized by mono-disciplinarity, scattered availability and the fact that the majority aims to support the later design stages. We believe that the next step in design engineering is to support the early design stages with a method that integrates the available aids and allows stakeholders to experience the consequences of the design decisions they make. This can be done by composing Synthetic Environments (SE). In companies, Synthetic Environments will be used as dedicated work environments that support specific product design activities. By simulating the in-context behaviour of products that do not yet exist they support the performance of selected design activities. Representation of different product life-cycle scenarios in Mixed Reality situations will help human actors perceive the product behaviour sufficiently realistic to perform real-world design tasks (e.g. brainstorming, concept assessment, end-user evaluation) on a virtual product. We aim to demonstrate how and under which circumstances companies will be able to benefit from SE in the near future. In close cooperation with three industrial partners (Indes, Thales and PANalytical), we define a method for identifying plausible application situations in a product evolution trajectory.

Yaşadığımız mekânlar hakkında çeşitli fikirlere sahibiz. Fakat aslında aklımızdaki imgelerin birçoğu gerçekliği ifade etmekten epeyce uzaktır. Bu yönüyle, zihnimizdeki imgeler, gerçekliğin bozulmuş bir taklidi olarak değerlendirilebilir. Örneğin; İstanbul denildiğinde akıllara `mavi turkuaz boğaz` , `Osmanlı İmparatorluğu`, `padişah` gibi imgelerin gelmesi kentin gerçekliğiyle belli oranlarda bağlantılıdır. Fakat var olan gerçeklik ile bu imgeler arasında farklılıklar da söz konusudur. Bu zihinlerimizdeki imgelerin gerçeklikle bağlı olduğu kadar başka nedenlerle de alakalı olduğunu ifade etmektedir. Bunun nedenlerin en önemlisi iletişim araçları aracılığıyla üretilen iletilere maruz kalmamızdır. Maruz kaldığımız birtakım iletiler gerçekliği tamamıyla yansıtmaz. Burada dikkat edilmesi gereken, iletişim araçları aracılığıyla yaratılan gerçekdışı algılar kitle tarafından kabul edilmekte ve gerçek olarak benimsenmektedir.Sanatın bir takım toplumsal işlevleri vardır. Bunlardan birisi sanatın algı yaratmaktaki rolüdür. Sanatçı görünen gerçekliğin karmaşıklığını sadeleştirir ve algılanabilir hale dönüştürür. Sanat bu bakımdan gerçekliği bir bakıma algılanır kılar.Kent ve onun küçük yapıtaşları olan odalar, çağlar boyu sanat yapıtlarına konu olmuştur. Sanat yapıtlarında karşılaştığımız oda ve kent imgelerinde mekânların ötesinde mekânların içeriklerindeki değişimleri de izlemekteyiz bu eserlerde. Sanat kent üzerine imgeler oluşturur ve kent imgesinin oluşumuna ve insanların kentler ile girdikleri iletişimin kurulmasına katkılar sağlar.Sanatın doğrudan imge yaratmak dışındaki diğer bir önemli rolü ise, insan algıları açısından yaşamın günlüğünü tutmasıdır. Sanatçıların yaptıkları gözlemler bize, onların hayatlarından kareler sunduğu kadar, aynı zamanda insanın düşünsel tarihçesini de verir. Bu çalışmada kamusal alanda kurduğum atölyede, mekân ve algı bağlamında sanatın kimliğini sorguladım, doğal öğrenme yolu olarak kamusal alanda sanat üretimini deneyimledim.Anahtar Sözcükler Sanat, Temsil, Resim, Algı, Çevre, Günlük, Sentetik Çevre. We have some opinion about our living environments. However,most of the perceptions of us actually are faraway from representing the reality. In this respect the images in our minds can be considered as a corrupted image of the reality. Forexample; when we think about Istanbul we remember `turquoise blues of bosphorus`, `Ottoman Enpire`, `Sultan` and etc. These images at a certain extent are related to the reality of Istanbul. However, there are also some differences between these images and the existing reality.This shows us that the images in our minds depend on reality as well as depending on other things. The most important reason of this is that we expose to the images which are produced by the media.These images actually do not represent the actual reality well. Here, the main point that we should take nto considerationis the acceptence and adoptation of thesemedia-made unreal image sand perceptions by population.Art has some social functions. One of these is the role of creating perceptions. The artists make the complexity of reality more simplier and transform it to a perceivable form. The art in this respect make the reality perceivable.The cities and their buildingstones, rooms, havebeen a subject of art forcenturies. In the art Works including room and city images on behind of spaces we can also observe the changes in the functions of spaces. The art creates images on cities and contributes the formation of the city images and also contributes the development of communications between human sand cities.Other than creating direct images the art has another important role. This role is to keep a journal of life in the sense of human perceptions. The observations of the artist show us not only the pictures of his/her life but also show us the history of human thought.In the study, in my studio which is built in public space I analysed the identity of the art within the context of space and perception. Moreover, as a naturalway of learning I experienced the performance of art in a public space.Key Words Art, representation, painting, perception, environment, diary. 99

In the last decade, simulation technology has become a familiar feature in the Australian rail industry. This has been driven by a strong organisational intent to improve driver learning, and fuelled by the promise that train simulators enrich training, enhance decision support, and engender skills that transfer positively from the synthetic environment to the actual cab. This paper presents research that sets out to investigate how train simulators are currently being integrated into the rail organisation, and how industry end-users are utilising them to deliver training. Focus groups and observations were undertaken at a number of rail organisations that either owned simulators or were undergoing procurement. The data collected were analysed thematically and showed that, whilst practices for integration were varied, simulators were being extremely underutilised, in spite of their keen uptake. Further, effective application appeared hindered by a plethora of usability issues, concerns over technical reliability and simulator fidelity. The findings revealed one or more disconnects residing between the developer's promise and the organisational intent, which destabilised the process for fully integrating a simulator. This paper disentangles this dynamic by exploring the key obstructions impeding the path of effective simulator application. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Each year, throughout North America, hundreds of people die in collisions that are a direct result of an emergency responder driving to a call. Finding ways to decrease this has become increasingly important, and one of these ways may be using simulator technology. While simulators have been used with great success in the areas of pilot and medical training, research using driving simulators in a law enforcement environment is sparse. This paper will provide evidence that will begin to fill the research gaps, by providing empirical evidence that systematically investigates how using driving simulators will not only enhance emergency response instruction, but will provide training opportunities that we could not previously teach. We have optimized time spent on training through the use of specific driving scenarios which are designed to provide clear evidence needed to achieve intersection clearing proficiency in a simulator. Although evidence of the transferability of skills from a simulated driving environment to a real world setting has been missing, this paper will report on the results of two years of research conducted with over 1500 police cadets trained at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy (RCMP) in Regina Saskatchewan. Using only 7 simulator scenarios, cadets are achieving maximum performance proficiency in a driving simulator. This proficiency has transferred into optimal performance in a real world training situation. This instructional method has reduced classroom sessions, and has permitted cadets to begin training in a police-training vehicle at level that previously first occurred in the field. Student yes

Current research on ATM (Air Traffic Management) is progressively focusing on the “green operations” concept. The European Commission as well as foreign institutions has identified Air Traffic as one of the sectors in which a “green” policy could be successfully implemented. Starting from the ACARE strategic research agenda, published in 2002, many EU funded projects have been launched aiming at a dramatic reduction of noise and pollution produced by Air Transportation System. Airport operations strongly affect the pollution and noise produced by an aircraft during the whole mission impacting on the environment and people living near airports. On the other hand, airport area and more generally the Terminal Aerodrome Zone is the bottleneck of Air Traffic System. The maximum capacity of Air Space is limited by the capacity of the airports. Therefore, the optimization of such operations is recognized as a challenge that aims at finding the best trade-off solution in order to maximize the airport capacity and minimize both pollution and noise. Modelling and simulation are the most powerful tools to study such an optimization problem. To help the evaluation of the model performances, a synthetic environment able to faithfully represent the airport area and its players (aircraft, helicopters, ground vehicles, etc.) is presented in this paper as an analysis tool. An experimental scenario that simulates Rome Fiumicino airport has been developed. In it aircraft are modelled as single material points and they are moved by an external simulation model implemented in Matlab/Simulink. The simulation model accepts as input variables the waypoints’ list to be visited by the aircraft and the aircraft speed. It gives as output the shortest path on the available taxi ways. The aircraft position at each time step is sent through an UDP protocol to the visualization environment and processed in order to obtain a fluent animation.

The increasing complexity of the air traffic system is pushing towards the development of innovative and more automated tools conceived to manage it. In this scenario, an important role is played by HCI (human—computer interfaces) used by air traffic controllers and operators to visualize and interact with air traffic data. Currently, information about three-dimensional (3D) scenery is displayed with a two-dimensional representation. This paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of an innovative interface for air traffic control (ATC) based on a four-dimensional (4D) (3D space+time) visualization display. The proposed interface allows the operator to perceive all the information, including meteorological conditions, that is useful for TWR/APP (ToWeR/APProach) control in a unique 4D synthetic reconstruction of the airport area. Particular attention is dedicated to the fourth variable, time, which is a fundamental parameter in ATC. A simple and fast trajectory prediction algorithm has been implemented in order to provide the operator with an effective ‘user assistance’ tool in conflict detection activities. The interface has been evaluated by performing test simulations and surveys were used to collect results and useful advice for its future development.

This paper studies the applicability of Synthetic Environments (SE) for dynamic prototyping in the early phase of product design. For this purpose, a simple SE, built with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, was employed to support the design of the lid of an X-Ray machine. Psychological experiments, statistical analysis of questionnaires, and user interviews indicated that for the design problem concerned, the SE was a proper substitution of the physical prototype, although the participants experienced difference in sense of presence. To further improve the applicability of SE, a design strategy of intuitive user interface is proposed for dynamic prototyping in SE to facilitate the communication among stakeholders with various knowledge backgrounds.

This paper studies the applicability of Synthetic Environments (SE) for dynamic prototyping in the early phase of product design. For this purpose, a simple SE, built with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, was employed to support the design of the lid of an X-Ray machine. Psychological experiments, statistical analysis of questionnaires, and user interviews indicated that for the design problem concerned, the SE was a proper substitution of the physical prototype, although the participants experienced difference in sense of presence. To further improve the applicability of SE, a design strategy of intuitive user interface is proposed for dynamic prototyping in SE to facilitate the communication among stakeholders with various knowledge backgrounds.

Successful product design requires intensive communication between all stakeholders of the product or service in the very beginning of the development process. In this stage of the development, often communication is inefficient due to the absence of a prototype. We propose the use of a synthetic environment as a methodology and tool to support communication about a concept design among stakeholders; e.g., designers, end-users, and manufacturers. A case study with industrial partners revealed that a low-cost, easy accessible setup, consisting of haptic and visual simulation only, was sufficient for a realistic evaluation of a product and to provide meaningful information to improve its design.

This paper discusses the possibilities of environment visualization process simplifications, without reducing the image quality. Its primary focus include fixed-observer situations, such as in gunnery or air traffic control simulators. For such situations, raster photography of the real terrain is used as a background, and artificial objects are superposed on it. An application like this can run either standalone or networked, on single or multiple screen PCs with two- and/or three-dimensional graphics accelerators.