Title: Virtual reality simulation system for water supply and distribution network

Authors: Wenyan Wu; Jinliang Gao; Kui Chang

Addresses: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Staffordshire University, Beaconside, Stafford ST18 0DF, UK. ' School of Municipal and Environment Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 2624, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China. ' School of Municipal and Environment Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 2624, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China

Abstract: One of the challenges of Virtual Reality (VR) technology is implementing its effective integration with application models to provide feasible information in real time. This paper will investigate VR simulation systems in Water Distribution Networks (WDN). A framework of a VR simulation system for WDN was proposed and a prototype was developed to provide an intuitive user interface offering real-time simulation and interaction through multi-sensory channels. This enables data processing, visualisation, scene roaming, hydraulic and water quality calculation and network analysis. The hydraulic and water quality models are combined into the VR simulation system; dynamic hydraulic and water quality information is expressed visually and managed interactively in the three dimensional virtual environment. The proposed VR simulation framework and developed system were evaluated in a case study which demonstrated its effectiveness as a tool to enhance understanding and operational efficiency in the WDN.

Keywords: virtual reality; simulation; water supply; water distribution networks; data processing; visualisation; scene roaming; hydraulic calculations; water quality calculation; network analysis; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2012.051120

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2012 Vol.45 No.4, pp.205 - 213

Published online: 20 Dec 2012 *

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