X3D Content Viewers
  • Xj3D Browser
    This is a project of the Web3D Consortium focussed on creating a toolkit for VRML97 and X3D content written completely in Java. This toolkit may be used to the import VRML content into your custom application, or to create a fully-fledged browser.
  • Flux Viewer
    This player combines broadcast quality graphics with game engine performance to deliver unprecedented visual impact and interactivity in real time for a variety of applications.
  • BS Contact
    This viewer offers interactive and realtime 3D software, its documentation and support/development. The multimedia–software for 2D/3D, audio and video performs the visualization in your software- and/or hardware related concept or product, based on ISO-Standards VRML/X3D.
  • FreeWRL
    This is an open-source(R) VRML and X3D browser written by a group of developers, who wish to produce a high quality, up to date, browser that is in the public domain. It is written for Unix/Linux and Mac OS/X workstations and while the primary goal of some of the developers is to enable Shared Virtual Worlds, other developers want it to look good, too.
  • Octaga Professional
    The Octaga Professional is the world’s first commercial X3D / MPEG-4 / VRML player for rich multimedia content offering 2D, 3D and video streaming in one player. Octaga Professional is a high-performance, standards-compliant, 3D player.

X3D Authoring Tools
  • Maya and RawKee X3D Exporter
    RawKee is an open source (LGPL) X3D plug-in designed for use with Alias' line of 3D authoring software, Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited. The purpose of RawKee is to export Maya's 3D data as an X3D file with support for scripting through RawKee's interaction editor. Development of RawKee is directed by the NDSU Archaeology Technologies Lab.
  • Flux Studio
    Formerly known as Vizx3D, Flux Studio is an easy to use, inexpensive, general purpose, visually oriented, 3D modeling and animating application that creates the new International Standard for 3D on the web (X3D) files as well as Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML97) files.
  • 3D Studio Max Exporter
    This X3D exporter is a plug-in for 3D Studio Max and is based on the Mark Callow VRML exporter, which was based on original VRML exporter that comes with the Max SDK. Version 5 or Version 6 Max Version 7: Reports from the field say that the Version 6 exporter works in most cases in Max 7.
  • Blender Exporter
    The purpose of this project is to develop an exporter for the Blender open-source 3D authoring application which will generate an X3D file at the Interchange profile level.

Web3D Consortium Links of Interest
Archaeology & X3D Graphics System
Author: Aaron Bergstrom
E-mail Address: Aaron.Bergstrom@ndsu.edu
Communication is Welcomed

Abstract:
The adoption of interactive three-dimensional technologies by archaeologists can be prohibitive due to the costs associated with processing archaeological data within a digital environment. Prohibitive reasons for this adoption include the cost of hardware and software to process data, accessibility to file formats that offer the utility necessary for conducting research projects, and the means to present this data to the research community and the public. The Web3D Consortium's X3D graphics specification has the ability to address several of these issues. The presentation will discuss the X3D specification, low-cost tools for processing and viewing data presented using X3D, its relevance to archaeology, current archaeological uses of X3D, and future developments of X3D that can have an impact on archaeology.

Alias Research Donation Program

From the Alias website:
The goal of the Research donation program is to first, catalyze experimentation and research in computer graphics, human computer interaction, and compelling digital visual experiences. The second goal is to promote Alias software as the defacto standard for this type of activity. Ultimately we want the developments produced by the research donations program to benefit the scientific community and evolve the industry as a whole, and as a side effect, improve Alias software or the environment surrounding Alias software.

Alias makes no specific requests with regards to the research performed with the software except we encourage publication of research results in high quality peer reviewed research venues and applicants are willing, from time to time, to report on the results of their research to Alias and publicly acknowledge Alias' support of their research.

The Archaeology Technologies Laboratory ATL at North Dakota State University uses Maya Unlimited, a 3D graphics software application by Alias, to produced most of its 3D content for visualization and research purposes. Interactive 3D enviornments produced by ATL are exported from Maya using RawKee, an open source X3D content authoring plug-in for Maya. RawKee is developed at the ATL, and its production value has been estimated to be over a $1,000,000.

The ATL highly recommends the use of Maya for visualization of archaeological research. Researchers who belong to non-profit institutions may learn more about the ARDP at the link below.

Visit the: Alias Research Donation Program Website

Other Digital Archaeology Forum Presentations About X3D
  • Dinesh S. Katre
    National Multimedia Resource Centre
    Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
    Pune, India

    Title: Museums, Monuments and Historical Information: Synthesis Using Digital Library and Virtual Reality Technologies
     
  • Thomas L. Milbank
    University of Utah, USA

    Title: Complex Management, Simple Needs: Electronic Data from the Prespective of Classical Archaeology

What is the INDO-US Science & Technology Forum?

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (Forum), established under an intergovernmental agreement in March 21, 2000, is an autonomous, not for profit society that promotes and catalyzes U.S.-India bilateral collaborations in science, technology, engineering and biomedical research through substantive interactions among scientists in academia, industry and government.

It promotes the exchange and dissemination of information and opportunities on Indo-U.S. science and technology cooperation through bilateral workshops, symposium & complementing training programs.

Visit the: Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Website