visualization Dynamite VSP civil visualisation engineering 3ds max Autodesk viz mx civil3d inroads rail visualisation geopak 12d survcad astasoft pcplusplus symos geonius

Dynamite VSP Data Import

The basis of every visualisation project in Dynamite VSP is typically the import of engineering design data from an application such as MX, InRoads, or Civil 3D. Dynamite VSP therefore features native support for a wide range of 3D civil engineering design data file formats.

This means that Dynamite VSP is able to offer native support for a wide range of leading civil design applications, including:

  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Bentley MX
  • Bentley InRoads
  • Bentley Geopak
  • 12D Model from 12D Solutions

In addition to supporting the import of design data from any of the above civil design applications, Dynamite VSP is capable of creating a permanent link between your engineering source data and the resulting visualisation model, and permanently storing original string labels and model names.

This allows a dynamic relationship to be maintained between your civil design application and your Dynamite VSP based visualisation scene. When your design changes, your associated Dynamite VSP based visualisation is (optionally) updated automatically.

The extensive use of dependencies throughout the visualisation process in Dynamite VSP also means that the positions of all subsequently created dependent objects such as street furniture and vehicles are automatically updated when an imported shape (string) or surface (triangulation/tin) is updated.

Dedicated Data Import Panels

Through a series of dedicated import panels, Dynamite VSP supports importing from and dynamic linking to the following industry standard file formats:

  • AutoCAD Civil 3D Support. Dedicated support for AutoCAD Civil 3D is provided via our purpose built proprietary intermediate file format (*.vsp3d). VSP3D files are generated by our dedicated and FREE VSP3D Exporter for AutoCAD Civil 3D.
  • Native MX Model File Support. Content from any MX Model File may be imported directly into Autodesk 3ds Max via Dynamite VSP. No MX or Arenium licence is required to use this feature. The use of the dynamic linking technology in Dynamite VSP means that design changes applied in MX are automatically reflected in your visualisation by clicking a single button in Dynamite VSP!
  • Native MX Genio File Support. As an alternative to the MX model file import capabilities described above, Dynamite VSP also fully supports the MX Genio file format.
  • Native 12D Ascii File Support. Dynamite VSP is an ideal high-end visualisation companion product for users of 12D Model. Import from and permanently link your Autodesk 3ds Max based visualisation model directly to one or more 12D Ascii Files, with Dynamite VSP!
  • Native LandXML File Support. Import from and permanently link your Dynamite VSP based visualisation model directly to one or more LandXML Files. An ideal way to link a Dynamite VSP based visualisation model to 3d civil design data generated in InRoads, Geopak or Civil 3D.
  • Native DXF File Support. Import from and permanently link your Dynamite VSP based visualisation model to any other civil design application which does not support one of the above file formats.

In addition, Autodesk 3ds Max supports AutoCAD DWG format natively. DWG files may be referenced as xrefs in any visualisation scene by loading them via the dedicated DWG File Link Manager panel.

Dynamite VSP is the only product of its type to feature native support for such a wide range of civil engineering design data file formats.

Global Shift Settings

Because of the nature of single precision floating-point calculations in Autodesk 3ds Max, distances that are extremely large or extremely small can cause severe round-off errors. Symptoms of round-off errors include navigation performance problems (zooming and panning becoming too fast or too slow), unwanted viewport clipping, and most critically - inaccurate interpretation of large coordinate values.

This creates an immediate problem for civil engineering design data due to the fact that engineering designs are typically generated in true world coordinate systems.

Dynamite VSP manages this issue for you by automatically applying a negative easting and northing tranformation to all incoming engineering design data. This forces any resulting visualisation model to be situated as close to the scene origin as possible in Autodesk 3ds Max, thus removing the possibility of you encountering any scene inaccuracy issues.

These global import shift settings are permanently remembered in each visualisation scene which means that the value only needs to be applied once in the lifetime of each visualisation project.