Virtual Reality Demonstration at CHEP '95

Throughout the duration of the conference, the VENUS team carried an immersive demonstration of flythrough in the Virtual Prototypes of the LHC detectors and tunnel. This demo was made possible thanks to the help of Silicon Graphics Brazil, that lent a powerful Onyx RealityEngine2 mainframe. The stand was visited by most of the conference attendees, as well as by several members of the Brazilian press and television teams. This demo marked a milestone, presenting for the first time in Brazil a scientific high-end Virtual Reality application. The event was mentioned in the following journals: Internet World (Brazil), Folha de Sao Paulo, Caderno de Informatica, Ciencia and Incrivel.

All of the VENUS models are available for flythrough on screen, with stereo glasses and Spaceball, or in immersive environment using a VR helmet (Head Mounted Display and 3D-mouse.

The team that staffed the VENUS demo stand most of the time. From left to right, Geraldo Ferreira Calainho (Silicon Graphics Engineer), Silvano de Gennaro (leader of the VENUS project), Regina Murray (CHEP '95 press agent).

A top view of the cross cut model of the future ALICE detector. ALICE will be installed in the present L3 pit, which will be enlarged on one side. The "Muon Arm" is visible as a violet arrow pointing to the central inner calorimeter.

The ATLAS toroidal detector with some pit infrastructure around it. In the background (left side) is the cryogenics room. ATLAS was the first Virtual Prototype implemented by VENUS. Over five different versions have been provided since, all within a couple of days from the availability of the Euclid CAD models. The latest versions of the VENUS Virtual Prototypes are made available on the Web, from the VENUS home page (http://www-venus.cern.ch/VENUS). By downloading the VENUS browser (i3D), everyone can fly through these models on screen. This browser is now available (still from the VENUS home page)for Silicon Graphics (IRIX 5.3) and DEC AlphaStations (OSF).

The LHC/LEP prototype as seen from the ATLAS pit. This picture refers to the state of design at the time of the symposyum. Later, LHC was split in two parallel tubes, one of which carrying the cryogenics installations.

A territory model of the present surface site where the CMS premises will be built. This model was created for an Impact Study to evaluate the visual integration of the very large hall where the CMS detector will be assembled. Another Impact Study is about to begin for ATLAS.