i3Dimensions Awarded Multi-Year Contract to Deliver Interactive 3D Simulation Based Training Applications to Canadian Forces
New contract expands rapidly growing portfolio of DND training and simulation projects
VANCOUVER — April 8, 2003 — i3Dimensions Inc., an emerging leader in 3D visualization and simulation software tools, today announced a $690,000, three-year Department of National Defence (DND) contract to provide interactive 3D training applications to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME). Under the agreement, i3Dimensions will use its NGRAIN® technology and tools to develop a broad range of advanced interactive 3D training simulations designed to increase soldier preparedness and safety, while reducing training and equipment costs.
The contract follows a successful and award-winning pilot project with CFSME, during which i3Dimensions developed an interactive 3D e-Learning course for the Medium Girder Bridge (MGB) – a portable, modular bridge that can be rapidly assembled during combat. Soldiers took the course to become familiar with the bridge parts and construction configurations prior to doing on-site training. The pilot clearly demonstrated that using NGRAIN as a training tool reduced training cost and potential harm to students and equipment.
“At CFSME, we have to ensure soldiers are properly trained to operate and maintain a wide variety of complex, expensive and sometimes dangerous equipment like bridges, mines, weapons, water purification units, generators and specialty vehicles,” said Major Pete Peril, Doctrine Squadron Commander at CFSME. “Part of this training simply has to be hands on. However, realistic, interactive 3D distributed learning courses developed using NGRAIN will allow our people to become, and remain, intimately familiar with this equipment before physically using it and to over come skill fade – delivering significant safety, productivity and cost advantages.”
It is expected that i3Dimensions will use its rapid simulation development tool – NGRAIN Constructor – to develop a number of interactive visual training simulations, including the development of an MGB construction simulation that will allow students to construct the bridge virtually prior to building it for real.
“Current 3D applications create models that are either very detailed or highly interactive, but not both,” said Don Durand, i3Dimensions Lead for Defence Programs. “NGRAIN's realism and interactivity eliminate this trade off to create a key training advantage. By allowing students to manipulate, modify or experiment on highly interactive, detailed simulations, NGRAIN produces the same ‘learn by doing' training as physical courses - without any of the associated risks.”
NGRAIN will work with its growing list of partners to meet DND's requirements. One recent addition is PointStream, a leading provider in 3D laser scanning products and services, who will work with NGRAIN to produce photo-realistic 3D models for the interactive visual training simulations.
Today's announcement is a clear example of the defense community's growing commitment to the NGRAIN platform. i3Dimensions is also currently working with numerous other training and research organizations within the Department of National Defence and the defense industry to deliver results similar to those achieved at CFSME.
About i3Dimensions Inc.
i3Dimensions Inc. develops visualization and simulation solutions that enable to the modification and manipulation of complex 3D data in real-time on common PCs, the tablet and other computing platforms. NGRAIN products add new capabilities to interactive 3D visualization for entertainment, medical, government institutions, manufacturing, education, aerospace and defence applications. More information is available online at www.ngrain.com.