Launch of 3D Visualisation Industry Cluster

MEDIA RELEASE
11 August 2008

Nextspace launches 3D Visualisation Industry Cluster

Nextspace, the 3D visualisation industry catalyst and consultancy, has announced partnerships with three companies to form an industry cluster focussing on 3D visual communications.

Officially opened in February 2008, Nextspace's goal is to build a $1 billion visual communications industry in New Zealand which makes complex 3D data accessible, easy-to-use and interactive in a range of business applications. Coordinating an industry cluster is a core part of that vision.

The companies have entered into commercial partnerships with Nextspace to develop new applications based on the world-leading 3D graphical communications and collaboration technology developed by Nextspace’s founding partner Right Hemisphere.

• Urban Voyage uses 3D visualisation and online collaboration tools to allow superyacht owners, designers and builders around the world to collaborate on the design and construction of yachts.
• Predefine is a virtual construction consultancy that creates virtual prototypes of building projects to manage coordination between building elements, consultants, scheduling and costs during construction.
• Revisia is a heavy industry specialist that produces 3D maintenance visualisations and training simulations to minimise the cost of maintenance downtime and improve safe working practices.

Future partnerships with education and research organisations are also expected.

Nextspace CEO Gavin Lennox says “We want to turn 3D visualisation technology and innovation developed in New Zealand into a billion dollar industry. Having organisations choosing to partner with us – and potentially each other – to create a cluster group is a key step on that journey.”

“Our aim is to enable organisations to solve high-level, graphically-oriented business problems. We already have a diverse range of organisations creating smart solutions for industry by combining their own specialist skills with Nextspace’s expertise and Right Hemisphere’s unique technology,” says Lennox.

Urban Voyage, Predefine and Revisia will receive expert technical support and training from Nextspace as well as access to Right Hemisphere’s Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing custom development of new applications. Nextspace also offers cluster members workshops and seminars, joint marketing, research partnerships and access to the high-tech training and development facilities at Nextspace’s Innovation Centre.

Urban Voyage has combined its superyacht industry experience and technical skills with the cluster’s unique technology to gain elite clients around the world.

“One of our Monaco-based clients is using our service to understand and manage the build and design of his multimillion dollar superyacht via the Internet. He said he has been waiting over 20 years for a solution like this, which has removed language barriers and the challenges of distance. Now he is able to easily understand complex CAD drawings, comment on them, and track progress daily from the comfort of his own home,” says Urban Voyage CEO Richard Elliott.

“Our partnership with Nextspace enables Urban Voyage to work with customers from anywhere in the world, at any time, and in a way that no other company in the world can offer. It’s a totally unique and powerful system – we’re effectively changing the way the Superyacht industry works,” says Elliott.

Predefine Director Zolna Murray says a key benefit of the technology lies in combining visualisations with business data. “We can enhance the value of the virtual model with considerations of time and cost – making it a 5D model. An animation of construction schedules can be created to identify conflicts and dependencies. The model’s data can then be used to produce a redesigned schedule and budget, and the process repeated until an acceptable solution is reached.”

“It’s also extremely accessible for clients. Anyone involved in the project can see visualisations and walk-throughs in real-time, without needing a high-end computer and CAD software expertise. Instead, they can do it over the Internet on almost any computer,” says Murray.

Revisia has proven that there is a clear return on investment for 3D visualisation in heavy industry such as manufacturing and processing plants. “We enable our clients to streamline maintenance operations for hazardous plant systems where every hour of downtime results in substantial lost revenue,” says Revisia CEO Mark Foster.

“In the plant and process space, safety is paramount. In addition to focussing on job efficiency, virtual models are also allowing maintenance teams to improve hazard identification and to plan safer work practices.”

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About Nextspace
Nextspace is a 3D visualisation industry catalyst and consultancy. Nextspace’s goal is to build a $1 billion visual communications industry in New Zealand which makes complex 3D data accessible, easy-to-use and interactive in a range of applications.

Nextspace brings together companies, universities, research organisations, educators and government agencies; with Right Hemisphere’s unique visualisation and collaboration technology; and its own expertise to create an internationally competitive cluster.

Based in Auckland, Nextspace also provides consulting, contract research, mentoring, software development services and an Innovation Centre with high-tech training and development facilities. It is the New Zealand reseller of Right Hemisphere software, and is owned by a not-for-profit trust.

For more information on cluster members please visit:
www.nextspace.co.nz
www.urbanvoyage.co.nz
www.predefine.co.nz
www.righthemisphere.com

ENDS

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