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Architectural Design
Program of Computer Graphics - Q4, 1998 Status Report
A. Equipment and Installation
A.1. Equipment received to date, configuration, and installation
note: servers, workstations, and graphics boards received by the Program of Computer
Graphics have been utilized by both this project and Project 4.1
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 1 4x200mhz 1gb memory 27gb disk compute server system, installed in a public area but
also accessible remotely for large-environment and distributed computing. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 2 2x300mhz 512mb memory minitower systems |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 1 400mhz 128mb workstation with Intergraph graphics card. |
A.2. Additional software installed
A typical PCG installation for this project includes:
Compilers:
1. Code Warrior
2. MS Developer Studio 6
3. Portland compiler
Productivity/Access/Environment applications:
1. Exceed 3D with OpenGL for Xwindow 3D OpenGL interaction with SGI Onyx2/IR2 system,
telnet and ftp services
2. Adobe Photoshop
3. Adobe Illustrator
4. Canvas
5. MS Office 97
6. UWin for Unix ksh and telnetd
7. 3D Studio Max
8. 3D Studio Viz
9. AutoCAD R14
10. Lightscape
11. TGS Open Inventor
B. Research
B.1. Integrating Intel platforms into Program
of Computer Graphics research infrastructure
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | With two ITI Visionmaker drafting tables and one
more on order, we have now have the equipment in place to support both research and a
design studio. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We are using TGS Open Inventor to port architectural research software to NT from
SGI-IRIX platforms. The server is used to support file access and data transfer
across systems. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Intel gift machines have made possible the transition of our teaching infrastructure
from Unix platforms to a predominantly NT-based environment. |
B.2. Plans for coming year
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | PCG graduate student Corey Toler, a candidate for the Masters of Science degree in
Architecture, is porting her research software to Windows NT, using TGS Open
Inventor. Corey has developed software for teaching architectural perspective
drawing through sketching on the ITI large-screen drafting tables. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | For the Fall 1998 semester we initiated a new course, Architecture 476.5, which began to
bring the architectural research in the Program of Computer Graphics into the mainstream
architectural curriculum at Cornell. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | For the Spring 1999 semester, at the urging of Department of Architecture faculty, we
upgraded the course to full design studio credit. Moreno Piccolotto is teaching the course
at the Program of Computer Graphics together with Architecture Department faculty member
Sunil Bald. The course outline and projects may be viewed at http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/academic/archstudio/
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![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Our new Rhodes Hall architecture teaching space is fully operational with includes
studio space, meeting room, and faculty instructor office for our undergraduate
architecture teaching. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Through this course, we are combining traditional design teaching with computer-based
approaches to modeling and presentation, including user testing and critique of our own
research software. Course resources include commercial modeling and rendering packages
such as AutoCAD R14, 3D Studio Max, Alias|Wavefront's Maya, and Discreet Logic's
Lightscape. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | A new relationship with Autodesk's Ithaca research office has brought Autodesk personnel
into our lab for regular interaction and research collaboration. |
B.3. Architectural Images
Architectural Design Status Report 2nd Quarter, 1998
Program of Computer Graphics
A. Equipment and Installation
A.1. Equipment received to date, configuration, and installation
note: servers, workstations, and graphics boards received by the Program of Computer
Graphics have been utilized by both this project and Project 4.1
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 1 4x200mhz 1gb memory 27gb disk compute server system, installed in a public area but
also accessible remotely for large-environment and distributed computing. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 2 2x300mhz 512mb memory minitower systems 5 AccelGraphics OpenGL graphics boards |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 1 400mhz 128mb workstation with Intergraph graphics card. |
A.2. Additional software installed
A typical PCG installation for this project includes:
Compilers:
1.Code Warrior
2.MS Developer Studio
Productivity/Access/Environment applications:
1.Exceed 3D with OpenGL for Xwindow 3D OpenGL interaction with SGI Onyx2/IR2 system,
telnet and ftp services
2.Adobe Photoshop
3.Adobe Illustrator
4.Canvas
5.MS Office 97
6.UWin for Unix ksh and telnetd
7.3D Studio Max
8.AutoCAD R14
9.Lightscape
B. Research
B.1. Integrating Intel platforms into Program
of Computer Graphics research infrastructure
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | With one ITI Visionmaker drafting table and two
more on order, we have now have the equipment in place to support both research and a
prototype drafting studio. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We have developed software on SGI platforms for the earliest stages of the design
process, allowing freehand sketch-based input with transitions to geometric
primitives. The server is used to support file access and data transfer across
systems. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We are testing import and export paths from standard modelers such as Alias and rendering software such
as Lightscape. |
B.2. Plans for coming year
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We have initiated a new course, Architecture 476.5, which will
begin to bring the architectural research in the Program of Computer Graphics into the
mainstream architectural curriculum at Cornell. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Through this course, we are combining traditional design teaching with user testing and
critique of our own software, and evaluating paths for import and export to commercial CAD
and rendering packages such as AutoCAD R14, 3D Studio Max, Alias|Wavefront's Maya, and
Discreet Logic's Lightscape. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We will be migrating our architectural modeling and teaching environments from Unix to
NT to support this new course. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We have taken possession of four rooms for the project in Rhodes Hall and are outfitting
them to serve as a project lab, studio space, meeting room, and faculty instructor office
for our experimental undergraduate architecture teaching. Intel equipment is being
used in this facility. |
B.3. Architectural Images
Architectural Design Status Report 1st Quarter
Program of Computer Graphics
Equipment and Installation
Equipment received to date, configuration, and installation
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 1 2x200mhz 512mb memory 35gb disk server to support desktop systems as a
primary domain controller (PDC). This server also supports the New
Opportunities and Challenges for Computer Graphics project |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | 2 2x300mhz 512mb memory minitower systems with GLINT OpenGL graphics.
These two systems are being used for Masters and Phd research on 3D spline
fitting and translation problems in architectural modeling. |
Additional software installed
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Compilers:
- Metrowerks Code Warrior
- MS Developer Studio
|
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | Productivity/Access/Environment applications:
- Exceed 3D with OpenGL for Xwindow 3D OpenGL interaction with SGI
Onyx2/IR2 system, telnet and ftp services
- Photoshop
- Canvas
- MS Office 97
- UWin for Unix
ksh and telnetd
|
Research
Integrating Intel platforms into Program
of Computer Graphics research infrastructure
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | With ITI Visionmaker design table,
we now have the equipment in place for a prototype design studio |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We have developed prototype software for the earliest stages of the design
process, allowing freehand sketch-based input with transitions to geometric
primitives. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We are testing import and export paths from standard modelers such as Alias
and rendering software such as Lightscape |
Plans for coming year
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We will be migrating our development environments from Unix to NT, which
requires updating code from SGI Inventor libraries to new SGI
Optimizer libraries. This will also require finding compatible drivers
for the ITI drafting table, its embedded digitizing tablet, and other
specialized hardware and input devices. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We have just taken possession of four rooms in Rhodes Hall to serve as a
project lab, studio space, meeting room, and faculty instructor office for
our experimental undergraduate architecture teaching. |
![](_themes/tech2k/bullet1.gif) | We will be combining traditional design teaching with user testing and
critique of our own software, and evaluating paths for import and export to
commercial CAD and rendering packages |
Images
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