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Virtual Reality

Here is the latest from the FracMan Technology Group: The Virtual Reality FracWorld. All you need is a VRML-Browser and you can start to walk through discrete fracture networks like this, generated by FracMan.

Here's how it works. The only thing you need to do is to download and install a VRML-Browser. Although there are separate programs available, for the beginning a plug-in to your current web browser should do it. Two of them that we've tested are free:

• Microsoft VRML 2.0 Viewer (for MS Internet Explorer 4.0 and 3.0),
  Go to the Add-Ons page.

• Cosmo Player (for Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer)

Once you have installed the plug-in click on the figure above to load the FracMan Virtual Reality World. Select the WALK option to move closer to or into the fracture network (sorry no stepping through fractures allowed at this time). Use the STUDY option to rotate the network. RESET will get you back to your starting point. For more navigation information, please see the respective VRML-Browser homepage.

For more information on the VRML language visit the excellent VRML-Repository or the homepage of the VRML Consortium.

A special thanks to Lingli Wei, Golder Associates (UK), who pioneered the idea of the Virtual Reality FracWorld.