Technical Paper
Cost-Effective Real-Time Computer Simulation
1987-04-07
870871
An offshoot of our research in the area of accident reconstruction has been the development of economical computerized graphic simulation techniques. Three-dimensional images are mathematically reconstructed on the computer screen. Building a sequence of these images and animating them is a means of simulating motion. A special approach is taken to facilitate real time playback using a desk top microcomputer. These dynamic simulations are a very effective means of presenting a complex sequence of events to a non-technical audience in a clear and understandable fashion. The equations used in a rigorous engineering analysis are modeled graphically for analysis by the viewer. Different scenarios of the same incident can be developed to show the credibility of various statements. This is done through modifying individual variables, such as speed, distance, timing, and camera location to determine the effect of the change on the final result.