Intergraph's Voxel Analyst Manages Scientific Data in all Dimensions

HUNTSVILLE, ALA., SEPTEMBER 1, 1995 -- Intergraph Corporation announces the
release of Voxel Analyst (VA) software for Windows 95 and the Windows NT
operating system. VA provides true volume modeling, analysis and
visualization for 3D distributed scientific data. It is the first product
available for the PC to go beyond visualization by allowing Boolean
analysis and interactive manipulation of volume data. These capabilities
enable scientists and engineers to automatically perform complex
calculations, use powerful inferential tools and easily communicate
complex information. VA is one of the first multi-threaded Windows
applications to take advantage of the OpenGL graphics platform. Multi-
threading enables graphics display and computation to be done
simultaneously on multi-processor machines, bringing the power and speed
of high- end, graphics workstations to PCs. VA runs standalone and can
import or export data to industry standard CAD (AutoCad, MicroStation),
GIS and office automation products.

According to Intergraph Executive Vice President Larry Ayers, "We believe
that Voxel Analyst is the premier scientific visualization tool on the
market. It has been instrumental in solving a variety of scientific and
engineering problems that require three dimensional display and analysis
of chemical and physical attributes in the natural environment. For
example, VA has been used extensively by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in some of the world's largest
investigations of subsurface and surface water contamination. In these
situations VA has made critical advancements in defining the extent of
chemical contamination, and in presenting and defending these conclusions
in regulatory review and in court. By optimizing VA for Microsoft Windows
we have greatly reduced software and system costs without impacting
performance. In fact,VA runs without any software pre-requisites or
specialized graphics boards at speeds comparable to its most advanced UNIX
implementation. VA is one of the first Windows applications to take
advantage of multiple processor hardware and use OpenGL under Windows NT
or Windows 95. I am excited to offer this powerful analysis and
communication tool at a cost appropriate for any size project."

Frank Keyser, environmental engineer, and Leslie Chau, hydrologist, of ICF
Kaiser, a major environmental engineering contractor, commented after
using VA, "We have incorporated the product as a primary tool for
subsurface chemical characterization and evaluation of remediation
alternatives. The striking graphics have both simplified and enhanced the
presentation of remediation scenarios to our clients and regulatory
agencies. We feel that VA has given us a competitive edge for providing
comprehensive environmental and engineering services to our clients."

TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS

VA provides easy-to-use tools for loading, modeling, analyzing,
manipulating and plotting 3D scientific data. Data may be imported from
external 2D and 3D modeling packages in a standard ASCII format; sparse
data may be loaded and numerically modeled using several different
algorithms. Graphic components such as cross-sections, cutting planes,
chair displays, isosurfaces and isosolids may be interactively generated
and edited.

VA's color rendering allows lighting, shading and transparency to be set up
independently for each graphic component. Analysis features include:

   3D cross plotting of voxel attributes
   Volume draping
   Surface area calculations
   Volume calculations
   Boolean operations on volumes

Volume editing allows interactive editing and manipulation of voxel
attributes. This combination of volume analysis and editing tools allow
scientists to explore the true nature of solid volumes representing
scientific phenomena. VA combines for the first time versatile data input,
interactive graphic creation, automated analysis and sophisticated volume
manipulation with other CAD, GIS and office automation tools.

INTERGRAPH BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A member of the Fortune 1000, Intergraph Corporation is the world's largest
company dedicated to supplying interactive graphics systems. Products
range from point solutions, meeting individual and departmental needs, to
integrated, enterprise-wide systems. Intergraph Software Systems (ISS)
develops and markets integrated software for the Technical Desktop the
combination of compatible technical applications for the earth
sciences/GIS and personal productivity tools in a single desktop computer.
ISS also provides core system software, high-end applications, training,
consulting and implementation services.
 
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