International Newsletter vol.9 2008/10
10.30.2008
----Contents----

--------What's New at FORUM8--------

-The 7th 3D VR Simulation Contest
-The 2nd International VR Symposium
-UC-win/Road Expert Training Seminar
-UC-win/Road version 3.4 release

--------Upcoming Events--------

-Upcoming overseas events
-Seminar in Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul

--------FORUM8 Homepage Information--------

-Web estimate service
-Technical support service for UC-win/Road overseas users
-User information page
-The 7th 3D VR Simulation Contest

We will hold the 7th 3D VR simulation contest on 20 November, 2008. The contest has
been held annually with many significant examples of the utilization of UC-win/Road
Advanced.


Japanese English Korean Chinese French
FORUM8 will hold the 7th 3D VR Simulation Contest by UC-win/Road. UC-win/Road has been highly regarded as a 3D virtual reality (VR) software package supporting consensus building and visualization of landscape design in various public-works and private developments. In 2002, UC-win/Road was awarded the prize for Software Product of the Year by SOFTIC. It was in celebration of this award that FORUM8 held the 1st "3D VR Simulation Contest".
The contest has since been held annually with many first-class examples of the advanced use of UC-win/Road being presented by users of the product. It is expected that works and technology which are more excellent than ever will be exhibited. We hope that better works will be presented and this event will be useful for the participants.

"The 2nd International VR symposium" will be held following on from last year. The International academic group is expected to present excellent research, technologies and ideas about VR by UC-win/Road. At this symposium, the "Academy encouragement prize" for a student will be announced from now on.
We are expediting the development of "VR Studio" as our strategic VR product for release in the new year. We will convey the essence of VR Studio at this event.
We hope to hold this event on a large scale at Tokyo Conference Center inviting many users from home and abroad. We hope to see you there.

6th 3D VR simulation contest report
6th 3D VR simulation contest history
< Date / Venue >
Date Location Venue Note
20 November 2008
13:30 - 17:00 ( Reception 13:00 )		 Tokyo Tokyo Conference Center
in Shinagawa, Hall A,
JR Shinagawa Station Konan exit
directly connects to the center
MAP		  
Sponsors
CG-Arts Association (Computer Graphic Arts Society)
Monthly "CAD & CG Magazine" (X-Knowledge Co., Ltd.)
Monthly "Bridge & Urban Project" (Bridge Editorial Committee)
 "KENTSU newspaper" (KENTSU SHINBUNSHA)
Submissions
Deadline : Submissions must be received by Wednesday November 5th, 2008
Include VR data saved to media such as CD-ROM or DVD, a data
summary (maximum 150 words) and operating procedures when
you submit your application. In the case of a lot of applications,
screening will be carried out. Works nominated to move into the final
selection will be announced on Friday November 7th, 2008. Please
note that FORUM8 may use the outputted image or movie
for introducing winning submissions, though the winning VR data is
copyrighted by the applicant. In principal, participants are only those
who can make a presentation at the contest and participate in the
awards ceremony.
Nomination award
Honor plaque

Semi-crystal plaque
Accommodation in Tokyo
Awards/Prizes
No dual recipients.
The Overseas award and Academy Encouragement award are for foreign applicants and students respectively. Academy Encouragement award will be announced at the International VR symposium.
Grand Prix

Highest award
Certificate / trophy /
high end notebook computer

DELL Notebook PC
Excellence award

Semi-grand prix
Certificate / mobile notebook computer

SONY mobile Notebook computer VAIO
Special awards

Idea award
Essence award
Overseas award
Judgment award
other awards
Certificate / latest digital camera

CASIO digital camera
EXLIM
Academy Encouragement award

Academy Encouragement award
Certificate / financial incentive

US$ 2,000 Prize
Final judging method
Applicants make a presentation (less than 15 minutes, UC-win/Road data demonstration over 70%) of the nominated works and each of the awards is determined by vote.
Grand prix, excellence award and special awards (Idea award, Essence award, Overseas award, Judgment award etc.) are decided. Each prize can only have one winner. The Academy Encouragement award is only for students.
The Academy Encouragement Award is restricted to submissions for the VR Symposium research presentations. These will be presented at the "International VR Symposium" and can be nominated for the finals by recommendation.
The marks will be the total of the ranking points from the vote and the special prize ranking points, with a 70% weighting on votes from the users participating in the contest and a 30% weighting on votes from our judges.
Judges Mr. Hiroo Kasagi (NPO Chiiki Zukuri Kobou)
Mr. Fumio Seki (Taisei corporation)
Mr. Sinsuke Kitagawa (Yachiyo Engineering)
Special lectures, special seminars and social events
19 November 2008 10:00 - 17:00  The 2nd International VR Symposium
< How to apply>
Send us an e-mail or ask at your nearest FORUM8 office for an application form. Competition entry is free. We're looking forward to receiving your application.
<Where to apply> E-mail forum8@forum8.co.jp FORUM8 offices
6th contest prize-winning entries
(VR Simulation contest review, Nov. 2007)
"Ishikawa-cho Junction Simulation"
Kanagawa Construction Bureau, Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited
"SMARTWAY 2007 VR Simulation"
National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport / Highway Industry Development Organization

 
Japanese English Chinese Korean

UC-win/Road Expert training seminar will be held for agencies which sell UC-win/Road and consultants who suggest VR business
using UC-win/Road. We prepared "UC-win/Road introduction strategy program" which you can learn knowledge and technique, which is need to get the targeted company to innovate UC-win/Road. We advance this seminar covering all the contents of
the sales and techniques from approach to consulting, install and follow-up with practices. Lastly, you'll take an authorization examination, and the passers will be certified as UC-win/Road experts.



All the authorization examination passers
can get a certificate.
Related information the 9th UC-win/Road Conference
UC-win/Road Products page  http://vr.forum8.co.jp/english/
UC-win/Road Ver.3.4 New functions
Enhanced scenario function Improved intersection texture editing function
< The date / venue >
The date venue The hall Note
17-18 November. 2008 Tokyo FORUM8 Tokyo head office GT tower seminar room  
< Summary >
Participation fee Free
< Schedule >
1st day: 13:00 - 17:30 13:00-13:30 Basic knowledge of UC-win/Road VR
13:30-15:30 Practical use of sales tools
15:40-17:30 Process for innovation
2nd day: 9:30 - 17:30 9:30-12:00 UC-win/Road operational practice "Bases"
13:00-14:30 UC-win/Road operational practice "Practice"
14:40-16:50 Link and expansion
17:00-17:30 Authorization examination
< Application for participation >
Send e-mail or ask your nearest sales window for an application. After receiving your application, FORUM8 will send you a hall map and a participation ticket.
We are looking forward to your application
< Where to apply > E-mail forum8@forum8.co.jp FORUM8 offices

-The 2nd International VR Symposium

We will hold the 2nd International VR Symposium. A number of university professors from
all over the world will gather and give presentations.
　
Japanese English Korean Chinese French
Information
UC-win/Road http://vr.forum8.co.jp/english
7th 3D VR SIMULATION CONTEST by UC-win/Road
< The date / venue >
Date Location Venue Note
19 November 2008 10:00-17:00 Tokyo Tokyo Conference Center
in Shinagawa, Hall A,
JR Shinagawa Station Konan exit
directly connects to the center
MAP		  
< Summary >
Participation fee  Free
Schedule
 Guest Speaker
9:00-10:00 VR Project Management
Professor Nashman Dawood
(University of Teesside, UK)
10:00-11:00 EXODUS / SMARTFIRE
Professor Ed Galea
(University of Greenwich Fire Safety Engineering Group, UK)
11:00-12:00 Analysis of Tsunami and Disaster Control
Professor Fumihiko Imamura
(Tohoku University, Graduate school of Engineering Disaster Control Research Center, Tsunami Engineering Laboratory, Japan)
13:00-13:20 Yoshihiro Kobayashi (Arizona State University, USA)
13:20-13:40 Kostas Terzidis (Harvard University, USA)
13:40-14:00 Taro Narahara (Harvard University, USA)
14:00-14:20 Michael Jemtrud (McGill University, Canada)
14:20-14:40 Carlos Calderon (University of Newcastle, England)
14:50-15:10 Wael Abdelhameed (University of Bahrain, Bahrain)
15:10-15:30 Ronald Hawker (Zayed University, UAE)
15:30-15:50 Claudio Labarca (Pontifical University Catolica de Chile, Chile)
15:50-16:10 Tomohiro Fukuda (Osaka University, Japan)
16:10-17:00 Discussion
17:00-18:30 Networking Party
Publication Commemoration "VR presentation Technique"

-UC-win/Road version 3.4 release

UC-win/Road ver.3.4 was released on 24 September, 2008. This new version provides various
new features and includes several significant enhancements that make it simpler to deploy and
use.

Basic Functions
1. Support for HTML help file format
2. Intersection texture editing function
3. Added the building creation tool (allows you to create more complicated building models)
4. Support for simulation panel and full-screen


Paid Options (Added)
1. Added the scenario function to Drive Simulator
2. Support for aaSIDRA file import by aaSIDRA plug-in

Expanded Functions
1. Improved MD3 characters
2. Improved LandXML and InRoads plug-ins
3. Re-sizing of textures and display of thumbnails
4. Demo simulator is supported by the INNOSIMULATION plug-in

For more information, please go to the following site.
http://vr.forum8.co.jp/english/

Trial version of UC-win/Road ver.3.4 is available at the following site
http://forum8.co.jp/english/uc-win/win-road-trial-down.htm
-Updated UC-win/Road Database

To increase the convenience of UC-win/Road utilization, we have continued to expand our
UC-win/Road database to make it easy for our valued users to download 3D models and
textures. Also, to improve our international database, we have added international traffic
signs from all over the world in "Texture and Traffic signs". The database now consists of
models from 23 countries.

In particular, more building models used in the United States and public facilities used
in Japan have been added to "3D model - Building, house, store, and steel tower". Various types
of signals and ETC (electronic toll collection system) are also available as movable models
in "3D model - train and road facilities". People who are chatting or riding on a bike in MD3
models are added in "3D model - Character". Play equipment has been added to "3D model - park
institution". In addition, we are seeking more models from all over the world. Received models
are currently in being updated. "Texture - Tree", more models and textures will be
updated and released as well.


For more information, please go to the following site.
http://forum8.co.jp/english/uc-win/ucwin-road-e1.htm#DB
-Upcoming overseas events

We will participate in various overseas events. Please come to visit us in the booth to learn
more about our product line-up. Look forward to meeting you!

15th World Congress on ITS (New York, USA)
16-20 November 2008
http://www.itsworldcongress.org/

JAPPE 2008
19-23 November 2008
http://www.jetro.org.cn/Jappe/JP/

SIGGRAPH ASIA 2008
10-13 December 2008
http://www.siggraph.org/asia2008/

IETF India 2009
23-26 February 2008
http://www.jetro.go.jp/events/tradefair/20080902844-event
-Seminar in Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul

The seminars provide attendees a opportunity to acquire up-to-date about our product.
One of the main goals to these seminars is to explain analysis and design
techniques which abound in the industry. Participation fee is free!
Overseas Seminar
Venue
Shanghai - Shanghai Seminar room (NEPOCH & FORUM8 Technology Development Co.,Ltd)
Beijing - Conference room (Beijing Tepia Technology Co.,Ltd)
Seoul - Seminar room (BasisSoft, Inc.)
Seminar Date Venue
UC-win/Road Advanced 18 November 2008 Beijing
UC-win/Road for Civil 3D 5 November 2008 Beijing
UC-win/Road SDK 4 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
11 November 2008 Seoul
UC-win/FRAME(3D) Dynamic Analysis 30 October 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Geotechnical Finite element Elastoplastic Analysis GeoFEAS 7 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
xpswmm 21 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
EXODUS - SMARTFIRE 13 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Multiframe - MultiSTEEL 10 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Maxsurf 25 November 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Retaining wall design 28 October 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Retaining wall / Earth retaining design 29 October 2008 Shanghai and Beijing
Summary
Participation Fee Free
Application
For more information and application, please email us at
forum8@forum8.co.jp
-Web estimate service

Free web estimate service is available at the following site. Explore sample projects,
experiment and create!
https://www2.forum8.co.jp/road_est_en/html/main.htm
-Technical support service for UC-win/Road overseas users

The support service undertakes data generation tasks concerning UC-win/Road such
as the generation of 3D VR simulation data, 3D models and textures, fully empowering
simulation tasks for road businesses, urban development planning, public projects, private
development, and so forth using cost-affordable, high-quality data.

For more information, please go to the following site.
http://www.forum8.co.jp/english/uc-win/road-support-e.htm
-User information page

Marketing materials and updates can be retrieved and downloaded from the following site.
https://www2.forum8.co.jp/scripts/f8uinfEN.dll/login
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FORUM8 Co., Ltd. mailto:forum8@forum8.co.jp
2-1-1 Nakamegruro GT Tower 15F
Kamimeguro Meguro-ku Tokyo 153-0051 JAPAN
TEL +81-3-5773-1888
FAX +81-3-5720-5688
http://forum8.co.jp/english/index.html