5_SrrTrains

Last update of this page: 2012-03-11
Lieber Besucher: diese Seite gibt’s auf Deutsch: SrrTrains-Deutsch

The Do-It-Yourself-Virtual-Multiplayer-Model-Railroad

OK, there are many virtual model railroad programs available. Why to implement another one?

The difference is X3D/VRML (Extensible 3D, Virtual Reality Modeling Language – see Web3D Consortium). Usage of X3D/VRML would ensure compatibility and interchangeability of model railroad layouts, models such as wagons and locomotives, and of course avatars.

SrrTrains is an open concept, i.e. nearly everybody may contribute. Even companies with commercial interests can take part, since an LGPL is used (and not a GPL).

OK, it’s about building virtual model railroads, but who contributes what?

As in the real model railroad, SrrTrains railroads are buildt up by modules (parts of layouts) and models are used on a layout/module to simulate the railroads operations.

Modules contain the landscape, tracks and turnouts and other static models and are provided by module authors.

Models implement the visual and acoustic representation of vehicles and are provided by model authors.

Modules and models are interactive and multiplayer capable.

The SRR framework provides utilities for all parts of the layout, e.g. the so-called SRR objects.

SRR objects can be used as a basis to create your own modules and models. Using the SRR framework guarantees, that every vehicle model can run on every track.

The following PDF introduction (2011-12-10) gives a rough introduction into the functionality provided by SRR objects.

When will the SRR Framework be finished?

The SRR Framework will not be finished. The project was a quasi-scientific hobby project.

The project was stopped on 2011-11-11, before the “alpha”-release of the SRR Framework was finished – please refer to the Project Follow Up.

The SRR Framework is provided in three versions, two old versions and the newest version.

The versions of the software can be found at the download area.

1. (1) PRE-PRE-ALPHA: Early Experimental Do-it-yourself-virtual-multiplayer-model-railroad
   -> please click here to navigate to the “Demo 2012″ Page
2. (2) PRE-ALPHA: Experimental SMUOS*) for World Creators
   -> more elaborate than (1), but rail vehicles are missing
3. (3) PRE-ALPHA: Sketching Professional SMUOS*)
   -> just the raw sourceforge project (without SRR Tools), most elaborate version

*) You can find more information about SMUOS (Simple Multiuser Online Scenes) at the SMUOS Blog.

A detailed description of the interfaces of the SRR Framework can be found in the Concepts’ Descriptions.

Used Tools

X3D-Edit: https://savage.nps.edu/X3D-Edit/
Blender: http://www.blender.org/, http://de.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender, http://blendpolis.de/f/index.php
BS Contact (test version): http://bitmanagement.de/en/products/interactive-3d-clients/bs-contact
BS Collaborate (test version): http://bitmanagement.de/en/products/server/bs-collaborate
General information about BS Contact and BS Collaborate: http://www.bitmanagement.com/
Octaga Player: http://www.octaga.com
Instant Player: http://www.instantreality.org/

Reading

• “X3D Extensible 3D Graphics for Web Authors”; Don Brutzman, Leonard Daly; Morgan Kaufmann
• 3D Network Workplace http://wbsp.arb.ltu.se/3DNetwork/
• the old concept paper (obsolete): base module, train manager module
• Entries in several fora:
  • http://www.blendpolis.de/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24188
  • http://www.bahnforum.info/smf/index.php?topic=114043.0
  • http://vrmlserver.xooit.com/t440-Application-with-BS-Collaborate-Simulated-RailRoad-SRR.htm
  • http://closed.forumactif.com/t2712-dear-friends-of-srrtrains
  • http://www.seamless3d.com/thread.php?t=303
  • http://closed.forumactif.com/t2210-bs-collaborate

Events

• SrrTrains is being exposed during March/April 2012, at Mixed3D:
  Headline and Forum: http://closed.forumactif.com/t2210p171-bs-collaborate
  Contents: http://mixed3d.free.fr/spip/?cat=61