Orlando, Fla. (USA) — Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a global developer of advanced military simulation and training software, will release VBS Blue IG v19.1, which includes the latest updates to the company’s high-performance, 3D whole-earth image generator, this August.
VBS Blue IG v19.1 is packed with over 40 new features and improvements to help enhance the immersiveness of your custom military training and visualization solutions. Customers will be able to download VBS Blue IG v19.1 with VBS License Manager or contact support@bisimulations.com for the latest updates.
Here’s a quick overview of what’s new in the release:
- Support for Varjo VR-1 and XR-1 headsets
- Graphics optimizations, including faster terrain paging
- Improved blending of satellite imagery and procedural terrain
- Lighting updates and enhancements
- Sensor degradation visuals
- Destructible building functionality
- Additional weather effects
VBS Blue IG provides high-fidelity and high-performance rendering from space down to blades of grass or the ocean floor. It offers unlimited view distances with ground detail unmatched by any other simulation. VBS Blue IG provides a baseline global terrain that is procedurally enhanced from real-world data, offers users the option to blend procedural terrain with satellite imagery or high-resolution terrain, and enables users to override the procedural terrain to use satellite imagery and other data directly.
VBS Blue IG can be used across individual part-task trainers, VR/AR solutions and full-motion simulators with multiple synchronized displays. Using the Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) standard, VBS Blue IG integrates with any CIGI-compliant host software including VBS3. TerraTools from TerraSim, a BISim company, makes it easy to add new high-resolution terrain areas and custom data sets to VBS Blue IG.
New VR/XR Headset Support
In VBS Blue IG v19.1, we introduced support for the Varjo VR-1 and XR-1 headsets. The VR-1 is Varjo’s recent released human-eye resolution headset with integrated eye tracking and the XR-1 is Varjo’s mixed reality developer device. BISim is an early adopter of the Varjo VR-1, which was used recently to deliver a mixed reality flight simulator to the U.S. Navy.
Terrain Paging Optimizations
We continue our progress optimizing the speed of the data pipeline in VBS Blue IG to reduce visual artifacts in terrain paging. These optimizations offer up to 20 percent faster paging performance and 2 times higher resolution.
Ground and Water Detail Improvements
This release includes enhancements to the visuals of ground detail in VBS Blue IG, increasing terrain resolution and detail. The update also includes improved surfaces for textured road rendering. VBS Blue IG v19.1 now allows satellite imagery to be blended seamlessly with procedural coloring and detail textures to produce a more realistic overall appearance at both near and far distances.
We’ve also introduced support for flooding models for flooded regions in VBS Blue IG and will continue to enhance this feature in future versions. In addition, we’ve made improvements to near water surfaces.
For users who want to add custom water data for terrain insets, TerraTools 5.7.1 enables users to replace the base water data in VBS Blue IG v19.1.
Lighting Improvements
This release brings a number of improvements to simulation of natural lighting. Scenes are now visually enhanced by adding hemispherical lighting and updating equations for sun intensity. The intensity of the sun is now based on updated lighting equations that have been unified to contain real-world units. A new sun flare effect also has been introduced in VBS Blue IG for representing the camera view and naked eye view. Night scenes now feature global illumination with stars that are visible at night, even in summer scenes.
You will also find a range of updates to cultural lighting and flares in VBS Blue IG v19.1. With this version, users can control lights and flares independent of one another. We’ve made overall performance improvements to lights, enhanced the realism of lights viewed at distances and enables the creation of more realistic city lights. VBS Blue IG includes new options to control lighting within visible distances for streamed and dynamic flares.
Building Destruction
Battle-damaged buildings can now be destroyed or removed from an area. This feature is available for extruded, hand-placed or inset-placed buildings.
Advanced Sensor and IZLID Features
Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Goggle sensors are now affected by physical factors like smoke, fog, diurnal effects and meteorological conditions. IZLID lasers include support for beam divergence and pulsing.
New Terrain Inset
VBS Blue IG includes a new high-detail inset terrain Hohenfels Training Area and the nearby town of Rohrbach, Bavaria. The terrain, developed by TerraSim using their flagship terrain generation software TerraTools, covers a 20x20km area and includes elevation, surface mask, geotypical imagery, custom water, roads, bridges, buildings, and several other placed model types.
Additional Weather Effects
In addition to global fog, rain and haze, VBS Blue IG now includes support for snow, hail, sleet, lightning and sandstorms. Additionally, precipitation effects now take into account wind conditions and move with respect to the camera, providing a more realistic sense of motion.
Coming in VBS Blue IG v19.2: Lighting Enhancements
In the next release of VBS Blue IG, BISim is updating VBS Blue’s atmospheric lighting model and fog to behave realistically under all possible light conditions. For instance, air scenarios benefit from correct horizon brightness that the new models will bring. The updates to the lighting model also increase rendering performance. See examples in the images below.
About Bohemia Interactive Simulations
Founded in 2001, Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is a global software company at the forefront of simulation and training solutions for defense and civilian organizations. Our mission is to harness the explosive potential of technology to revolutionize training and simulation.
BISim utilizes the latest game-based technology and a large, experienced in-house team of engineers to develop high-fidelity, cost-effective training and simulation software products and components for defense applications.