White paper about how 3D visualization can help to achieve commercial objectives in the clean energy sector

1. A Burst of Clean-Energy
How 3D visualization Can Help To Achieve
Commercial Objectives
Evelien Smit
PlusAnimations

2. White paper
November 2009
A burst of clean-energy
How 3D visualization Can Help To
Achieve Commercial Objectives
By Evelien Smit
"There's something big happening in America in terms of creating a
clean-energy economy," Obama said, although he added there is
much more to be done.1
The government is stimulating the energy sector with billons of
dollars. Renewable energy is a market full of opportunities, since
America is a country always seeking for chances and continuously
trying to develop itself. No wonder many entrepreneurs and
established companies want to grab the chances in the clean-
energy sector and want contribute to a greener world.
As in every booming market the competition is enormous; many
In the booming clean-
energy market it is hard people start businesses or are focusing their current business on
to stand out renewable energy. Following the green trend is a popular path,
but there are many doing the same. How do you achieve that
your product will be the next best thing?
Explaining how your product works, how it could be used, and
3D visualization can where it differs from existing technology, is the most difficult part
explain easily the and a decisive element in reaching your commercial objectives. A
purpose of a product 3D animation can be the solution, since it easily visualizes and
explains the use and purpose of something that is hard to explain
even in a thousand words.
This paper will examine the challenges of presenting products and
projects in the renewable energy sector and introduces the many
advantages of 3D visualization to help achieve your company’s
commercial objectives.
1
ABCnews.go.com. Obama putting $3.4B towards a ´smart´ power Grid. 27-10-
09
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3. White paper
November 2009
The challenges of a booming sector
As soon as a product or market is indicated as booming, it starts
to get even more difficult to be noticed. The clean-energy sector is
such a market. There are many professionals with good and
sustainable ideas; the difficulty is not to become a grey figure in
the green mass. Standing out and catching the eyes of clients,
investors, anybody, is how your product can become the future.
It does not matter in which stage your company is in, searching for
funding, go-to-market, or marketing an exciting brand. Each of
these steps encounters the same difficulties; how do I reach my
audience in such a way that the message is clear and it will stick?
A continuous encountered pitfall is a long explanatory text about
A pitfall is long
explanatory texts
how a product works and the purpose of use. Investors, potential
customers, many people have a unique attention span today. The
challenge is to get their full attention.
Marketing trends
We have encountered a new media era, in which technology is
more involved. The mixture of radio, TV, advertising,
telemarketing, and mailing are common tactics, but with today´s
innovative and creative professionals producing the smartest
clean-energy solutions, it is almost a contradiction to use these old
marketing tactics.
There is a global trend towards using more multimedia to transfer
the message. The use of explanatory texts, radio and TV is
replaced by online advertising, unusual ad placement, blogging,
and experiential marketing. Nowadays these new methods are
creating more attention to the product or brand.2
Visualization plays an In all of these new marketing approaches visualization plays an
enormous role in new
marketing tactics enormous role. Digital visualization becomes an important element
in convincing customers of the value of your product.
The clean-energy territory is new and many ideas are untested.
Not losing these great ideas, which will contribute to a sustainable
future, is vital. Creating confidence is a mayor aspect in this
process. Humans are visual beings, seeing is believing.
2
http://smallbusiness.aol.com/features/marketing-trends
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November 2009
With the conventional energy technology everybody generally
knows how it looks like and works. New technologies are harder
to visualize for people.
Creating confidence by clients and investors, convincing them of
the uniqueness of the idea, and most of all attract their attention is
almost a mission impossible by only handing them explanatory
texts or sketches. Therefore, new tactics need to be sought to get
the attention, and convince the audience and realize the new
ideas.
The solution: 3D visualization
Historically 3D visualization was only used in limited professional
workstations. However, recent developments in software,
hardware and 3D graphic cards make 3D visualization feasible
and affordable.3
In a 3D model is a realistic image of a real or fictitious image
simulated by a computer graphic. The technique of visualizing
images or animations in 3D is an effective way to communicate
both abstract and concrete ideas.
3D visualization is one of the terms used among others, like Artist
Impressions, renders, and stills, they all indicate to a still 3D
image. A 3D animation or computer animation is a short movie.
Uses of 3D models
The aim of using 3D models differs according to commercial
drivers of project stakeholders, the challenges faced and the
project phases when 3D models are created. It can be stated that
in general there are five primary uses of 3D visualization.4
1. Interaction with non-professionals
2. Construction planning
3. Drawing production
4. Design coordination
3Feng, D. et al. Stepping into the Third Dimension. Journal of Neuroscience.
November 21,2007
4 Gao,J. & Fischer, M. Framework & Case studies comparing implementations &
impacts of 3D/4D modeling across projects. Stanford University, march 2008.
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November 2009
5. Teaching and training
Advantages of 3D visualization
3D visualization offers the following benefits for entrepreneurs
and professionals in the renewable energy sector:
Creating a realistic image: With the use of 3D
technology a real or imagined environment can be
experienced in the three dimensions of width, height, and
depth.
Helps projects come to life: 3D visualization can be used
to imagine the product design and development before
manufacturing.
Dynamic interaction: the 3D objects can be zoomed in /
out, moved, rotated, etc.
Benefits: A 3D model can be developed for many
different uses, the more purposes the more it will offer
benefits of different phases.
Creating a 3D visualization
One of the incorrect ideas about 3D is that it can only be viewed
A 3D animation can be on a special screen and a person needs to wear special
showed on a normal TV binoculars. None of this is required. A 3D animation or image can
or computer screen
be viewed on a normal TV or computer screen, since it will be
formatted to Quicktime or Mediaplayer.
The requirements to create a 3D image or animation are another
important aspect to know. It´s a time and work consuming process
which consist out of a number of steps.
1. A conversation takes place to discuss the ideas of the
client about the animation and the project.
2. The client gives the 3D studio all information available
about the design of the project;
AutoCAD drawings
Sketches
Pictures
References
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Information about material use, texture, and environment are
essential for the computer programmer. The more data available
the better, since this will cause less misinterpretation of
information.
3. A 3D model will be modeled without any texture, colors.
The shape of the model is important in this step.
4. Textures, colors, environment, lightings, and cameras will
be applied. This step is the most time consuming of all.
Figure1: step 3 grey model Figure 2: step 4
It is not always When giving a 3D studio an assignment a vital aspect to keep in
necessary to create a mind is, is appropriate level of details. To gain maximum benefit
highly detailed the particular model needs to match the appropriate level of
animation to obtain a details. It is not always necessary to create a highly detailed
high impact animation to obtain a high impact.
What to look for in a 3D studio
When seeking a company to provide 3D visualizations, be sure to
examine the following items:
Cooperation: The best companies listing to their clients. In the end
it’s the clients´ animation or image, not of the 3D studio.
Costs: The level of details and the duration of the animation are
the biggest elements which determine the costs. Currently there
are many 3D studios producing in Asia and South America, which
results in a more competitive price, than when produced in Europe
or America.
Custom made: On the internet there are lots of standardized 3D
images available. Since, you are selling a unique product it is
essential that the 3D studio will meet your wishes.
Delivery time: Creating a 3D animation will take at least two
weeks, depending on the duration of the animation and level of
details more time will be required.
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Quality: The quality of a 3D model can be estimated by the level
of realism and /or impact. A realistic image is determined by the
level of details. To obtain high impact a high level of details is not
always essential.
The PlusAnimations Advantage
High impact
PlusAnimations is a young and innovative 3D company. We
visualizations for a started in 2007 and now have offices in Amsterdam and Buenos
competitive price Aires. Our team consists of passionate and dedicated
professionals, who create high impact and high quality
visualizations.
With the creativity in 3D of the Argentineans and the strong
management skills of our European team, we are sure; we have a
unique and good organizational structure. The production takes
place in Argentina, by which we are able to deliver for a
competitive price.
The objectives of our clients are our number 1 priority. Therefore,
we keep in close contact with our clients in every step of the
project. We make your objective ours.
PlusAnimations believes in the power of 3D visual communication.
We know that the visualization of a product or a building in 3D
can be more powerful to convince people than a one minute pitch.
The visualization products we provide are: 3D Animations, and
Artist Impressions. These visualizations can be used for multiple
purposes such as pitches, brochures and websites.
To find out how PlusAnimations can help you achieve your
commercial objective with 3D visualization contact Evelien
Smit at info@plusanimations.com
Toll Free USA: 866 855 9788
+54 11 35350431
www.plusanimations.com
http://blog.plusanimations.com
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