Engineering visualization

Abstract

Physics-based, high-fidelity modeling and simulation (M &S) tools that the engineering community develops and employs to analyze the performance of modern weapon systems are necessarily becoming more complex. As the fidelity of these tools increases, so does the volume of pertinent information that they generate. To interpret the wealth of resulting engineering information, APL developed "engineering visualization" as a tool to facilitate a better understanding of weapon systems and their respective models and simulations. Engineering visualization allows the engineer to present the results of M & S-based analysis to the sponsor with unrivaled clarity and efficacy. By providing the highest level of insight possible to both engineer and sponsor, engineering visualization has established itself as an essential systems engineering tool. This article describes the history, development, implementation, and future of engineering visualization in the Laboratory's Air Defense Systems Department.