{"id":1046,"date":"2013-09-15T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2013-09-15T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.geoplanit.co.uk\/?p=1046"},"modified":"2013-09-29T13:03:04","modified_gmt":"2013-09-29T13:03:04","slug":"whats-coming-in-cityengine-2013-esris-next-big-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geoplanit.co.uk\/?p=1046","title":{"rendered":"What’s coming in CityEngine 2013 (updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Not<\/a>
Not the official splash screen, I made this up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Updated: On the 29\/09\/20013 – Added info about deprecation plans and CityEngine being 64bit only in 2013 version and screen capture from webinar about improved streets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Updated: On the 16\/09\/2013 to include information on the SDK, mobile viewers and augmented reality plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Updated: On the 04\/06\/2013 I removed some of the title to better reflect my post as well as shorten it for tweeting, I also added the release date\/month (click read the rest of this entry below). \u00a0I also added a new heading at the end on “Future thoughts, who will host those huge 3D cities and how?” as well as general edits…<\/strong><\/p>\n

So those of you interested in CityEngine will be wondering what’s coming up in the new version of CityEngine.\u00a0\u00a0 This is not an exhaustive run-down of what I’ve found out so far. \u00a0 It’s also not insider knowledge<\/strong>. I’m just gathering the bits of publicly available knowledge<\/strong> together in one place, a large part from one recent CityEngine seminar (<\/span>http:\/\/www.cgarchitect.com\/2013\/05\/webinar-creating-smart-3d-city-models-with-esri-cityengine<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

None of what I write about below has come from a confidential source and no one has told me directly what’s coming to CityEngine or ESRI’s 3D stuff.\u00a0\u00a0 The analysis bit is my own opinion and what I’ve gathered from a number of sources none of them have been from ESRI.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

ESRI staff seem to be a bit cagey about telling me what’s coming in CityEngine 2013, much to my frustration, it’s hard to plan a project when you’re not sure about what features are being improved or even removed in the next release!\u00a0<\/em> I worry because CityEngine at present is so versatile I fear that any ‘improvements’ for one industry (like the movie industry) may scupper it’s use in my industry.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Ah well that is a worry with all software, except of course most software has competitors, CityEngine I don’t believe has. Skip to the end for my quick analysis of it all… <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

click on!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What I know<\/h2>\n

First up I’ve been told that the expected release date is sometime in July 2013\u00a0<\/strong><\/del> October 2013(?)<\/strong>, I’ve been told that this is a big release with many improvements and changes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Taken form an article quoting Gert Van Maren “Tech behind Man of Steel’s Mertopolis Coming to a developer near you”<\/a><\/p>\n

The new version of CityEngine will include an SDK that will let developers incorporate the product’s procedural generation technology in their own products, such as games, said Gert van Maren, who is Esri’s product manager for 3D and based out of the company’s R&D centre in Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also a mobile viewer is coming as well as future plans are talked of as well:<\/p>\n

In addition to adding an SDK for developers to employ CityEngine’s technology in their own products, in CityEngine 2013 Esri is adding the ability to display visualisations created with the software on mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones. Further down the track the company plans to add augmented reality capabilities,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taken from a recent webinar located here, quick note form summary (analysis of sorts to follow).<\/p>\n

From 40:33m on this video(http:\/\/vimeo.com\/cgarchitect\/esri-webinar-1<\/a>)<\/p>\n

LumenRT integration<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_1_road_ahead\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What’s the future?<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_2_whats_new\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Rule package compile and exchange platform CGA binary code encrypted into something called an rpk.\u00a0\u00a0 Support business making it pay to write rule files 3d models, and other assets.\u00a0 You can sell them! “Gateway” for your rule files and can be distributed for free “get your rules out there” GITHUB sharing and collaborating rules with other developers as well.<\/p>\n

Software Development Kit<\/p>\n

Street improvements : “our interstates much better, parking and other elements as well” released as part of our Urban Design and Planning Toolkit in next few days (Redlands redevelopment)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_3_native<\/a><\/p>\n

Native API, run the rules in a GIS application.<\/p>\n

Put it on a “3D globe based system”<\/p>\n

Releasing a Maya plugin and you can write your own proceduralise your own in house pipelines<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_4_API<\/a><\/p>\n

Notice the term Scripting Artist?<\/p>\n

44:00m Autodesk Maya plugin example:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_5_maya<\/a><\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_6_improved<\/a><\/p>\n

Adding bike lanes, adding parking, more lane capabilities (had a lane limitation)<\/p>\n

Library to textures included in the new version, integrate your own texture libraries as well, saving you digging through textures.\u00a0 Other assets too cars, etc..<\/p>\n

Urban Design and Planning Toolkit just a new rule file?<\/a> CGA coding of smartcodes, new urbanist transects etc..<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_7_full<\/a><\/p>\n

Fully integrate with ArcGIS platform and mobile devices “huge city models” online, improving webscenes for showcasing and limiting for clients.\u00a0\u00a0 Mobile webgl waiting for support from Microsoft and Apple, chrome and firefox.<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_8_user<\/a><\/p>\n

Improving user interface, more multipatch modelling tools more sketchup like tools, releasing autotexture rules.\u00a0\u00a0 Collapse procedural\u00a0 model into mesh and then edit.<\/p>\n

\"cityengine2013_9_3D<\/a><\/p>\n

3D GIS is going to big, smart city smart projects.<\/p>\n

End 48:18<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From another webinar, improved streets coming!\u00a0Learn How CityEngine is Transforming Planning & Urban Design<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Update: 64bit only for CityEngine, no 32bit…. see this for details\u00a0Deprecation Plan for ArcGIS (CityEngine bit added 16th of September 2013)<\/a>\u00a0(PDF)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What I’m hoping for (but no one has said anything about)<\/h2>\n