NPSNET: constructing a 3D virtual world

The development of 3D visual simulation systems on inexpensive, commercially available graphics workstations is occurring today and will be commonplace in the near future. Such systems are being constructed to move through and interact with 3D virtual worlds. There are a variety of goals for these systems, including training, planning, gaming and other purposes where the introduction of the physical player may be too hazardous, too expensive or too frivolous to be tolerated. We present one such system, NPS-NET, a workstation-based, 3D visual simulator for virtual world exploration and experimentation.