Viz Arc User Guide

Version 2.0 | Published July 03, 2024 ©

Set View

Viz Arc lets you work with both outdoor and indoor Augmented Reality events. You can search for a specific place in maps and set up your outdoor set or import an AutoCad project and set up the entire elements environment in the scenography.

Note: Viz Arc uses the metric system.

This section covers the following topics:

Map

Map items can retrieve map data from Bing.

Bing Map

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_bingm.jpg


Map is used to set up an external environment. You can search for a place in the search bar and place elements directly info the map area. Map uses XYZ positions OR geolocation and transforms them into Viz Units. The map menu lets you:

By selecting a Map item, you can choose to send your current map to the main layer or back layer:

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_ls.jpg

Studio

It's possible to import an AutoCAD project (.dxf) and set up cameras and objects directly into your custom studio using STUDIO.

Indoor Map

images/download/attachments/154395045/indoorMAP.png

Studio is used to set up an internal environment. You can import your Studio map project using the Browse icon images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_browse_ico.jpg and place elements directly into the plan area. Studio uses Viz Units only.

Working with Virtual Studio

This section covers how to set up virtual studio and augmented reality elements in relation to your physical environment.

To Position an AR Element

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_par1.jpg

Drag and drop the desired container’s plugin (only position or transformation control channel) into the map area.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_par2.jpg

The green icon appears on the map.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_par3.jpg

The same elements action that was just created can also be found in the action pane in the main window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_par4.jpg

Selecting the icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_par5.jpg

This menu lets you position graphics along the camera center at a given distance.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

This icon lets you lock or unlock an element position on the map canvas.

To Add a Calibration Point

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_acp1.jpg

Right-click on the map OR in the studio area and select Add Calibration Point in the context menu.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_acp2.jpg

The target icon appears on the map.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_acp3.jpg

The item is also added to the element list on the right of the map/studio area.

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_acp4.jpg

Selecting an icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

It’s possible to lock or unlock a camera position on the map canvas using this command.

To Set up a Camera

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sc1.jpg

Right-click on the map OR in the studio area and select Add Camera in the context menu.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sc2.jpg

The camera icon appears on the map.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sc3.jpg

The item is also added to the element list on the right of the map/studio area.

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_sc4.jpg

Selecting an icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

It’s possible to lock or unlock a camera position on the map canvas using this command.

To Draw a Polygon

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_dap1.jpg

Right-click on the map OR in the studio area and select Polygon… in the context menu.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_dap2.jpg

The cursor transforms into a pen images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_pen_dp.jpg and you can start to draw the polygon on the map.

Mark as many vertices as you need.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_dap3.jpg

The item is also added to the element list on the right of the map/studio area.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_dap4.jpg

Selecting an icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

It’s possible to lock or unlock a camera position on the map canvas using this command.

To Set up a Height Area

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sha1.jpg

Right-click on the map OR in the studio area and select Height Area… in the context menu.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sha2.jpg

Click once to set a point and click again to set the height. This icon appears on the map.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sha3.jpg

The item is also added to the element list on the right of the map/studio area.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_sha4.jpg

Selecting an icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

It’s also possible to lock or unlock the height area position on the map canvas.

To Set a Zero Point

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_szp1.jpg

Right-click on the map OR in the studio area and select Set Zero Here in the context menu.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_szp2.jpg

This icon appears on the map.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_szp3.jpg

The item is also added to the element list on the right of the map/studio area.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_sv_szp4.jpg

Selecting an icon or element in the list makes the corresponding config section appear on the right side of the SET window.

images/download/thumbnails/154395045/arc_poc_ico.jpg

It’s also possible to lock or unlock a zero point position on the map canvas.

Once an element (like a camera) has been added, it's possible to edit the parameters:

  • Position – choose between

    • geolocalization: latitude, longitude, altitude, and type: Decimal, Deg Min Dec, UTM , Dec Min Sec

    • XYZ

  • Rotation

  • Scaling

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_esg.jpg

You can toggle show ruler to make small adjustments to element positions on the map. Rotate canvas by holding down the left cursor button to the desired map position.

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_rc.jpg

Tip: The Ruler tool is useful since it allows you to measure the distances on your area in Viz Arc in real time.

images/download/attachments/154395045/arc_sv_ruler.jpg

Note: It's possible to delete all elements in a map except the Zero Point.

4 Point Calibration

4 Point Calibration can be used to calculate the position and orientation of a (typically mechanically) tracked camera. Using this type of calibration requires knowledge of at least four physical points in the domain (for example, the corners of a soccer pitch or well-known points on a horse race track).

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-14_23-7-57.png

Map View showing a soccer pitch and 4 calibration points.

Prerequisites

  • The calibration points must all be on the XZ plane (same height).

  • The camera must be on a fixed position and can't be moved in space.

  • At least four points need to be measured/known on the tracking domain.

  • The points must define a surface and not just a one dimensional line.

  • Make sure the tracking hub sends the tracking information to Viz Arc and make sure it includes the camera lens rig containing a valid calibration.

Note: Do NOT use a parent transformation rig on top for 4 Point calibration. The translation and rotation are handled inside the root node of the Viz Artist scene.


images/download/attachments/154395045/snap_th.png

Adding Calibration Points

Add calibration points from the map's context menu:

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-14_23-18-40.png

Select the calibration point you just added and move it on the map, or enter its coordinates manually:

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-14_23-19-45.png

Once all calibration points have been added and positioned, the actual calibration process may start.

Calibration

Select the camera to be calibrated.

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-14_23-28-15.png

  1. On the camera user interface select the marker towards which you want to point the camera. The calibration point is colored yellow on the map canvas.

  2. The physical camera should now fully zoom into the marker and try to center it as best as possible.

  3. Once the marker is centered, click the Set button. If your preview has been set up so that the camera is visible and you have a valid lens calibration, you can also click the position in the view instead of using the Set button. images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-22_11-46-24.png

  4. Continue this procedure for all or at least 4 calibration points.

Applying Calibration

  1. Once at least four points have been set, click the Calculate! button to calculate the presumed position and orientation of the camera. You can choose between Method 1 and Method 2, hit Calculate! after switching algorithm. Generally, Method 2 is more accurate but needs more and more accurate calibration points. Try both and pick the one that gives you better visual results.

  2. Under the Global Transformation dropdown, select the transformation action holding the world transformation of the main scene (typically the root node of the AR/VR scene).

  3. Click Apply to apply the calculated transformation and rotation.

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-24_15-11-20.png

Use the R button to refresh the list of available transformation actions.

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-24_15-13-11.png

Typically the transformation to be used is the root node of the scene.

images/download/attachments/154395045/image2021-2-24_15-22-59.png

Once calibrated you should be able to position AR graphics on your pitch.