There is a new version of Windplanner online with all new functionalities, including an improved version of our panorama mask and better quality solar panels. A brief example in this video.
For more info, check our release notes
There is a new version of Windplanner online with all new functionalities, including an improved version of our panorama mask and better quality solar panels. A brief example in this video.
For more info, check our release notes
Do you want better and uninterrupted engagement with your stakeholders?
We have developed what we call a Virtual Consultation Room (VCR): an online 360 degree interactive platform.
In this virtual environment room, you can show and or share whatever information about your project you wish to use. This can be for information, clarification, to show options and alternatives etc. There are unlimited options but we think that using the virtual Consultation Room for actual consultation is probably most beneficial because it gives stakeholders the opportunity to participate, ask questions, make suggestions etc.
We have designed multiple ‘template’ rooms which you can use or we can create a ‘bespoke’ room fully in accordance with for example your corporate colours, design etc. Based on our experience to date we are confident your VCR will reach a wider target group and your stakeholders will get a better understanding than when using traditional methods. This is particularly the case in situations where a silent majority may be neutral or cautiously supportive but not brave enough to publicly being seen to supportive in the face of fierce opposition.
We produced a VCR for the WindEnergy expo in Hamburg and used it to demonstrate our products and services as well as showcasing some real life examples.
Our VCR hosts will give you a warm welcome in: English, German, French, Spanish and, with a bit of luck: Dutch.
On this page, you can find more information about the VCR.
New: Objectplanner: our powerful additional platform fully integrated with
Windplanner and solar planner.
The latest addition to our ‘Windplanner’ design and visualisation suite makes it possible to add a theoretically unlimited range of what we have called ‘objects’ into your project’s 3D (and 2D) world. Objects, such as for example trees and hedgerows may be introduced to screen some or all of a proposed development and so mitigate some of the effects on views.
Other ‘objects’ such as livestock, cars or farm vehicles might be used to generate more engaging visual images.
The use of planting in mitigation is well established as is indeed the introduction of people, play equipment etc in visual images. No other software does however give you the capability to edit your mitigation measures in ‘real time’ and in 3D. For example when designing landscape screening proposals, size, proportions, planting density, species etc in combination with stock fencing will all influence the overall visual character of the view.Because all objects can be scaled you can also illustrate growth.
The capability of wind and solar planner which already facilitates outputs of high quality 3D images has now gone up another level with Object planner. The package currently included > 20 objects. Your required object not available: call us and we will create it.
Objectplanner will be free until 01/01/2023. If you are interested to learn more about Objectplanner, please contact our sales department.
Having a booth at the Wind Expo turned out to be a good decision. Windplanner was part of the Holland Pavilion, organized by the HHWE. Our team had many interesting talks, both with Japanese visitors as well as international companies and potential partners.
Japan has high ambitions towards wind energy; growing from <2% today to 20% in 2050. In order to reach this goal, Japan plans a considerable percentage of their wind turbines to be near shore. As the effect of wind mills can easily be visualized with Windplanner – both on land and near shore – there are good opportunities in the Japanese market.
Ernest, Henk, Sarah and Maarten immersed themselves in exciting Tokyo. For all of them, it was the first time to set foot in Japan. So next to the three intense days at the Wind Expo, they also spent a couple of days as tourists. All in all, it was a great trip, fully loaded with new experiences, insights, and contacts.
"What makes Windplanner unique, is that it is interactive. We are not looking at a dot on a map or a single static photograph, we can really walk around the turbines. And importantly, residents can move the turbines to create a setup that is acceptable for them."
Rob Rietveld is director of the Dutch Association for Residents living near Wind Turbines (NLVOW). He got acquainted with The Imagineers through other 3D visualization projects and his attention was specifically triggered when The Imagineers developed Windplanner. He has used Windplanner during several discussion sessions with residents.
Rietveld says: “What makes Windplanner unique, is that it is interactive. We are not looking at a dot on a map or a single static photograph, we can really walk around the turbines. We see the correct size of the turbine and we can look at it from different angles and distances. And importantly, residents can move the turbines to create a setup that is acceptable for them. This opens up the discussion with other scenarios than the ‘pre cooked’ scenarios by authorities or developers.”
At these discussion sessions, roughly 8-9 residents are present to talk about the impact of wind turbine plans. Rietveld: “We present different scenarios and this always gives rise to many questions. At the most recent session, we showed 12 different scenarios. As we made a very realistic representation with Windplanner, this discussion was much more focused.”
Rietveld likes the feature of adding 360°pictures. “When Google Street View is not available close to the wind park’’ I can customise Windplanner with other pictures.”
Rietveld concludes: “Windplanner is a very helpful tool to create clarity about wind park plans. Residents that live close to the wind park get a clear idea of the plans and they can weigh the different scenarios.”
Dutch Virtual Reality technology shows the impact of wind turbines on the surroundings and residents, anywhere in the world.
SNEEK – September 2016.
In order to visualise the impact of wind turbines, power pylons or motorways on the landscape in real-time, The Imagineers have launched a combination of virtual reality (VR) and innovative visualisation technology. With this new technology, everyone can visualise the impact of projects on their surroundings, up to the level of their own backyard. Since today, The Imagineers is the new company and brand name of VIA Drupsteen. With its new name, the software company underlines its international ambitions.
The visual impact of projects on the everyday surroundings is shown in detail by combining photorealism, 3-D and software development. This can be applied to any street, city or region in the Netherlands, and abroad. This combination of technologies is unique in the world, is completely online and real-time, and can support authorities and project developers in realising a more effective participation of stakeholders when it comes to interventions in landscape or living environment.
Before the name change, The Imagineers have already visualised more than 1000 projects in energy, construction and infrastructure for both businesses and governmental bodies, over the past 16 years. Examples of projects with much impact include the rerouting of power pylons in the provinces of Zuid-Holland and Zeeland (TenneT), new public transport lines (the Uithof line in Utrecht), road construction (the Rijnland route in Zuid-Holland and the Ringroad Zuid in Groningen) and energy projects (wind turbine parks in Noord- and Zuid-Holland).
VR Technology
The VR technology developed by The Imagineers is a combination of animation, photogrammetry, virtual reality, serious gaming and 360° photography and video. The visualisations can be made and watched online with any device (platform independent).
With this technology, which was developed in-house, the company presents itself worldwide in the markets of construction, energy and infrastructure. “Public support and participation are crucial in processes such as the transition to a sustainable energy system, the increasing urbanisation, deforestation, the creation of polders, and sand suppletion to combat coastal erosion. All these projects have a major visual impact on the immediate living environment.
Most traditional visualisations simply ‘paste’ a series of wide 3-D models into a landscape. With our photorealistic technique, residents get a far better idea of how large infrastructural projects will actually look like in the future”, says Maarten Drupsteen of The Imagineers.
Investment
To support the growth ambition of The Imagineers, more than 1 million euros are now invested by Doefonds, NOM and the G.J. Smid Foundation, and by the owners of the software company. Diederik Jongema, speaking on behalf of Doefonds, NOM and the G.J. Smid Foundation: “Virtual Reality is a technique in which huge investments are made all over the world. This current investment will be used to develop an online product that allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to realistically visualise the impact of wind turbines, with the push of a button. We take pride in supporting this initiative, which also strengthens the innovative power of the north of the Netherlands.”
About The Imagineers
With its in-house developed visualisation software, The Imagineers support local and national governments and project developers in visualising – in real-time and platform independent – interventions in the landscape and the living environment of businesses and civilians. The company does so by providing visual tools and applications for the energy sector, construction and infrastructure. The Imagineers are a Dutch company with offices in the Netherlands, England and Germany. For information about The Imagineers, please visit our website http://www.theimagineers.com
For additional information (not for publication): if you would like to receive visual material and/or request an interview, please contact Maarten Drupsteen maarten@theimagineers.com or call (+31)(0)515-439 230 / (+31)(0)6-26558709
Visual material of The Imagineers: click here.
