3D Nature creates Wildfire Visualization

14 October 2008, 10:54am

Recently, 3D Nature created a three-minute 3D visualization of the damaging Witch Creek Wildfire that burned for 10 days in San Diego County, Calif., in October 2007.

Working on a tight budget and deadline under contract with the Institute for Business & Home Safety, 3D Nature recreated the affected areas in Visual Nature Studio, modeling terrain, roads, vegetation and houses. An informative voice-over explained the factors underlying the survival or destruction of various homes as the viewer witnessed firsthand the effects of the fire.

"Wildfires are called wild for a reason, they can be uncontrollable," said IBHS President & CEO Julie Rochman. "Through the video we were able to help people understand that they can take back control by protecting their homes from these fires. We were able to illustrate that it doesn't have to cost a lot to make some very effective changes."

Copies of the video were distributed to news media at press conferences in Sacramento and San Diego, and the video was shown during a presentation at the Benfield Group's West Coast Catastrophe Summit in Santa Monica. Media outlets replayed segments from the video during nightly newscasts. View the video and read the accompanying IBHS report at www.DisasterSafety.org/megafire.

In addition to Visual Nature Studio, 3D Nature employed Newtek's Lightwave 3D for modeling and Wondertouch's Particle Illusion 3 for smoke and fire effects.

Since 1993, 3D Nature has been developing the industry-leading Photorealistic 3D Landscape Visualization software, Visual Nature Studio.

3D Nature

Geo: International