Guidance of Users in Interactive 3D-Visualisations of Material Flow Simulations

The visualisation of manufacturing-processes assists the user in understanding and analysis. Typically he can move free and unguided in a virtual environment which visualizes the entire process. Thus knowledge and conclusions are to some extend acquired on a random base. This article describes the development of a tool, which enables the user to interactively improve significant production processes in the simulation. He moves in a virtual 3D-environment (walkthrough system) and is able to acquire automatically calculated indications for significant processes. At the same time the simulation considers significant objects in a more detailed way. If the viewer is interested in a significant process, he is automatically guided to the relevant location where he can examine the critical situation by modification of the simulation model.