Virtual modelling in shipbuilding

The introduction to this paper copes with presentations of ship constructions and 3D visualizations in shipbuilding. The paper next considers the needs, methods and applications of virtual modelling in shipbuilding with emphasize on the application of Virtual Modelling Language - supporting the VRML format. Finally, the paper presents the experiences in conversion of smaller and bigger, partial and integral three dimensional models of ship construction into virtual models for active usage in real time and in network environment. The paper demonstrates that the creation of big virtual models in shipbuilding is a feasible task but requires a number of accommodations and optimization of the model size that affects the clarity of the model details as yet. The GRID application expectedly may contribute to photo-realistic visualization of large scale virtual models of ships in network environment. The conclusion supports the thesis that in the next future virtual models of complex ship structures will be the prevailing methods of presentation for practical and educational purposes, often as parts of more far-reaching virtual laboratories.