Virtualwind has simplified the process of creating your virtual world by allowing you to import geometry from the Google^TM 3D Warehouse, which contains millions of 3D models of existing structures and terrains, and use these models in Virtualwind 2.0. The first step is to download these models into Google SketchUp™. Or, you can import geometry directly into Virtualwind in STL format, and skip Step 2. 

Within your virtual world, there will typically be three types of geometries: buildings, canopies and terrain. If you are designing a structure to be constructed in a locale where other buildings are already present, those buildings will have an effect on your micro-environment, and your building will have an effect on them. If there are 2D structures (also called "canopies"), such as fences or wind blocks, you can also model them.  Finally, if the terrain around your structure has hills, valleys, berms, etc., you can also model these.

Now that you've found the geometries you need in Google 3D Warehouse, you can download them into Google SketchUp^TM. Then, you can use SketchUp to add to or edit the model. Create new additions or architectural modifications. Combine it with other SketchUp models that you've designed.

Once you are satisfied with your virtual world in Google SketchUp, Virtualwind's SketchUp Plug-In provides you with an additional toolbar of Virtualwind-specific icons within the SketchUp application. The actions performed by these icons make use of SketchUp's native features, as well as some powerful new features added by Virtualwind, to enable you to quickly and easily create a model that is ready for Virtualwind's advanced 3D wind flow simulation and visualization. When you are ready to start running your Virtualwind simulation, simply click on the "Launch Virtualwind" icon in SketchUp.

Now that you've launched Virtualwind, you can finalize your virtual world by adding wind visualization components, such as smokebombs. Then run a wind simulation on your Virtualwind virtual world.

Once the simulation is completed, you can then visualize the wind using colored arrows, isolines, or solid contours, and see the locations of various "hot spots" of relatively high wind speeds. If you want to visualize the wind in a plane that is parallel to the ground, you can choose the height. You can also visualize and measure wind in two other planes: vertical to the ground and either parallel or perpendicular to the direction of the incoming wind. Use smoke visualizations to help understand overall wind patterns. Output your results as videos (AVIs) or still images (PNGs) for easy viewing by others.