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The architectural markup language ArchiXML is designed as an open standard format that can be integrated into any kind of software dealing with virtual architecture. To convert the XML markup into an actual 3d model, a software module called the Interpreter is required. The polygonal surface model generated by the Interpreter is used to display it on the screen, for further processing or rendering in any CAD or 3d application.
Any convinient architectural modelling application must provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to visually create and edit the models on the screen. The XML data is created automatically while directly interacting with the model without having to write of XML code. The modifications made through the GUI is then applied to the markup. The Interpreter will then immediately update the model on the screen. This is the basic concept of a WYSIWYG editor for virtual architecture.
To use the power of the ArchiXML concept in an existing application without having to change the user's workflow, the process of modelling architecture can be embedded by using a software plugin. Most applications allow the seamless integration of 3rd-party plugins into their user interface and workflow.
Similar to the CAD applications, most GIS applications have the possibility to extend their functionality by plugins or additional software modules. Therefore, ArchiXML is an convinient way of adding the possibility to create and manage virtual building and city models in a geographical environment. This also applies to special geography-related applications like Google Earth or level designer of computer games.
In some categories of games, such as flight simulators, racing games, adventures or shooter, generative architectural modelling is able to randomly create vast and highly detailed game worlds. This is the purpose of a software module called World Generator, which creates XML building and style definitions. The XML markup is then converted into polygonal geometry which can be rendered by the game engine like any other model.
