Related press releases
Related research
French architect has unveiled a 4,500-year-old mystery surrounding Egypt’s Great Pyramid,
:: 02 April, 2007
Eight years ago, the architect Jean-Pierre Houdin had a flash of intuition and developed a revolutionary theory. Considering Khufu' monumental undertaking as the first industrial construction project in history, he turned to Dassault Systèmes technology to test his hypotheses and feed his thought processes. So it was that he joined the 'Passion for Innovation' programme.
Having demonstrated the validity of the theory with the aid of their scientific 3D solutions, Dassault Systèmes invite you to enjoy an extraordinary journey through time and space. Relive the Great Pyramid construction project in real-time 3D!
The secret of the Great Pyramid, the sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World, has fascinated people throughout time. Countless theories exist as to how it was built, but none stands up to analysis. In 1999, Houdin had an insight and decided to devote himself to developing his theory. Eight years of passion and research ensued, whereby he imagined the construction site of Kheops as the first industrial construction site in history. To further refine and test his theory, he called on Dassault Systèmes to help. As part of its "Passion for Innovation" sponsorship programme, DS decided to help Houdin solve the 4,500-year-old mystery with its real-time 3D solutions.
Real-time 3D at the service of history and science
DS’s real-time 3D solutions allowed Houdin to establish the first theory ever explaining the construction of the Great Pyramid from start to finish. The theory is founded on three foundations:
the use of an outside ramp to build the first 43 metres of the pyramid;
the use of an internal spiral ramp running behind the faces of the pyramid to complete the construction; and
the use of the Great Gallery to accommodate an ingenious system of counterweights to lift the heavy granite ceiling rafters (up to 63 tonnes) in the King's Funeral Chamber.
"Jean-Pierre Houdin's theory is not only interesting; it is coherent and revolutionary. Take the builders of that time seriously, he sees them as grand masters of construction, as real engineers," declares Egyptologist and pyramid specialist Rainer Stadelmann, ex-director of the German Institute of Archaeology in Cairo. Bob Brier, PhD, Egyptologist and world-renowned expert in the field of mummies adds: "Half-baked theories have been put forward about the Great Pyramid and until now none passed the test of sustained analysis. Jean-Pierre Houdin's theory is worth examining simply because of his rigorously scientific approach, which he supports with a large volume of field-based evidence." Both experts will accompany Houdin on a scientific expedition to the site.
Other participants in the March 30 conference include: Hui Duong Bui, member of the French Science Academy and research director at Poytechnique, who in 1986 conducted onsite Kheops microgravimetry measurements for the EDF Foundation; Marc Buonomo, project manager for Eiffel and the Millau viaduct; and Craig B. Smith, who has studied the construction of the Kheops pyramid in the light of modern project management techniques.
The final step for Houdin and Dassault Systèmes will be to prove the theory in real-life with non-invasive verification techniques conducted on the Kheops site.
The largest real-time 3D virtual reality auditorium in the world, a first for Dassault Systèmes and the Géode
Seven computers running Dassault Systèmes’ 3D Virtools solutions are linked in a network to recreate the Kheops construction site in 3D, exactly as it was 4,500 years ago. The system allows the presenter to move about the virtual site freely in response to the audience’s questions. This is a first, linking the real and virtual worlds via an immersive, interactive 3D experience.
Real-time 3D tools. A new era in communication
The event at the Géode is more than a simple demonstration. It marks a revolution, positioning real-time 3D as the communications medium of the 21st century. The universal language of 3D fosters information sharing: today's conference and the www.3ds.com/khufu website showcase the same real-time 3D technologies, enabling people all over the world to access the heart of the pyramid at will and participate in the revelation of Houdin's theory.
Dassault Systèmes has always been ahead of the times regarding 3D and its usage, with innovative applications in domains such as science, research, education and archaeology. “The Kheops event demonstrates the diversity of applications possible with “3D For All”, our strategy designed to benefit the general public’s daily lives with realistic interactive 3D experiences,” explains Dominique Florack, senior executive vice president, Products R&D, Dassault Systèmes.
###
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, the Dassault Systèmes group brings value to more than 90,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing and ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, including ENOVIA VPLM, ENOVIA MatrixOne and ENOVIA SmarTeam. Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges.
Media contact:
Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts:
Arnaud Malherbe
33 1 55 49 87 73
Release link: http://www.3ds.com/news-events/press-releases/release/1448/1/
