New Paris Museum Chooses Virtools Solutions from Dassault Systèmes

Virtools solutions implemented to preview exhibit location and simulate visitor experience

Paris, France – June 20, 2006 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that the new Paris Museum at Quai Branly used Virtools solutions to create several highly interactive 3D applications, recreating the visitor experience and the display of the works of art.

Dedicated to African and Asian indigenous culture and art, Paris’ newest museum will open its doors for the first time on June 23, 2006. The building is the work of world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel and houses more than 4,000 exhibits in 420 display cases.

The vast number of exhibition pieces was one of the biggest challenges involved. Exhibits had to be organized into displays and then mounted, a critical phase consisting of selecting the base or pedestal according to the piece’s position in the display case. Virtools solutions were used to visualize the position of each exhibit, and provide details of each location. Virtools technology was also applied to manage the volumes of different exhibit spaces and predict the impact of the museum’s design on the surrounding environment.

Leveraging the modular advantages of Virtools, other applications were created, for example to plan and determine the positioning of CCTV cameras. Another application simulates the spectator’s experience in the auditorium, allowing the designers to select a seat in the auditorium and visualize what the visitor would see. Reproduction of the spatially considered sound environment makes the simulation even more life-like.

One of the flagship solutions in Dassault Systèmes’ 3D For All strategy, Virtools real-time 3D technology is used in a wide variety of applications such as the experience of product usage, ergonomic testing, recreating the shopping experience, training scenarios, and so forth, through to branding, advertising, and web marketing.