Skip to main content

Release Notes 3.03

VRGS 3.3.20 to 3.3.22​

24 April 2026​

✨ New & Enhanced Features​

Mesh Decimation Tools

  • New configuration dialog for simplifying meshes.
  • Choose target size by triangle count or percentage reduction.
  • Options to preserve important features like edges and textures.
  • Consistent batch processing across multiple meshes.

Segmentation & Image Analysis

  • “Segment Everything” (SAM) auto-segmentation introduced.
  • Faster and more seamless segmentation on large images.
  • Improved visualisation using project-defined colours.
  • Undo support and better control over overwriting existing labels.

Photogrammetry & Image Handling

  • Improved Metashape camera import, including support for grouped cameras.
  • More accurate image interaction and picking in 3D.
  • Enhanced 3D visualisation for image-based data (e.g. SquashPlot).

Orientation & Stereonet Tools

  • New contouring methods for stereonets (including smoother density options).
  • Improved statistical analysis of orientation data (e.g. clustering vs girdle detection).
  • Better visualisation of planes, poles, and intersections.
  • New tools for analysing relationships between geological features.

Orientation Group Tools

  • Convert orientation groups into structured grids for further analysis.
  • Improved workflows for handling grouped structural data.

🚀 Performance & User Experience​

Segmentation Performance

  • Significantly faster processing for large images.
  • Background processing reduces UI blocking.
  • Smoother results across image tiles.

Rendering Improvements

  • More consistent and stable rendering behaviour.
  • Improved handling of overlays and textures.
  • Better responsiveness when working with complex models.

General Stability

  • Reduced crashes during object editing and deletion.
  • More robust handling of large datasets and complex operations.

🛠 Improvements​

User Interface

  • Cleaner layout in mesh decimation tools.
  • More intuitive controls for segmentation workflows.
  • Improved notifications for software updates.

Project & Data Handling

  • More stable handling of object deletion and project tree operations.
  • Improved consistency when working with complex datasets.

Visualisation

  • Improved 3D display of image-derived data.
  • More accurate colour handling across tools and exports.

🐛 Fixes & Reliability​

  • Fixed issues with object manipulation in certain edit modes.
  • Improved stability when working with photogrammetry data.
  • Resolved inconsistencies in stereonet projections and calculations.
  • Better handling of edge cases in orientation analysis.

🔄 Minor Updates​

  • Version updates and general maintenance.
  • Background improvements to ensure smoother operation across the platform.

VRGS 3.3.2 to 3.3.19​

February – April 2026​

✨ New & Enhanced Features​

Project Backups

  • Option to choose a custom backup location when saving projects.
  • Improved reliability and error handling during backup creation.

Cross Section Tools

  • Adjustable vertical scale for cross sections.
  • Better control over section positioning and elevation.
  • Improved editing experience and accuracy.

Measurement & Interpretation Tools

  • Convert measurement groups into isopach and isochore polylines.
  • More efficient handling of large datasets and complex projects.
  • Faster interaction when selecting or editing polylines.

Outcrop.io (DOR) Integration Enhancements

  • Improved syncing of interpretations with better feedback and reliability.
  • Clearer linking between VRGS projects and Outcrop.io models.
  • Additional context and metadata included during sync.

🚀 Performance & User Experience​

Large Model & Tile Performance

  • Faster loading and smoother navigation in large scenes.
  • Improved responsiveness when working with high-resolution datasets.
  • Better handling of detail levels for more consistent visual quality.

Rendering & Visual Quality

  • More stable and consistent rendering across different views.
  • Improved handling of textures and imagery on models.
  • Better terrain masking and visual blending.

VR Experience Improvements

  • Smoother and more stable tracking in VR.
  • More reliable controller positioning and interaction.
  • Reduced visual glitches during movement or tracking loss.

🛠 Improvements​

Project & Data Handling

  • Improved project loading across different systems (better file/path handling).
  • More robust handling of large datasets and complex models.
  • Improved coordinate transformations for more accurate positioning.

User Interface

  • Cleaner UI with reduced unnecessary messages and logs.
  • Improved dialogs and workflows (e.g. backups, imports).
  • More consistent behaviour across tools and panels.

Data Import & Export

  • Better handling of textures during export.
  • Improved compatibility with external data formats.
  • More reliable import of external datasets and imagery.

🐛 Fixes & Stability​

  • Fixed crashes related to missing or invalid selections.
  • Improved stability when opening projects on different machines.
  • Resolved issues with large project performance and delays.
  • Fixed inconsistencies in measurements and attribute updates.
  • Improved handling of missing or corrupt data.

🔄 Minor Updates​

  • Ongoing small improvements and refinements across the platform.
  • Regular patch updates for stability and maintenance.

VRGS 3.3.1 – Major Update​

December 2025 – February 2026​

✨ New Features​

Cesium 3D Tiles Support (NEW)

  • Full integration of Cesium 3D Tiles for high-resolution geospatial streaming.
  • Support for Cesium Ion assets and URL-based tilesets.
  • Improved video recording behavior to ensure complete tile loading per frame.

Google 3D Tiles & Maps Overlays

  • Support for Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles.
  • Google Maps Satellite, Roadmap, and Terrain overlays.
  • Proper attribution and credit display.

Raster Overlay Support

  • Add and manage imagery layers (ion or URL-based).
  • Tiles render with imagery, embedded textures, or PBR base color.

Vertical Datum & Geoid Support

  • Optional vertical datum correction (EGM96 / EGM2008).
  • Improved orthometric ↔ ellipsoidal height accuracy.

Terrain Masking (Major Upgrade)

  • 3D occupancy grid masking for meshes with overhangs/caves.
  • Automatic mask mode detection (2D footprint or 3D volume).
  • Shader-based terrain clipping for accurate visual results.

Mesh Decimation (QEM Upgrade)

  • New Quadric Error Metrics (QEM) decimation algorithm.
  • Topology preservation and boundary protection.
  • Optional texture seam preservation.
  • Improved visual fidelity after simplification.

Point Cloud → DEM Conversion

  • Convert point clouds to triangulated DEM meshes.
  • Median gridding with IDW fill of empty cells.
  • Mesh tiling for improved performance on large datasets.

Gaussian Splat Improvements

  • View-dependent color using Spherical Harmonics (up to degree 3).
  • Improved transparency, sorting, and falloff controls.
  • Adjustable splat scale and falloff parameters in properties panel.
  • Better depth handling and occlusion behavior.

Digital Outcrop Repository (DOR) Browser

  • Embedded DOR browser panel.
  • “Open in VRGS” one-click model import.
  • Async download with progress and improved error handling.

Interpretation Branching & Version Control

  • Full branch management system for interpretations.
  • Create, switch, merge, and manage branches via dedicated panel.
  • Per-branch object visibility and history tracking.

Virtual Field Trip (VFT) & Multiuser Enhancements

  • Multi-trip support with invite codes and waiting room.
  • Real-time chat, heartbeat monitoring, reconnection logic.
  • Standalone GeotourServer support with TLS & JWT authentication.
  • Monitoring dashboard and metrics exporter.

WYSIWYG Editor (NEW)

  • Modern TipTap-based editor replacing raw HTML editor.
  • Image alignment, tables, callouts, figures, YouTube embeds.
  • Local video embedding support.
  • Improved save workflow and media handling.

Stereonet Tools

  • Equal-angle / equal-area projections.
  • Kamb contouring (area corrected).
  • Rose diagrams and circular statistics.
  • Stress tools (slip / dilation tendency).
  • SVG export from histogram pane.

🛠 Improvements​

Rendering & Lighting

  • Consistent light direction handling across pipeline.
  • Improved motion blur with shutter angle and Gaussian weighting.
  • Better shadow consistency and shading accuracy.

Cesium Performance & Stability

  • Improved LOD selection and tile filtering.
  • Safer thread handling during load/shutdown.
  • Better handling of large/global tilesets.
  • Improved video recording stability with tiles.

Mesh & Point Cloud Handling

  • Faster mesh loading with progress reporting.
  • Improved mesh decimation quality and safety checks.
  • Fallback UV generation for meshes without texture coordinates.
  • Improved histogram rendering for attribute layers.

Database & Project System

  • Versioned migration system for safe upgrades.
  • Improved branch-based object visibility.
  • Schema cleanup and legacy feature removal.
  • Export schema to SQL.

Coordinate Systems & PROJ

  • Improved grid management and automatic grid download.
  • More robust CRS transformations and diagnostics.

Cesium & Overlay UX

  • Improved overlay reload behavior.
  • Tile extent filtering for local CRS use cases.
  • Debug tools for tile bounds and coverage.

Video Capture

  • Optional microphone audio recording.
  • Configurable cursor display in recordings.
  • Higher recommended bitrates for 3D content.

🐛 Fixes & Stability​

  • Fixed Gaussian splat center saturation and opacity scaling issues.
  • Corrected covariance construction for splats (CPU/GPU consistency).
  • Resolved race conditions in display list and picking.
  • Improved TIFF NoData handling and robustness.
  • Fixed mesh decimation counting and edge-collapse issues.
  • Corrected directional light eye-space calculation.
  • Improved handling of corrupted or malformed data during load.