X3D support for NeuroML files

In NeuroML version 1.7, a simple mapping from MorphML and NetworkML to X3D was introduced.

X3D is a standardised language for 3D graphics, the XML based follow up to VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language).

The mapping uses an XSL file to map the XML of a MorphML or NetworkML file to XML in X3D format.

To view the X3D, you will need a browser plugin, e.g. Octaga or Flux Player

For examples click the X3D link at the bottom of each of these:

  MorphML: Layer 2/3 Pyramidal cell (Traub et al 2005)

  MorphML: Detailed Layer 5 Pyramidal Cell (from NEURON demo)

  NetworkML: Spiral network

Current limitations:

• Visualisations are quite slow with greater than a few hundred segments (MorphML) or cells (NetworkML).
• MorphML files are visualised "lines only", i.e. diameter of sections/segments not shown.
• For NetworkML, only instance based files can be mapped (lists of instances and connections).
• All instances in NetworkML files are represented by spheres of the same size and colour.
• Connections are made at the centre of the sphere, ignoring any segment_id.