2019 International Conference on Communications, Information System and Computer Engineering (CISCE)

Design and Implementation of Three-dimensional

Virtual Tour Guide Training System Based on
Unity3D
Li Wang Lizhen Wang
Department of education science and technology Teacher Development Center
Shanxi Datong University Shanxi Datong University
Datong, China Datong, China
*Communication author: wangli523971@126.com

Abstract—Traditional tour guide training has problems such as

lack of internship resources, insufficient time and funds, and
safety. How to scientifically and effectively improve the
professional quality of tour guides and obtain greater economic
and social benefits for tourism has become an urgent problem to
be solved. In order to effectively solve the above problems, this
paper designed and developed a virtual tour guide training
system by using Unity3D interactive development engine and 3ds
Max 3d modeling technology. It has the characteristics of
autonomy, sense of immersion, interactivity and so on. It provides
the trainers with a high simulation scenario and a good training
environment of interactivity, which can improve the training
quality.
Keywords- guide training; Virtual reality; Unity3D
II. FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE SYSTEM
The system is divided into three modules: system learning
module, scenic spot learning module and simulation practice
module. In the system learning module, it shows the relevant
system and basic knowledge of the tour guide industry that
need to be understood by the trainer in the process of tour
guide training. In the scenic spot learning module, trainers can
learn about scenic spots and related historical and cultural
knowledge by watching related animations and automatic
roaming of virtual scenic spots. In the simulation practice
module, the trainer can choose and browse the scenic
buildings independently, and train the guide's commentary
content independently.

I. INTRODUCTION III. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE SYSTEM

The practical training of tour guide skills is an important Firstly, it is necessary to collect the geographic data of
practical link to train qualified tour guides. Through the Ming Tang Park and take photos with the camera. Then, it is
practical training, trainers can not only better master all necessary to use AutoCAD and combine the accurate data of
aspects of knowledge and skills required by tour guides in the Ming Tang Park to draw the plan, so as to determine the
process of tour guide service, but also conduct simulation spatial location of the virtual scenic spot. The scenic spot was
exercises for tour guides to improve their ability to explain, modeled by 3ds Max, and converted into FBX format which
organize, coordinate, respond to emergencies and deal with was compatible with Unity3D. Then, the transformed model
emergencies flexibly [1-3]. However, the traditional practical should be imported into Unity3D for interaction design. Then,
training is limited by time, safety and funds, so the teaching it is necessary to complete the interface design of each module
effect is not good [4]. Using VR (Virtual Reality) technology, of the system, match commentary for the scene and set the
trainers can conduct interactive tour guide simulation background music. Finally, the system is optimized and
experience, which can effectively improve the disadvantages packaged into executable files. The development process of
of traditional practical training, increase the trainers' interest in the virtual tour guide training system is shown in Fig. 1.
learning and opportunities for practice, and thus improve the
quality and effect of training.
In view of the practical training needs of tour guides, this
paper takes Ming Tang Park of Northern Wei dynasty in
Datong city as an example to develop a virtual tour guide
training system based on VR by using the interactive
development engine of Unity3D and the 3d modeling
technology of 3ds Max. They can independently select and
browse the scenic spot buildings through the mouse and
keyboard, and independently train the interpretation content of
the tour guide according to the previous knowledge of relevant
history and culture, so as to achieve the purpose of training.

978-1-7281-3681-3/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE 203

DOI 10.1109/CISCE.2019.00054

Figure 1. Development flow chart of the system
IV. KEY TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF TOUR GUIDE TRAINING SYSTEM
A. MODELING TECHNOLOGY
After drawing the plan, the rich modeling techniques in
3ds Max can be used to model the scenic spot buildings. Due
to the complexity of scenic spot scene, many modeling
methods are used. There are different modeling methods for
different objects, and there may be multiple modeling methods
for the same object. How to choose the appropriate modeling
method plays a key role in the performance of the system.
Combined with experience, how to choose the modeling
method is summarized as follows [5-7]:
x Direct modeling of basic three-dimensional shape:
Direct modeling is possible for objects that can be
modeled using standard geometry, extended geometry,
and their combinations provided in 3ds Max. Such as
the common table and chairs in our daily life.
x Polygon modeling: For the object that needs to take
standard geometry or extended geometry as the initial
shape and has complex structure, its initial shape
should be converted to "editable polygon" or "editable
grid", and select "point", "line" and "polygon" in the
edit panel for modification to achieve the ideal
modeling effect.
x Two-dimensional graph modeling: For some objects
with complex shapes, which cannot use standard
geometry or extended geometry as the initial shape,
we can try to use 2d graphics as the initial shape, and
204
then convert it into a 3d model by adding
corresponding modifiers.
x Composite object modeling: composite object
modeling is usually used for modeling that requires
two or more objects to be combined into an object in a
specific way. The model that needs to be built by the
operation of two or more objects intersecting and then
merging or taking the intersection part or the
difference set part can be modeled by the Boolean
operation of geometry.
x Mapping Modeling: For the model with too large
number of points and faces caused by using
conventional modeling methods, it can be realized by
mapping modeling and other methods in actual
modeling according to the situation. Mapping
modeling is used to model plants and some distant
objects which do not require high models.
In the process of modeling, if there are multiple modeling
methods for the same model, the modeling method that
produces the least number of faces should be selected. When
modeling distant objects, the number of "segments" can be
appropriately reduced to reduce the number of faces of the
model due to people's low visual requirements for the model.
The final scene effect is shown in Fig. 2.
Figure 2. Rendering of 3d virtual scene in Ming Tang Park
B. The use of NGUI
The interface design of the whole system is made by using
the UGUI package provided by Unity3D, which is mainly
used to beautify the interface of the system. Every time you
use UGUI, you must create "Canvas" as the carrier, and then
add the corresponding "GameObject" according to the
interface design. In the Inspector panel of Canvas, you will
need to modify the "Canvas Scaler" component to set the
screen reference resolution and adaptive screen zoom.
The trigger event for the button in the UGUI is
implemented in the "Inspector" panel, which drag-and-drop
the code onto the empty object by creating an empty object in
the scene. It then adds the "On Click()" event to the button,
calling the code on the empty object to implement the action.
C. Making the Learning Module of the Scenic Spot
The scenic spot learning module is mainly realized through
the automatic roaming animation of the whole scene set by the
system, that is, the animation component is bound on the
camera, the tour route is pre-set, and the purpose of automatic
roaming is achieved by playing animation clips. The automatic
tour animation includes the text and voice introduction of each
scenic spot, which helps the trainer master the historical and
cultural background of each scenic spot and cultural relic, and
enables the trainer to realize the multi-sensory joint
participation and more targeted and effective learning in the
simulated scene. After completion of the study, the trainer can
enter the "simulation practice" for practical practice.
D. Implementation of the simulation practice module
After entering the "simulation practice" module, the trainer
can use keyboard and mouse operation, according to their own
tour path to tour the virtual simulation scene, feel the elegant
historical atmosphere. The trainer goes to a "scenic spot", he
can match the corresponding explanation to carry on the
simulation training as if he were on the scene. The specific
implementation process is as follows: We select "Assets-
>Import Package->Characters" in the Unity 3D menu bar, and
import the character Package. Then select "FPSController" in
the "Project" panel, and drag it into the scene. The main
process is: Assets->StandardAssets->Characters-
>FirstPersonCharacters->Prefabs->FPSControlle. Since there
is a Camera in the "FPSController", we need to delete the
original "Main Camera" in the scene. We double-click on the
"FPSController" and use the move rotate tool to position the
view properly. Then we added "Capsule Collider" for the
"FPSController" and "Box Collider" for the wall to prevent the
first person controller from going through the wall. After
adding the first person controller, users can click to run and
then use the keyboard and mouse to control roaming. The
"simulation practice" module diagram is shown in Fig. 3.
Figure 3. A screenshot of the "simulation practice" module
E. The System Optimization and Release
Due to the large number of architectural model faces,
resulting in excessive memory consumption and slow
rendering. Therefore, when importing the model, appropriate
modifications should be made in Unity3D. The specific
modification method is that we drag one of the same models
into the project folder to make it prefabricated, and then drag
the prefabricated body into the scene to replace another same
model, which will greatly reduce the number of planes to be
rendered by the system runtime, thus reducing the
consumption of memory resources. Based on the above, we
adjust Clipping Planes property of Main Camera in the scene
and select smaller values. This can narrow the visual field,
205
colleges and universities use computer memory space, so as to
effectively alleviate the pressure of the processor.
When publishing under Windows, you need to click File -
> Build Setting in the menu bar. A scene editing list appears
after clicking. You need to click on the scenarios in the
Engineering Panel and drag them to an editable list. The
number after the scene indicates the order of rendering, and
the first rendering of scene No. 0 will be launched by clicking
Build.
V. CONCLUSIONS
The 3d virtual tour guide training system based on
Unity3D provides a training environment with strong
interactivity and immersion for the trainers, enabling them to
"go to" the scenic spot to learn and practice anytime and
anywhere. The application of this system can not only
effectively solve the problems of time, cost, traffic safety and
other aspects existing in the current guide training, but also
can combine with classroom teaching, complement each
other's advantages, try the reform and innovation of teaching
mode, so as to improve the teaching quality.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research is a phased achievement of the 13th Five-
Year Plan of Shanxi Education Science - “Construction and
application of 3D virtual learning space based on VR” (Grant
No. GH-18049). It was supported by the 2017 general key
discipline construction project " Research on the construction
of regional characteristic educational resources under the
background of Internet + ", the key discipline construction
plan of "1331 project" of Shanxi provincial department of
education. It is also funded by the 2019 humanities and social
sciences research planning fund project of the ministry of
education, “international comparative research on targeted
poverty alleviation policies and strategies in education from
the perspective of education informatization” (Grant No.
19A10120012).
REFERENCES
[1] Li Suxin, “Research on practice teaching status and countermeasures of
simulated tour guide course in higher vocational colleges,” J. Education
and teaching BBS, 2017, pp. 246-247.
[2] Wang Suqin and Yang Xiudong, “Exploration of flipped classroom
teaching mode based on micro-course in higher vocational colleges,” J.
China adult education, 2015, pp. 157-159.
[3] Gu Zhixin and Jin Lijiao, “Research on the application effect of virtual
reality technology in the practical training course for tour guides,” J.
Vocational and technical education in China, 2016, pp. 85-91.
[4] Sun Lishi, Zhang Chaoyan,Yu Qingmei, “Web-based virtual training
system for pharmaceutical preparation technology,” J. Experimental
technology and management, 2018, pp. 130-133.
[5] Wang Li, “Researching of the three-dimensional virtual simulation
campus scene’s construction technology”, J. The Open Cybernetics &
Systemic Journal, 2015, pp. 1055-1059.
[6] Wang Li, “Construction of the three-dimensional virtual campus scene’s
Problems and Solutions”, J.The Open Cybernetics & Systemic Journal,
2015, pp. 1130-1134.
[7] Wang Li, “Design and implementation of 3d virtual campus roaming
simulation system based on Untiy3D”, J. Chinese education
informatization,2016,pp.60-63.