In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for standardized data models and interoperability has never been more critical. OpenUSD, or Universal Scene Description, is a powerful framework designed to address these challenges by providing a unified data model for constructing and packaging complex 3D scenes. Originally developed by Pixar, OpenUSD has gained significant traction across various industries, including manufacturing, energy, media, and entertainment. 

What is OpenUSD? 

OpenUSD is a versatile and extensible framework that allows for the interchange and augmentation of 3D scenes composed of many component assets. Its unique composition ability provides rich and varied ways to combine assets into larger assemblies, enabling collaborative workflows where multiple developers can work together seamlessly. This makes OpenUSD a powerful tool for many industries that rely heavily on 3D data and complex simulations. 

Although OpenUSD got its start in media and entertainment, it has steadily gained traction in other industries as well including manufacturing and energy.  It’s unique ability to provide a unified data model and facilitate collaborative workflows makes it an invaluable tool for many industries.  The Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) plays a crucial role in accelerating the adoption and use of OpenUSD, ensuring that many industries can leverage its full potential for digital transformation, innovation, and efficiency. 

Manufacturing: In the manufacturing sector, OpenUSD facilitates the creation of highly detailed, interactive 3D models of facilities, such as manufacturing plants. It also provides data interoperability and reduces the costs associated with existing proprietary systems, allowing smaller companies to compete and innovate faster.  Integrating operational data (OT) from physical assets and IT data from other systems of record, manufacturers can streamline complex workflows, enhance predictive maintenance, and improve overall operational efficiency.  
Energy: The energy industry benefits from OpenUSD’s ability to provide semantic meaning from non-3D enterprise data alongside 3D data for digital twins exploration and simulation.  This capability enables energy companies to create accurate virtual models of their infrastructure, facilitating better planning, monitoring, and maintenance of energy assets. The integration of real-time telemetry from physical assets further enhances the efficiency and reliability of energy operations. 
Media and Entertainment: OpenUSD has its roots in the media and entertainment industry, where it has driven innovation and collaboration. By providing a standardized framework for 3D content creation, OpenUSD allows artists and developers to work together more effectively, creating immersive experiences and high-quality visual effects.  The framework’s flexibility and extensibility make it ideal for managing large-scale datasets and complex data dependencies, essential for film and animation pipelines. 

The Role of the Alliance for OpenUSD 

The Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) was formed in 2023 to drive the adoption and development of OpenUSD standards across various industries. Comprising major players like Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and NVIDIA, the AOUSD aims to foster global collaboration and improve the interoperability of 3D content. Microsoft’s involvement in the AOUSD represents a pivotal step in our commitment to open standards and digital transformation.  

By joining the AOUSD, Microsoft aims to strengthen the OpenUSD ecosystem and make 3D data more accessible. This collaboration enables customers and partners to take advantage of optimized workflows, empowering them to create immersive experiences. The AOUSD continues to expand its membership and form new interest groups to drive innovation and inclusivity. 

Future Potential of OpenUSD 

The future potential of OpenUSD is vast and promising. As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, the demand for standardized and interoperable 3D data models will only grow. OpenUSD’s ability to integrate with emerging technologies like AI and robotics positions it as a key driver in the next wave of innovation. For instance, OpenUSD’s ability to describe the physics for simulation capabilities make it an ideal framework for creating operational digital twins and immersive simulations. This can revolutionize industries by providing more accurate and dynamic models for planning, monitoring, and maintenance. 

OpenUSD’s role in AI development is particularly noteworthy with a growing belief that the next wave of AI will be powered by incorporating more information about how our world operates from a physics point-of-view. OpenUSD, with its expressive way to codify knowledge and build “playgrounds” for AI to gather experiences, is poised to play a crucial role in this evolution. As AI systems become more sophisticated, the ability to create and manipulate complex 3D scenes will be essential for training and development. 

Microsoft’s Involvement with the Alliance for OpenUSD 

Microsoft officially joined the Alliance for OpenUSD in July 2024. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to driving digital transformation across various industries.  Microsoft aims to enhance its support for industrial customers by ensuring that operations data is effectively integrated into the OpenUSD format and to better accommodate equipment IDs and attributes within USD, facilitating seamless interoperation with non-3D enterprise data. 

Microsoft plans to contribute to the work being done by the AOUSD by participating in working groups and driving the development of USD schemas for industrial operations. This involvement will help bridge the gap between 3D and non-3D data, improving overall efficiency and data consistency in industrial operations. Additionally, Microsoft aims to leverage OpenUSD in its products, such as Azure and Omniverse, to provide powerful operational digital twins and immersive simulations. 

OpenUSD is a game-changer for industries that rely on 3D data and complex simulations and its ability to provide a unified data model and facilitate collaborative workflows makes it invaluable tool industrial customers, as well as media and entertainment.  The Alliance for OpenUSD plays a crucial role in accelerating the adoption and use of OpenUSD, ensuring that industries can leverage its full potential for digital transformation. The future of OpenUSD is bright, with its potential to drive innovation and efficiency across various sectors, making it a cornerstone of the digital future.  

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