![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/aton-header.jpg)
ATON is an open-source framework based on Node.js and Three.js designed, developed and coordinated by B. Fanini (VHLab, CNR ISPC – ex ITABC) to create Web3D/WebXR apps (presenters, applied games, tools, etc…) interacting with CH objects and 3D scenes on the Web. It adopts a “develop once, deploy everywhere” approach, without requiring any installation for final users, with its front-end automatically adapting to the device (mobile, desktop/kiosk or immersive XR).
Such modular framework offers a simple but powerful API to manipulate scene-graphs, customize event handling for rich interactions and much more, alongside a scalable rendering system with responsive interfaces. Advanced functionalities like advanced rendering of 3D objects (PBR) and virtual environments, viewpoint (POV) management, spatial UIs for XR sessions, real-time collaborative features, visual/immersive analytics and integration with complex multimedia content are just a few examples of what can be achieved with this open-source (GPL v3) framework developed by CNR ISPC.
You can find API documentation here or REST documentation to create your own 3D web-app. You can also join the open telegram group for latest news and developments. You can also find here projects using ATON, publications and how to cite the framework.
Samples
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/skyphos.png)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/tomb.png)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/aiano.png)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/faug.png)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/montebelluna.png)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/prisgiona.jpg)
![](https://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/guattari-1.jpg)
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ondemarine.png)
Main features
- Responsive, adaptive and scalable presentation of interactive 3D content (mobile, desktop PCs, museum kiosks, immersive XR devices)
- Real-time synchronous collaborative multi-user features (Photon module)
- Immersive VR (WebXR) for 3DOF and 6DOF devices
- Multi-resolution for massive 3D datasets through OGC standards
- Multi-touch interfaces
- Spatial UI (3D labels, buttons, etc…) targeting immersive XR sessions
- Built-in navigation modes, including orbit, first-person, device-orientation and immersive VR
- 3D semantic annotations including free-form volumetric shapes
- Fast, real-time 3D queries on scene-graph, semantic graph and UI nodes
- Built-in Front-end (“Hathor“) with WYSIWYG rich HTML5 annotation editor
- Built-in profiler (adapt presentation to different devices)
- Event-driven API for fully customizable events (local and synchronous collaborative contexts)
- 360 panoramas and virtual tours
- Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) for advanced materials and custom shaders for complex representations
- Advanced lighting, including IBL and Light Probes
- Camera/POV transitions, viewpoint handling and custom navigation constraints
- Complex scene-graph manipulation, hierarchical culling, instancing, composition and cascading transformations
- Scalable deployment, from low-cost SBCs (e.g. Raspberry Pi) to large infrastructures
- Multi-temporal (4D) visualization
- Easily extensible through plug&play apps architecture and plugins
ATON framework stands on the shoulders of these giants:
![](http://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/aton/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/aton-techs-1024x334.png)