How is SEDRIS different from VRML?

SEDRIS is a data interchange mechanism defining a data model with standard access methods. VRML is a programming language used for creating visual effects. VRML only encompasses the portion of SEDRIS that deals with data representational types of polygons, colors, and textures. SEDRIS includes more data representational types than just those used for visual scene generation.

Project 2851, and its resultant SIF standards, was focused on supporting the interchange of environmental data for a specific subset of environmental data types and for a specific subset of the M&S Community. The subset of environmental data types addressed was principally the terrain and terrain features and, in particular, data for the generation of a visualization of the terrain and its features. The portion of the simulation community that SIF supports is the traditional virtual simulation community, specifically the cockpit-type of simulator with an out-the-window visual scene along with sensors such as radar. SIF concentrated on a data format, rather than a data model with standard access methods.

SEDRIS addresses the interchange of data, representing the simulated natural environment, in advance of the run-time use. The HLA, and the RTI, are focused on the exchange of data during program execution.