Architectural and Urban Visualization and Simulation

Collaborators: Computational Imaging & VisAnalysis Lab, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering (MU), Immersive Environments Lab (Penn State); BIM-SIM Group (Texas A&M)

One key strand of the architectural visualization research in the iLab is to explore innovative workflow techniques for accurately visualizing aesthetic and experiential qualities of architectural space including material qualities and lighting. This is complemented by the other strands of research focused on prototyping performance of the built environment as well as that of humans, particularly in complex environments such as hospitals. One major research project is the Smart City Center initiative as part of the UM System’s Strategic Investment Program. The proposed project will create a new, convergent research community, bringing together engineers in the transportation, materials, and structures disciplines, architecture and visualization experts, computer scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, urban planners and social scientists, law, business, and other key stakeholders from the industry and government. The Smart City Center aims to create a convergent innovation ecosystem. Our goal is to improve sustainability and performance of built environment and infrastructure, enhance urban mobility, reduce civic carbon footprint, and foster new economic development through breakthrough solutions and new technologies centered on built environment and transportation. The second major project is the exploration of large scale 3D reconstruction of complex urban environment combining parametric architectural modeling techniques with computer vision and deep learning techniques.

Media of the Future in 3D

Collaborators: Futures Lab – Reynolds Journalism Institute and School of Journalism, Trulaske College of Business, College of Engineering, MU Healthcare (MU), AT&T

We are developing workflows that integrate 3D visualization and imaging techniques to create a more immersive, interactive, multi-modal media environment for journalism, scientific communication, and advertising. This project takes a variable-centered strategy, approaching media in terms of its affordances and examines their impact through controlled experiments on a variety of audience outcome variables – immersion, engagement, user experience, comprehension, memory and recall and content credibility. These theoretical research informs development of new workflows, platforms and products that leverage emerging technologies such as 5G connectivity, AR & VR in healthcare, safety and security, education and sports entertainment in partnership with industry leaders such as AT&T.

Healthcare Simulation

Collaborators: Dept. of Anesthesiology (MU), Thompson Center for Autism & Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Center for Medical Ethics (MU), Center for Health Insights (UMKC), Human Motion Lab (UMKC), Human Balance and Ambulation Research Lab (UMKC), Surgical Innovation Lab (UMKC), Rush University Medical Center

We have multiple projects exploring VR/AR simulations for training and performance evaluation of healthcare professionals. Collaborating with UMKC, we performed quantitative and subjective analysis of human performance in simulated clinical settings. We are developing an immersive and interactive virtual reality (VR) simulation of a clinical setting. The VR model will accurately represent medical devices and furniture in 3D and capture their interactive affordances. We are integrating 3D simulation and motion-capture to assess configurations of clinical space for subjective and objective metrics of human performance. The VR model will be used to rapidly iterate through multiple room configurations and assess performance. In addition, we have simulation projects aimed at training staff who work with children on the autism spectrum. We are currently exploring commercialization of these simulation tools.

Transportation Simulation

Collaborators: Transportation Research Group, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering (MU)

We have developed driving simulations to study geometric design alternatives. We used the simulator to analyze driver behavior to different J-turn configurations. We are also part of a FHWA funded team (1 of 9 nationally) to explore the data from SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving study. We are using actual crash data to develop simulations for crash avoidance training. We also have multiple proposals under review involving a network of simulators (driving, bike, wheelchair and pedestrian) for improving safety and training.

iLab Publications & Presentations