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 Computer Graphics Group

Research Projects on Real-Time Rendering and Virtual Environments



Our research projects focus on real-time rendering, virtual reality, augmented reality, real-time rendering, user interfaces, multi-user systems, and distributed virtual environments.
TreeLumination [started November 2004]
The aim of the project Treelumination is to enhance the realism and visual quality of applications that need to display trees and tree-like plants in a real-time setting. This is important because real-time photo-realistic illumination effects have not been used before for rendering trees in real-time rendering applications, although they are crucial for believable high-quality rendering. The effects that we are going to consider include shadows and self-shadowing, translucency of leaves, global illumination and high-dynamic range rendering.

GameTools [started September 2004]
The GameTools Project is an EU project from the 6th Framework Programme that brings together leading European computer graphic experts from universities in Austria, France, Hungary and Spain with European industrial partners from the fields of computer game development and virtual reality to create next generation realtime 3D libraries for Global Illumination, Visibility and Geometry for the PC platform, with an extension to consoles PS2, XBox, PS3, XBox2 planned.

Urban Visualization [November 1999 - September 2003]
The goal of the Urban Visualization project is to create and render very large, yet believable city models with tractable effort for both man and machine. Tools for this goal involve automatic modeling as well as real-time occlusion processing and image-based rendering.

RealReflect [April 2002 - November 2005]
The RealReflect EU project is an endeavour to increase the realism of Virtual Reality technology to levels where it can be used for meaningful qualitative reviews of virtual prototypes and scenes. This has not been possible so far, and would be of considerable benefit to those VR user groups - such as the automotive industry or architecture - who routinely have to take important design decisions about object appearance long before the actual product is first assembled.

Virtual Showcases [September 2001 - August 2005]
The Virtual Showcase EU project aims at developing the knowledge and technology for Virtual Showcases in order to make them available as standard equipment for museums and other public exhibition spaces. Recent and anticipated advances in computer and graphics systems, projection systems, tracking technology, input devices and networking technology form the basis for achieving this vision.

Access to Scientific Space Heritage [January 2000 - August 2002]
The EU project Access to Scientific Space Heritage, nicknamed virtual_control_room, is a vision of a future learning environment. Here school classes can plan and carry out virtual space missions. Students get involved by playing the roles of scientists, engineers, and mission control managers.

ILScan [started August 2003]
The innovative project ILScan (Image Laser Scanning) is concerned with the acquisition, processing, understanding, and reconstruction of 3D data on a very large scale, using a long-range 3D laser scanner that has the capability to acquire photographic images as well. The corresponding problems are studied at the cooperating institutes at Vienna University of Technology.

3D Technology [July 2002 - Oktober 2004]
The innovative project 3D Technology is concerned with the acquisition, processing, understanding, and reconstruction of 3D data. The corresponding technical, numerical, and algorithmic problems are studied at the cooperating institutes at Vienna University of Technology.

Studierstube [March 1997 - June 2001]
Studierstube is a system for collaborative augmented reality. It allows multiple users to experience a shared space. Augmented reality allows natural communication and collaboration among humans, while advanced interaction techniques can be used to manipulate three-dimensional data. Studierstube has been sucessfully tested in a variety of application areas such as scientific visualization, MCAD, or textile design.

Remote Rendering Pipeline [June 1996 - December 1999]
The Remote Rendering Pipeline is a framework for accelerating the networking of distributed virtual environments over the Internet. The project involves work on progressive, view-dependent and animated multi-resolution models as well as procedural models, networking strategies and navigation paradigms.

Platform for Animation and Virtual Reality [November 1996 - Oktober 2001]
The Platform for Animation and Virtual Reality (PAVR) was an EC research project with the intention to bring computer animation and Virtual Reality closer together.

Virtual Reality for Space-Craft Operation [Oktober 1997 - May 1998]
The Virtual Reality for Space-Craft Operation (VR-SCOS) project has evaluated the use of VR in a spacecraft mission control environment. This project was sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA).

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Last update by Michael Wimmer on 7. Jul 02.
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