State of the Art of Virtual Reality Simulation Technology and Its Applications in 2005

The School of Mining Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has been developing immersive, interactive computer-based training simulators for a number of years with research funding provided by Coal Services (CS), the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) and the Australian Research Council (ARC). The virtual reality(VR) simulators are being developed to improve the effectiveness of training in the Australian coal mining industry with a view to enhancing health and safety. VR theatres have been established at UNSW and at the Newcastle Mines Rescue Station (NMRS).A range of experienced and inexperienced mining personnel has already had the opportunity to train in them. A capability in immersive, interactive virtual reality training has been established and the reaction to the new technology has been positive and confirmed the benefits to be gained in going to the next stage in developing this capability. Given the significant advances in computer technology that have occurred since this research was initiated at UNSW, it was considered wise to undertake a study of the ‘State of the Art of Virtual Reality Simulation Technology and Its Application in 2005’. This should enable nformed decisions to be made on technologies and techniques that could further enhance the simulators and give insight into how the existing VR capability at UNSW can be placed on a sustainable foundation. This Research Overview summarises the findings of the study. It recommends the continued development and testing of the simulators towards a system that presents the users with hi-fidelity imagery and function that is based on 3D models, developed using real mine plans, safety data and manufacturer’s drawings. The simulators should remain modular in design, such that equipment can be updated and added easily over time. Different mine training scenarios and models based on sound educational principles should be developed with major input from experienced mining industry personnel. The simulations that have been developed, that is, Self-Escape, Rib Stability and Sprains and Strains should also continue to be developed and refined. The study has confirmed that such simulations are a powerful visualisation and training tool for enhancing the understanding of mine safety procedures and operations in the coal mining industry. This Scoping Study was undertaken with funding provided from the JCB Health and Safety Trust administered by Coal Services Pty Limited. The support of the Trust and trustees is gratefully acknowledged. The contributors of information are also gratefully acknowledged

Application-driven visual computing towards industry 4.0 2018

245 p.La Tesis recoge contribuciones en tres campos: 1. Agentes Virtuales Interactivos: autónomos, modulares, escalables, ubicuos y atractivos para el usuario. Estos IVA pueden interactuar con los usuarios de manera natural.2. Entornos de RV/RA Inmersivos: RV en la planificación de la producción, el diseño de producto, la simulación de procesos, pruebas y verificación. El Operario Virtual muestra cómo la RV y los Co-bots pueden trabajar en un entorno seguro. En el Operario Aumentado la RA muestra información relevante al trabajador de una manera no intrusiva. 3. Gestión Interactiva de Modelos 3D: gestión online y visualización de modelos CAD multimedia, mediante conversión automática de modelos CAD a la Web. La tecnología Web3D permite la visualización e interacción de estos modelos en dispositivos móviles de baja potencia.Además, estas contribuciones han permitido analizar los desafíos presentados por Industry 4.0. La tesis ha contribuido a proporcionar una prueba de concepto para algunos de esos desafíos: en factores humanos, simulación, visualización e integración de modelos

Vice : an interface designed for complex engineering software : an application of virtual reality

Concurrent Engineering has been taking place within the manufacturing industry for many years whereas the construction industry has until recently continued using the 'over the wall' approach where each task is completed before the next began. For real concurrent engineering in construction to take place there needs to be true collaborative working between client representatives, construction professionals, suppliers and subcontractors. The aim of this study was to design, develop and test a new style of user interface which promotes a more intuitive form of interaction than the standard desktop metaphor based interface. This new interface has been designed as an alternative for the default interface of the INTEGRA system and must also promote enhanced user collaboration. By choosing alternative metaphors that are more obvious to the user it is postulated that it should be possible for such an interface to be developed. Specific objectives were set that would allow the project aim to be fulfilled. These objectives are outlined below: To gain a better understanding of the requirements of successful concurrent engineering particularly at the conceptual design phase. To complete a thorough review of the current interfaces had to take place including any guidelines on how to create a "good user interface". To experience many of the collaboration systems available today so that an informed choice of application can be made. To learn the relevant skills required to design, produce and implement the interface of choice. To perform a user evaluation of the finished user interface to improve overall usability and further streamline the concurrent conceptual design. The user interface developed used a virtual reality environment to create a metaphor of an office building. Project members could then coexist and interact within the building promoting collaboration and at the same time have access to the remaining INTEGRA tools. The user evaluation proved that the Virtual Integrated Collaborative Environment (VICE) user interface was a successful addition to the INTEGRA system. The system was evaluated by a substantial number of different users which validates this finding. The user evaluation also provided positive results from two different demographics concluding that the system was easy, intuitive to use with the necessary functionality. Using metaphor based user interfaces is not a new concept. It has become standard practise for most software developers. There are arguments for and against these types of user interfaces. Some advanced users will argue that having such an interface limits their ability to make full use of the applications. However the majority of users do not come within this bracket and for them, metaphor based user interfaces are very useful. This is again evident from the user evaluation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Changing Trains at Wigan: Digital Preservation and the Future of Scholarship

This paper examines the impact of the emerging digital landscape on long term access to material created in digital form and its use for research; it examines challenges, risks and expectations.

Vice : An interface designed for complex engineering software : An application of virtual reality

Concurrent Engineering has been taking place within the manufacturing industry for many years whereas the construction industry has until recently continued using the 'over the wall' approach where each task is completed before the next began. For real concurrent engineering in construction to take place there needs to be true collaborative working between client representatives, construction professionals, suppliers and subcontractors. The aim of this study was to design, develop and test a new style of user interface which promotes a more intuitive form of interaction than the standard desktop metaphor based interface. This new interface has been designed as an alternative for the default interface of the INTEGRA system and must also promote enhanced user collaboration. By choosing alternative metaphors that are more obvious to the user it is postulated that it should be possible for such an interface to be developed. Specific objectives were set that would allow the project aim to be fulfilled. These objectives are outlined below: To gain a better understanding of the requirements of successful concurrent engineering particularly at the conceptual design phase. To complete a thorough review of the current interfaces had to take place including any guidelines on how to create a "good user interface". To experience many of the collaboration systems available today so that an informed choice of application can be made. To learn the relevant skills required to design, produce and implement the interface of choice. To perform a user evaluation of the finished user interface to improve overall usability and further streamline the concurrent conceptual design. The user interface developed used a virtual reality environment to create a metaphor of an office building. Project members could then coexist and interact within the building promoting collaboration and at the same time have access to the remaining INTEGRA tools. The user evaluation proved that the Virtual Integrated Collaborative Environment (VICE) user interface was a successful addition to the INTEGRA system. The system was evaluated by a substantial number of different users which validates this finding. The user evaluation also provided positive results from two different demographics concluding that the system was easy, intuitive to use with the necessary functionality. Using metaphor based user interfaces is not a new concept. It has become standard practise for most software developers. There are arguments for and against these types of user interfaces. Some advanced users will argue that having such an interface limits their ability to make full use of the applications. However the majority of users do not come within this bracket and for them, metaphor based user interfaces are very useful. This is again evident from the user evaluation

Collaborative mixed reality environments: an application for civil engineering

The present thesis designs, implements and evaluates a channel for interaction between office and field users through a collaborative mixed reality system. This channel is aimed to be used for civil engineering purposes and is thus oriented toward the design and construction phases. Its application should contribute to the reduction of the challenges faced by those involved in a civil engineering project dealing with communication, collaboration and mutual understanding. Such challenges can become real problems for multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers and constructors when working on the same project. In the context of this thesis, outdoor users are equipped with a real-time kinematic global positioning system receiver, a notebook, a head-mounted display, a tilt sensor and a compass. A virtual environment representing components of a civil engineering project is displayed before their eyes. Outdoor users share this collaborative virtual environment with indoor ones. They can talk to and see each other through an avatar. Indoor users can take part from any location where Internet is available. The goal of this thesis is to show that a networked solution of at least two users (In this case, indoor and outdoor users) is an opportunity for outdoor users to perform complex tasks whilst experiencing an immersive augmented reality application. Indoor users interact with outdoor ones when handling and navigating the virtual environment, guiding their counterpart through the scene and making clear common points of understanding. The thesis evaluates how users interact within a prototype system using a formative approach. Users are introduced to the system and motivated to “talk loudly”, thus verbalising what they are experiencing during the tests. All users are video-recorded while performing the exercises and interviewed immediately after. The evaluation reveals that users end up experiencing a system that is too immersive, which ends up narrowing their “attentional spotlight” to the virtual environment and not, as desired, experiencing an augmented reality system. The evaluation also makes clear that the design of the virtual environment is eventually more important for users than the system itself, and it is completely the kind of application that it is being used to and who the users are

Innovative Approaches to 3D GIS Modeling for Volumetric and Geoprocessing Applications in Subsurface Infrastructures in a Virtual Immersive Environment

As subsurface features remain largely ‘out of sight, out of mind’, this has led to challenges when dealing with underground space and infrastructures and especially so for those working in GIS. Since subsurface infrastructure plays a major role in supporting the needs of modern society, groups such as city planners and utility companies and decision makers are looking for an ‘holistic’ approach where the sustainable use of underground space is as important as above ground space. For such planning and management, it is crucial to examine subsurface data in a form that is amenable to 3D mapping and that can be used for increasingly sophisticated 3D modeling. The subsurface referred to in this study focuses particularly on examples of both shallow and deep underground infrastructures. In the case of shallow underground infrastructures mostly two-dimensional maps are used in the management and planning of these features. Depth is a very critical component of underground infrastructures that is difficult to represent in a 2D map and for this reason these are best studied in three-dimensional space. In this research, the capability of 3D GIS technology and immersive geography are explored for the storage, management, analysis, and visualization of shallow and deep subsurface features

Design Synchronization in Distributed Collaborative Design - Design Change in Product-Process Design Across Global Enterprises

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Application-driven visual computing towards industry 4.0 2018

245 p.La Tesis recoge contribuciones en tres campos: 1. Agentes Virtuales Interactivos: autónomos, modulares, escalables, ubicuos y atractivos para el usuario. Estos IVA pueden interactuar con los usuarios de manera natural.2. Entornos de RV/RA Inmersivos: RV en la planificación de la producción, el diseño de producto, la simulación de procesos, pruebas y verificación. El Operario Virtual muestra cómo la RV y los Co-bots pueden trabajar en un entorno seguro. En el Operario Aumentado la RA muestra información relevante al trabajador de una manera no intrusiva. 3. Gestión Interactiva de Modelos 3D: gestión online y visualización de modelos CAD multimedia, mediante conversión automática de modelos CAD a la Web. La tecnología Web3D permite la visualización e interacción de estos modelos en dispositivos móviles de baja potencia.Además, estas contribuciones han permitido analizar los desafíos presentados por Industry 4.0. La tesis ha contribuido a proporcionar una prueba de concepto para algunos de esos desafíos: en factores humanos, simulación, visualización e integración de modelos