MRI: Development of Infrastructure for Research in Multi-View Video, Graphics, Visualization and Immersive Virtual Environment Systems

Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI

Investigators

Abstract

Proposal #: 12-29297 PI(s): Nooshabadi, Saeid Kuhl, Scott; Wang, Chaoli Institution: Michigan Technological University Title: MRI/Dev: Infrastructure for Research in Multi-view Video, Graphics, Visualization and Immersive Virtual Environment Systems Project Proposed: This project, developing an instrument consisting of a large-scale tiled display, multiple video capture cameras, and a high-performance GPU cluster for large-scale data analysis and visualization, and multi-view coding and rendering, aims to enable a significant amount of research where graphics, vision, and multi-view video converge (including image-based modeling and rendering (IBMR) and MPEG-4/7). The instrument additionally includes augmentation of traditional interfaces that support research in 3D merger of graphics and video-coding, augmented reality and human perception research. It will also be used a to further advance the development of novel algorithms and techniques for large-scale data analysis and visualization, immersive virtual environments and image coding, as well as their on-going collaborations with scientists and researchers at national laboratories and industry. As evidenced by the availability of very large flat-panel displays and basic tracking systems such as Xbox Kinect, these types of coders, displays, and tracking systems should become more mature and affordable in the future. Broader Impacts: The proposed instrument can greatly impact the areas of telemedicine, manufacturing, and robotics. It can also be used for classes on computer graphics, virtual environments, data visualization, multi-media, and computer gaming. The PIs propose to organize summer programs to attract high-school students into science and STEM related areas.