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Research lines ARTEC

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality has been one of the priority research lines of ARTEC, developing several applications and, above all, creating tools and appropriate technologies that allow high visual quality and technologically innovative environments.

This has enabled the group to have flexible and efficient software tools for developing virtual environments, as well as hardware devices and appropriate displaying environments for this kind of work. Among its facilities there is a CAVE with a 4-screen projection system, and different visualisation and working systems in virtual self-development environments with a multitouch table.

Some of the working areas have been: the three-dimensional modelling oriented to real-time 3D applications developing appropriate tools with data structure and processes that optimize the displaying in 3D environments. The search of optimizing techniques of distributed virtual environments. The displaying of geographical and land data in real time, developing data structures and algorithms that allow the interactive display and transmission of large land areas. The management of virtual actors within virtual environments.

Within these lines, ARTEC has had several projects some with public funding and others with private companies. The results of researches have been applied to topics such as the industrial display in applications like ceramic coating for TAU ceramics, the interactive display of the line 5 of the Valencian underground, or some architectural displays such as the ones made for the University of Valencia at the ADEIT building or the building at Calle de la Nave.

In the field of civil simulation the projects developed with DRAGADOS include the VALLE system for modelling and displaying of roads in 3D, construction environments simulation systems (PREVISOR) or applications for the monitoring of the construction process (SICURA Edificación).
3D applications on mobile devices for companies such as Orange, as the Intelligent EYE or the Real Madrid 3D World, have also been developed.


Simulation

The ARTEC group has been researching and developing low-cost applications oriented to apply the simulation technologies to the training and research areas in human factors for many years.

We can highlight within the group the working line in driving simulation, where several thesis on road modelling, autonomous traffic management and simulation exercises management, have been developed. In this area the group has been developing for years visual and traffic management systems in driving simulators such as the SIRCA, funded by NISSAN and the Technological University of Dresde, or TUTOR, the combined simulator of bus and lorry. Furthermore, we have created multi-users simulators oriented to train professional drivers in traffic safety, or to prevent risks such as the SIAUTO simulator, as well as projects based in human factor research.

In the area of civil simulation we have a large experience in all kind of simulators oriented to training, such as the maritime and boat rescue simulators or the construction simulators (Edificio Virtual de Riesgos, construction Simulator for DRAGADOS). We have also created collaborative simulators, simulators of harbour cranes, helicopter or other simulators oriented to entertaining such as the hang gliding simulator. In all of them the ARTEC group has investigated in the lines of development of displaying and interaction systems, appropriate for the immersion in these environments, as well as in the creation of appropriate physical models and highly realistic virtual environments.


Augmented Reality

Augmented reality, unlike virtual reality, is not intended to immerse the user in a virtual world, but to increase his perception of the real world by using virtual information. With the objective of increasing the user’s perception, the ARTEC group is focused on increasing the sense of sight, designing and creating, both applications and visualisation devices appropriate to the needs of each case.
Although this technology is relatively new, since 2005 we have developed a large number of projects, which have been applied to several fields: training (Virtual Fire, SupervisAR and SupervisAR 2.0), designing and prototyping (BIOMIMO), construction and civil works (SICURA), helping people with autism (Pictogram Room), advertisement (Agencia Virtual) or entertainment (Sagrada Familia AR, ObservAR, FITUR 2011).


Autism technologies

Adaptalab: We develop and experimentally test technological solutions created to improve communication, education and quality of life of people with autism spectrum disorders and / or intellectual disabilities.

In this area we have worked on many projects with the collaboration of organizations that work directly with children or adults with autism or intellectual disability. 

https://www.adaptalab.org/