CENTER FOR 3-D VISUALIZATION AND VIRTUAL REALITY APPLICATIONS

Founder & Director, Dr. Ali Eydgahi

 The center for 3-D visualization provides cutting edge technology and necessary scientific tools to support specific research objectives of the faculty in a number of departments on UMES campus and creates an environment for exposure of students and faculty to new technology in virtual reality and 3-D visualization in various programs that are being offered by the University. 
The center is designed around a 3-wall immersive environment system called CAVE.  The CAVE is an immersive virtual reality environment with the ability to display and interact with high resolution, computer-generated stereoscopic images which are created by projectors positioned outside the CAVE and controlled by user inside the CAVE. The stereoscopic images inside the CAVE are projected simultaneously to display on each of the screens two images one for the left eye and one for the right eye. Each of these images is separated back to the intended eye by a technology called Beacon.  Stereoscopic LCD shutter glasses provide 3-D images. The glasses are synchronized with the projectors so that each eye only sees the correct image.  Infrared emitters are positions around the CAVE to provide the synchronization of the stereoscopic images. Mirrors are used to reduce the distance required from the projectors that are positioned outside of the walls, to the screens. The Clusters of desktop PCs are used to run the CAVE.
The center is created to help facilitate and improve existing and future research projects at UMES and provides an immersive environment that can be used in all different types of projects from engineering to agriculture to medical to natural sciences. The CAVE stereoscopic capabilities along with its immersive environment enable faculty and students to interact with their data in more realistic ways.