Geoserver y Realidad Aumentada : extensión para la publicación de los repositorios cartográficos en los navegadores de Realidad Aumentada

En la actualidad existen gran variedad de productos que emplean la Realidad Aumentada (RA) en diversos campos y aplicaciones. Algunos de los que cuentan con mayor difusión son las aplicaciones para dispositivos móviles que combinan la cámara del dispositivo con la localización y la orientación obtenida con GPS, servicios de red inalámbrica y brújulas de estado sólido. Algunas de las aplicaciones con mayor difusión entre los usuarios son Layar, Wikitude, Juanio y Mixare. Sin embargo, no existe un estándar para los servicios de contenidos de RA; al contrario, cada aplicación emplea sus propios formatos de obligado cumplimiento, con sus propias características y especificaciones. Por otra parte la información cartográfica, objeto de publicación en las distintas plataformas de RA, reside tradicionalmente en los servidores de cartografía que gracias al cumplimiento de los estándares OGC garantizan su consulta y acceso. Este proyecto establece los interfaces de comunicación necesarios para proporcionar las fuentes de datos cartográficas tradicionales a través de los distintos formatos empleados en los navegadores de RA. Gracias a las características de extensibilidad de Geoserver y a sus características de configuración dinámica propias del framework Spring en el que se desarrolla, se han generado los servicios capaces de aprovechar las fuentes de datos gestionadas desde Geoserver para su difusión a través de los distintos navegadores de RA. Esta extensión modular de Geoserver permitirá aprovechar los repositorios de datos actuales para su difusión a través de las múltiples plataformas de Realidad Aumentada disponibles

Efficient 3D scene modeling and mosaicing

El modelat d'escenes és clau en un gran ventall d'aplicacions que van des de la generació mapes fins a la realitat augmentada. Aquesta tesis presenta una solució completa per a la creació de models 3D amb textura. En primer lloc es presenta un mètode de Structure from Motion seqüencial, a on el model 3D de l'entorn s'actualitza a mesura que s'adquireix nova informació visual. La proposta és més precisa i robusta que l'estat de l'art. També s'ha desenvolupat un mètode online, basat en visual bag-of-words, per a la detecció eficient de llaços. Essent una tècnica completament seqüencial i automàtica, permet la reducció de deriva, millorant la navegació i construcció de mapes. Per tal de construir mapes en àrees extenses, es proposa un algorisme de simplificació de models 3D, orientat a aplicacions online. L'eficiència de les propostes s'ha comparat amb altres mètodes utilitzant diversos conjunts de dades submarines i terrestres.

Generating virtual environments to allow increased access to the built environment

The problems encountered by individuals with disabilities when accessing large public buildings is described and a solution based on the generation of virtual models of the built environment is proposed. These models are superimposed on a control network infrastructure, currently utilised in intelligent building applications such as lighting, heating and access control. The use of control network architectures facilitates the creation of distributed models that closely mirror both the physical and control properties of the environment. The model of the environment is kept local to the installation which allows the virtual representation of a large building to be decomposed into an interconnecting series of smaller models. This paper describes two methods of interacting with the virtual model, firstly a two dimensional aural representation that can be used as the basis of a portable navigational device. Secondly an augmented reality called DAMOCLES that overlays additional information on a user’s normal field of view. The provision of virtual environments offers new possibilities in the man-machine interface so that intuitive access to network based services and control functions can be given to a user.

Computer-simulated environment for training : challenge of efficacy evaluation

Computer-assisted instruction has been around for decades. There has been much speculation about the benefits of computer-mediated learning. Numerous applications have been developed in different domains incorporated with emerging technologies. In recently years, advanced technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), have received much attention in their potential of creating interactive learning experience for the users. However, related literature and empirical studies indicated that learning effects in computer-simulated environments or Virtual Environments (VEs) are not systematically tested. Furthermore, the performance and learning in computer-simulated learning environment need to be evaluated through more rigorous methods. This paper suggests that 1) the efficacy of VEs is subject to a close examination, not only in terms of how VE-based training systems are easy of use, but also in terms of how effective learning is; 2) evaluation of learning in computer simulated learning environments is required to be reconsidered in terms of theoretical basis and evaluation methodologies that are relevant to the measurement of training effectiveness in computer-simulated virtual learning environment. This paper explains on how learning can be assessed in VEs through the lens of training evaluation.

3D sparse feature model using short baseline stereo and multiple view registration

This paper outlines a methodology to generate a distinctive object representation offline, using short-baseline stereo fundamentals to triangulate highly descriptive object features in multiple pairs of stereo images. A group of sparse 2.5D perspective views are built and the multiple views are then fused into a single sparse 3D model using a common 3D shape registration technique. Having prior knowledge, such as the proposed sparse feature model, is useful when detecting an object and estimating its pose for real-time systems like augmented reality.

Generation of 3D sparse feature models using multiple stereo views

Augmented Reality (AR) renders virtual information onto objects in the real world. This new user interface paradigm presents a seamless blend of the virtual and real, where the convergence of the two is difficult to discern. However, errors in the registration of the real and virtual worlds are common and often destroy the AR illusion. To achieve accurate and efficient registration, the pose of real objects must be resolved in a quick and precise manner.

Alison Bennett : shifting skin

Ten large exhibition prints with digital 3D augmented reality overlay

Shifting skin

AR[t] is published by the AR Lab. This article provides insight into the development of the exhibition 'Alison Bennett: Shifting Skin'

Virtual worlds in Australian and New Zealand higher education: Remembering the past, understanding the present and imagining the future

3D virtual reality, including the current generation of multi-user virtual worlds, has had a long history of use in education and training, and it experienced a surge of renewed interest with the advent of Second Life in 2003. What followed shortly after were several years marked by considerable hype around the use of virtual worlds for teaching, learning and research in higher education. For the moment, uptake of the technology seems to have plateaued, with academics either maintaining the status quo and continuing to use virtual worlds as they have previously done or choosing to opt out altogether. This paper presents a brief review of the use of virtual worlds in the Australian and New Zealand higher education sector in the past and reports on its use in the sector at the present time, based on input from members of the Australian and New Zealand Virtual Worlds Working Group. It then adopts a forward-looking perspective amid the current climate of uncertainty, musing on future directions and offering suggestions for potential new applications in light of recent technological developments and innovations in the area.

Towards parameter-less 3D mesh segmentation

This thesis focuses on the 3D mesh segmentation process. The research demonstrated how the process can be done in a parameterless approach which allows full automation with accurate results. Applications of this research include, but not limited to, 3D search engines, 3D character animation, robotics environment recognition, and augmented reality.

Bird flock

The work consists of a set of six, utilitarian wine glasses. Each glass features the engraving of a bird silhouette; the six engravings represent a flock of birds and also six key-poses in the animated flight-cycle of one bird. Beside the array of wine glasses sits a screen on which is displayed a looped animation of this same bird in flight. In a way, the six wine glasses represent the six animation cels of the displayed animation. Additionally, each engraved glass serves as a sight-trigger for a smart-phone or other mobile device. If one has the Aurasma app on their device and holds it up to ‘look at’ any one of the engravings, the animation of the flying bird will also be displayed on their device’s screen.

Realidade aumentada aplicada em bibliotecas: multiplicidade no acesso a informação

Conceitua Realidade Aumentada do ponto de vista histórico de vários autores e como surgiu esse segmento através da evolução tecnológica até os dias atuais. Aborda seu funcionamento, como também, seus sistemas e aplicações em diversos campos de pesquisas e estudos científicos. Diferencia Realidade Aumentada de Realidade Virtual, visando melhor esclarecimento entre ambas na intenção de descaracterizá-las com uma única “realidade”. Apresenta a Realidade Aumentada e sua aplicação dentro de um contexto de uma unidade de informação, promovendo uma melhor interação com os usuários e as adaptações pelas quais as bibliotecas terão que passar futuramente para se adequarem a “explosão” tecnológica. Descreve o funcionamento da biblioteca ARToolKIT, baseada em RA e suas principais etapas de funcionamento para visualização de objetos virtuais em 3D. Exemplifica os benefícios que uma unidade de informação, que utiliza Realidade Aumentada, promove aos usuários portadores de deficiência, além de sua inclusão no meio digital e sua inserção no mercado de trabalho

Odometria visual baseada em técnicas de structure from motion

Visual Odometry is the process that estimates camera position and orientation based solely on images and in features (projections of visual landmarks present in the scene) extraced from them. With the increasing advance of Computer Vision algorithms and computer processing power, the subarea known as Structure from Motion (SFM) started to supply mathematical tools composing localization systems for robotics and Augmented Reality applications, in contrast with its initial purpose of being used in inherently offline solutions aiming 3D reconstruction and image based modelling. In that way, this work proposes a pipeline to obtain relative position featuring a previously calibrated camera as positional sensor and based entirely on models and algorithms from SFM. Techniques usually applied in camera localization systems such as Kalman filters and particle filters are not used, making unnecessary additional information like probabilistic models for camera state transition. Experiments assessing both 3D reconstruction quality and camera position estimated by the system were performed, in which image sequences captured in reallistic scenarios were processed and compared to localization data gathered from a mobile robotic platform

Técnicas de paralelização em GPGPU aplicadas em algoritmo para remoção de ruído multiplicativo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)