Our partner research lab, the scAInce VR lab at the Institute of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering at Technical University Darmstadt, uses VR as a research methodology to test urban scenarios and to assess the role of new technologies for future developments. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, where environmental, economic, and social challenges are concentrated. The project analyzes past smart-city initiatives and conducts virtual simulations, with the aim of developing a model that helps cities choose technologies aligned with their sustainability goals.
Spectra Cities, the virtual toolkit for a city of 1+ million people we developed with Ryan Rzepecki is the main focus of the lab. The virtual city will be used to study experimental approaches to infrastructure projects. A VR-based methodology allows us to introduce behavioral analysis as an important assessment tool for the viability of various approaches.
With our dual software development and architectural design expertise, we are supporting the lab in implementing their research initiatives.
One of our focuses in the scAInce VR Lab are built environment simulations that help assess possible solutions from a practical engineering perspective but also from a human, behavioral angle.
The scAInce VR lab at the Institute of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering at Technical University Darmstadt is funded through an ERC Consolidator Grant awarded by the European Research Council and lead by professor Dr. Eva Kaßens-Noor.
