This fall, the ASE/EM department at The University of Texas at Austin begins work on a new computational resource for students and faculty—a dedicated Visualization Laboratory. The laboratory, intended as an integrated education and research facility, offers a three-dimensional immersive visualization environment in a small classroom setting. The hardware, designed and built by Fakespace Solutions, includes a 6’ x 8’ rear projected stereoscopic display and a wire­less tracking system. The main purpose of the lab is to provide a collaborative environment where aerospace engineering students and faculty can visualize, navigate, interact with, and manipulate simulations, models, and design parameters. This setting offers students and faculty an opportunity to observe the impact and consequences of all their design assumptions.

In recent years, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) established the first Scientific Visualization (SciVis) Center at UT Austin, which currently services researchers across the entire university. However, since all disciplines within ASE/EM benefit from scientific visualization, a smaller yet dedicated visualization facility is an invaluable resource to the department.

The concept, originally proposed and initiated by Assistant Professor Belinda Marchand, quickly developed into a much more ambitious project—from an independent research laboratory into a small classroom learning tool. The idea gained momentum through the enthusiasm and support of Professor and Chairman, Robert Bishop. In spring of 2006, the project received additional support through the College of Engineering and the ASE/EM department for the procure­ment of hardware and software necessary to transition the lab into a small classroom environment. The facility, located across from the Learning Resource Center, is currently undergoing physical renova­tions and should be completed by early fall, in time for the equip­ment arrival and installation.

The resources of the Aerospace Visualization Lab will support undergraduate and graduate student design projects, course enhancement and development, and sponsored research projects. Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to partici­pate in the development through independent research courses. Students and faculty may submit ideas, from each of their areas of specialty, for projects they feel would benefit from this new resource. These initial research projects will eventually become the foundation of a series of online tutorials and training videos available through the lab’s website. The website is presently envisioned as a collaborative effort between the ASE/EM department and the Faculty Innovation Center at UT. The possibilities are endless and we are all excited to offer this new resource to our students and faculty and to see how it evolves in time.