An Enhanced Photorealistic Immersive System using Augmented Situated Visualization within Virtual Reality

This work presents a system which allows image data and extracted features from a real-world location to be captured and modelled in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment combined with Augmented Situated Visualizations (ASV) overlaid and registered in a virtual environment. Combining these technologies with techniques from Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI)(such as image analysis and 3D reconstruction) allows the creation of a setting where remote locations can be modelled and interacted with from anywhere in the world. This Enhanced Photorealistic Immersive (EPI) system is highly adaptable to a wide range of use cases and users as it can be utilized to model and interact with any environment which can be captured as image data (such as training for operation in hazardous environments, accessibility solutions for exploration of historical/tourism locations and collaborative learning environments). A use case example focused on a structural examination of railway tunnels along with a pilot study is presented, which can demonstrate the usefulness of the EPI system.