Researcher and Scientific Coordinator of one of the R&I departments at CCG/ZGDV, Luís Gonzaga Magalhães tells us about the importance of Computer Graphics in the history of this Institute, from heritage to industry and health.

 

How did CCG/ZGDV become a national reference in Computer Graphics?

The CCG/ZGDV Institute began its activities in 1993, and from the outset it played a key role in the area of ​​Computer Graphics, quickly becoming a national reference. Since its creation, the area of ​​Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR) has emerged as one of the CCG/ZGDV's main areas of expertise, resulting in emblematic projects such as the Virtual Oceanarium, created for Expo98, and participation in the European Archeoguide project (1999), which received several awards for its innovative nature. Throughout its history, the CCG/ZGDV has consolidated its expertise in this area and applied its know-how to various sectors.

 

What are the main sectors of applicability?

We have been developing several digital solutions using VR for various sectors. In the “Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage” VR has been applied, for example, to create mobile guides that help visitors to spaces access various information, including virtual reconstructions of objects or monuments, the visualization of these virtual objects on site using augmented reality, or the use of augmented reality to highlight defects in structures, contributing to the preservation of monuments.

In the Industry sector, virtual reality has been used more to develop training and education solutions. In contrast, augmented reality, in addition to its potential for training, is applied in developing solutions to assist in the maintenance or operation of equipment.

In the health sector, virtual reality plays a fundamental role in the development of solutions that assist in surgery planning. These are just a few examples of the multiple applications developed over the years in various sectors.

 

What to expect from the future?

In addition to strengthening current solutions in the coming years, our priority is to add intelligence to our equipment maintenance and operation assistance tools, making them more efficient and autonomous.

We will also explore the use of Generative AI in conjunction with avatars to develop intelligent assistants capable of interacting more naturally and personally. In addition, we will invest in creating digital twins, enabling the simulation and optimization of processes in real-time. These initiatives aim to boost innovation and expand the impact of our solutions in various sectors.