World-Class Research
VISUALISE YOUR FUTURE WORLD
A collaboration between the Royal Academy of Engineering Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design at Heriot-Watt and Glasgow- based company Linknode Ltd is creating a Mobile Architectural Visualisation Platform for Planners and Communities which will transform stakeholder engagement in the construction sector. Entitled UrbanPlanAR, this visualisation platform uses state-of-the-art urban location tracking, harnessing available 3D city models and integrates technology to enable a smooth workflow with Building Information Modelling (BIM). The result will be an augmented reality solution which will allow all stakeholders, including architects, developers and planning authorities, along with communities and citizens, to visualise planned developments within their actual urban environments in real-time.
Dr Frédéric Bosché of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design said: “UrbanPlanAR is about delivering a modern solution to transform stakeholder engagement in the construction sector, including engagement with the general public. Our strategic partnership with Linknode will lead to improved knowledge and expertise and is likely to raise new questions that will drive future research projects.” Dr Crispin Hoult, Director of Linknode, commented: “The opportunity to extend Linknode’s business in AR solutions in collaboration with the academic input from Heriot-Watt University is helping us create a world-leading solution.”
INDUSTRY BOOST FOR GROUNDBREAKING MS RESEARCH
Ground breaking research into Multiple Sclerosis (MS) within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering has received a major boost from Epigem, a British-based, high-tech micro-engineering company which operates in Europe, the USA and the Far East, and has a 20 year history of partnership with the University.
Epigem is funding a new PhD studentship which will focus on creating a new microfluidic platform, using human central nervous system cells and innovative bioengineering to allow neuronal activity to be controlled and monitored for the first time. Tim Ryan, Managing Director of Epigem, explained: “Through the development of a novel microfluidic platform, this inter-disciplinary project will enable fundamental research into the causes and treatment of MS and extend the results to other central nervous system diseases. We are really excited to be involved with Heriot-Watt and hope our 20 years of experience in micro-engineering will increase the potential of success.”
Professor Rory Duncan, Head of the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, who will oversee the PhD studentship, commented: “This is a fantastic example of cross-disciplinary collaboration and we are delighted to work alongside Epigem. The PhD programme is also sponsored by Medical Research Scotland and the hope is that the research will make a major contribution to understanding MS – a debilitating neurological disease that affects around 127,000 people in the UK – and improve diagnosis and treatment, and the development of innovative MS therapies.”
Industry collaboration pioneers how planners will see the future
24 Heriot-Watt University Annual Review 2015
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