Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS)

Facility Overview

For over 30 years, the Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) has been providing visualization support to each of the Glenn Research Center’s core competencies. We are a unique lab that develops graphic visualizations from data and models to provide researchers, scientists, engineers and others with a visual tool to develop solutions for their work.

Our team is part of the Scientific Computing and Visualization Team at Glenn which works to unite the worlds of visualization and scientific computing.

The lab is also part of a collection of “Creative Spaces” at Glenn. It is a facility whose doors are always open for NASA employees to stop by and discuss their needs and ideas, and also to experiment with the equipment.

What We Do

One of the Lab’s main objectives is to work with scientists and engineers to produce custom graphics applications of their projects.

Within our varied projects, we specialize in:

• Virtual design
• Interactive 3D simulations
• Natural user interface development
• Mission scenario visualizations

The Lab supports the visualization of a wide variety of 3D data and models such as CAD, point clouds and volume data. We are capable of high-impact data visualization, web-based visualization, time-accurate data representation, and designing and testing CAD models in virtual reality.

The GVIS Lab also places an emphasis on education and outreach by educating the community through hands-on educational events at local schools, museums and organizations. By hosting tours of the lab and conducting presentations and events, the lab inspires the next generation of STEM-minded students.

 

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Visualizations

The GVIS Lab’s visualizations allow people to interact with science and environments in an interactive and intuitive way.

GRUVE Lab

The GRUVE Lab provides a fully interactive virtual reality space in which to observe and analyze data and environments.

Services

The GVIS Lab offers diverse visualization displays, solutions and services for all of NASA and the scientific community.

History of GVIS Lab

Since its creation in 1989, the GVIS Lab has had a storied visual and technological history.

GVIS Students

The GVIS Lab hosts several college and high school interns throughout the year, giving motivated students the chance to develop their skills while working ...

Visualization Devices

The Graphics & Visualization Lab, located at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio, uses advanced technology to design and develop software ...

What We’re Working On

ZBOT

NASA is working to improve storage of propellants in space. One of the most efficient propellants, liquid hydrogen, cannot be stored long-term in space—it must be kept very cold (20K) or it will boil off. This visualization shows a computer simulation of a liquid hydrogen propellant tank with an internal “jet mixer” to help equalize the internal fluid temperatures. It’ll be used to help analyze the effectiveness of this method with the aim of being able to store liquid hydrogen more efficiently for space missions.

W1A Test Facility

W-1A is NASA Glenn’s Low Speed Axial Compressor facility. This virtual reality experience allows the user to take an immersive and interactive tour of the facility as it is being used for recent work on jet engine casing treatments. Using a VR headset or the Cave Automated Virtual-Reality Environment (CAVE), the user can explore the facility’s environment, examine the engine and pick up objects to better inspect them in a seemingly realistic way.

A video featuring the W-1A visualization can be seen on our YouTube channel.

Quick Facts

• The GVIS Lab consists of two rooms: the main lab and the GRUVE Lab
• All six of NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s core competencies are supported through GVIS Lab’s visualization work
• The CAVE consists of three vertical walls and a floor measuring 22.5′ wide x 18.5′ deep x 10′ high on which computer-generated stereoscopic images are displayed
• The Lab was the first facility in Cleveland to have high-speed frame buffers connected to a supercomputer
• The Lab is also the first facility in Ohio to possess a Computer Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE)

360° View of the GVIS Lab

Capabilities

The Lab maintains a large collection of computing, visualization, and user interaction devices including:

• Virtual reality display devices
  • Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, Oculus S, Oculus Quest
  • HTC Vive
  • Room-scale CAVE
• Augmented reality head mounted displays
  • HoloLens V1 and V2
  • Magic Leap
• 3D displays
  • zSpace
• Psuedo 3D displays
  • Pepper’s Ghost display
  • Persistence of Vision (POV) LED display
  • Looking Glass
• Projection devices for projected AR
• Natural user interface devices
  • Leap Motion
  • Microsoft Kinect include Azure Kinect
  • Myo armband
• Cameras for mixed-reality
  • ZED and ZED-Mini
• Computing hardware
  • High-end gaming laptops
  • High-end tablets and smartphones

All of these devices are available for employees to try and test for possible application to their work.

Using Our Facilities

We support all six of the center’s core competencies and all four of NASA’s general mission directives, as well as the surrounding research community. If you are considering using our data visualization, 3D modeling, or other services, please contact us.

Scientific Computing and Visualization Team

Contact Us!

Need to reach us? You can directly send an email to the GVIS Team GRC-DL-GVIS@mail.nasa.gov or the Team Leader, Herb Schilling hschilling@nasa.gov

Like our content? Follow us on social media @nasa_gvis on Twitter and Instagram!