Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics

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Fraunhofer Institute for
Computer Graphics
Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics
Headquarters in Darmstadt
Category: research Institute
Carrier: Fraunhofer Society
Legal form of the carrier: Registered association
Seat of the wearer: Munich
Facility location: Darmstadt
Branch offices: Rostock , Singapore , Graz
Type of research: Applied research
Subjects: Engineering
Areas of expertise: Computer science
Basic funding: Federal government (90%), states (10%)
Management: Dieter W. Fellner
Employee: approx. 185
Homepage: www.igd.fraunhofer.de

The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD), or Fraunhofer IGD for short , is a research facility of the Fraunhofer Society founded in 1987 . The main location is at the Technical University of Darmstadt . With its other locations in Rostock, Singapore and Graz, Fraunhofer IGD has a total of more than 180 permanent employees.

The institute sees itself as a facility for applied visual computing . It develops prototypes and complete solutions according to customer-specific requirements for such applications as virtual product development and multimedia learning .

The founding director is José Luís Encarnação , who relinquished management in 2006 and retired in 2009. The institute has been headed by Dieter W. Fellner since 2006 . Fraunhofer IGD is a member of the Fraunhofer Group for Information and Communication Technology (IuK).

Fraunhofer IGD is a partner of the national research center for applied cybersecurity (ATHENE) .

Projects and Cooperations

Fraunhofer IGD, together with its partner universities TU Darmstadt , University of Rostock , TU Graz and NTU Singapore , researches key technologies and cooperates with companies in a wide variety of industrial sectors.

The institute's budget is mainly generated through projects that are financed by industry or public funds. Often several entities work together on a project. Industrial projects without public support are used for the individual processing of a specific problem of the respective company.

In this context, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD offers various forms of cooperation. In detail these are:

  • Studies
  • consultation
  • Development of concepts
  • Software development
  • Software adjustments.

Core competencies

The institute's very broad range of research and tasks includes:

3D interaction and visualization, 3D printing and material appearance, 3D scanning , animation , Ambient Intelligence , Big Data , Cyber Security , augmented reality ( augmented reality ), biometrics , Cloud Computing , Digital Assistant, watermark , geometry processing, Graphic Information Systems , Graphical User Interfaces, Maritime Image Processing, Medical Imaging , Modeling , Perceptual Computing , Radiosity & Raytracing , Sensor Technology , Smart Living , Ubiquitous Computing / Pervasive Computing , Virtual Reality .

Departments

The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, with its headquarters in Darmstadt and independent institute parts in Rostock , Singapore and Graz, is divided into twelve different development departments that conduct research in a specific core competence. In addition, there is a comprehensive service center in the Service Center (SC).

Darmstadt branch of the institute

Interactive engineering technologies

The research focus of the department is the interactive behavior of the technical solutions developed here in the field of engineering processes. The department specializes in modeling reality and GPU-centered computing. There is cooperation in particular with the automotive industry, aircraft and mechanical engineering, the IT industry and the publishing industry.

Information visualization and visual analytics

The research goal of the department is to develop new visualization techniques that make complicated issues easily understandable. The interdisciplinary team develops solutions for the interactive visualization of large amounts of data (" visual analytics "), information and semantic visualization, as well as real-time solutions for the simulation, visualization and rendering of data.

In the area of ​​information and semantic visualization, solutions were mostly developed based on the SemaVis visualization technology. SemaVis allows the simple and user-centered display of heterogeneous data. A major focus is on the automatic adaptation of the user interface, which automatically adapts the display based on data characteristics or user behavior and thus takes individual needs into account. In the current version, big data (e.g. company data or open data) can also be visualized and analyzed, for example for visual trend analysis.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

One of the largest departments of the IGD researches virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). In the VR area, technical facilities such as HEyeWall and Cave are available. With it, novel display systems and interaction possibilities are examined and developed to industrial maturity. Many of these developments are based on the open source scene graph OpenSG, which was also created at IGD. The findings flow into the development and further development of the instantReality technology system.

In the AR area, camera and object tracking methods are being developed and evaluated in publicly funded projects such as ARVIKA and MATRIS in order to examine their possible uses. Applications such as AR binoculars (a combination of AR and VR technologies) that were installed at the Messel pit emerged . The spin-offs include the companies Cybernarium and VRCom.

Geographic information management

The research focuses on innovative technologies that enable successful communication and efficient cooperation with the help of digital geographic information . Here, 3D geographic information systems support integration, administration and visualization.

In the area of ​​»geo and metadata server «, conceptual work and technical developments support the construction and use of geodata infrastructures . Examples of developments are the KogiPlan location planning system or the InGeo-InformationCenter metadata information system.

In the area of ​​»3D GIS«, the solutions are mostly based on the specially developed CityServer3D platform. The CityServer3D can be used as data storage for 3D city and landscape models. The software suite can be used for urban planning, noise mapping, development planning or location management and city marketing. Application examples are the hiking tour generator 3D route planner and the automated recognition of landmarks for navigation.

In the “Mobile use of geographic information” and location-based services topic, the focus is on the provision of information for mobile people. The output medium is usually the standard mobile phone, via which the user accesses information or services. Application examples are the mobile 3D viewer or the location-based gaming platform MobileChase.

Visual Healthcare Technologies

The most important business areas are medical image processing, industrial image processing and the analysis and processing of digital media. The focus here is on the extraction and processing of information from images in various application contexts. Work is underway to transfer computer vision technologies into digital media applications.

Smart Living and Biometric Technologies

The former “Interactive Multimedia Appliances” and “Identification and Biometry” departments have been merged to form this new department at Fraunhofer IGD.

A variety of technologies and methods are used to create an environment that supports its residents in coping with everyday tasks. Technologies from biometrics enable the machine to recognize humans and enable the system to respond appropriately to the residents' wishes and needs.

The dynamic systems and intelligent platforms are inconspicuously integrated into the living and working environment and assist with daily activities. For example, the camera in a door intercom could recognize a household member by their face and corridor and unlock the door as soon as the handle is pressed.

Visual Computing System Technologies

The VCST department was founded to make the basic technologies of Fraunhofer IGD more available to other research groups and to industry. Under Visual Computing (VC) is understood as image- and model-based computer science. These include virtual and augmented reality, graphic data processing and computer vision.

The VCST's technological basis includes the instantReality visualization software, which combines the functionalities of virtual and augmented reality (VR / AR) into a complex mixed reality system. Its semantics are based on standards in 3D computer graphics such as X3D . The system offers a variety of solutions for a wide variety of industries from mechanical engineering to medicine to cultural heritage. In the industrial sector z. B. Simulations for product development and presentation can be implemented much more efficiently and cost-effectively. The system is characterized above all by the support of a large number of multimodal input and output interfaces including PC clusters.

VCST's research continues to focus on the topic of 3D Internet. For this purpose, the foundation stone was laid in 2009 together with the Web3D consortium in the form of the open source platform X3DOM, which has been continuously developed since then. During the past 15 years there have been several initiatives to integrate 3D as a technology in the web browser. However, these approaches were implemented almost exclusively with system-specific plug-ins, were only insufficiently integrated into web technologies and are still not widely used today. X3DOM, as a new initiative for the direct integration of 3D content into the HTML5 standard, now for the first time creates the conditions for visualizing declarative 3D content on the Internet without special APIs or plugins and for manipulating it with standard web technologies such as CSS and DOM scripting.

3D printing technology

Fraunhofer IGD is researching 3D printing. The accurate reproduction of given optical material properties is an important criterion for the application. The aim is to reproduce the geometry, color, texture, gloss and translucency of an object. With their octopus-inspired software "Cuttlefish", the researchers in the "3D Printing Technology" department enable improved 3D color printing.

Perceptually optimal reproductions are also of central importance in multi-color (CMYK +) and relief printing. To this end, Fraunhofer IGD is developing new models and algorithms with which, for example, angle-dependent color impressions (goniochromatic effects) can be reproduced.

3D scanning

Fraunhofer IGD has many years of experience in the detailed digitization of objects and cultural assets such as sculptures, coins or building-like structures. 3D scanning involves a variety of techniques and technologies, but in general it's the process of capturing data and converting those readings into a 3D model. 3D scanning has been used for years in industry, healthcare, the architecture and construction industry, the cultural and creative industries, and science. The 3D data obtained are used for quality assurance, reconstruction or reverse engineering. They can also be used for digital documentation, presentation and preservation of cultural assets. The CultLab3D scanning line, which enables mass digitization, is located at the institute.

Rostock location

The Rostock branch was opened in 1992. His work focuses on multimedia communication, mobile multimedia applications as well as solutions and applications that enable people to interact with computers.

The Fraunhofer IGD in Rostock is currently investigating "Interactive Document Engineering". It is about solutions with which digital documents can be created, found and made available in a situation-related manner in specific application areas. Further research topics are "Knowledge Engineering", "Usability" and "Emotion-Based Interaction".

In 2009 the Competence Center “Maritime Graphics” was established. It focuses on applying visual computing methods in the maritime industry. In the shipbuilding, ship operation, marine research and offshore technology sectors, virtual and augmented reality, image processing and knowledge management are used.

Singapore location

In 1998, Fraunhofer IGD founded the Center for Advanced Media Technology (CAMTech) together with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore. The research and development center is located directly on the NTU campus and focuses on the area of ​​interactive digital media (IDM). On May 31, 2010, CAMTech was transferred to a joint project center, the Fraunhofer Project Center for IDM @ NTU (Fraunhofer IDM @ NTU). Software solutions for internet-enabled mobile phones are to be one of the main areas of development. The Fraunhofer IDM @ NTU is also active in the areas of computer graphics, computer vision as well as virtual and extended realities.

Fraunhofer Singapore has been an independent subsidiary of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft since 2017.

Graz location

In 2007 Fraunhofer IGD opened a project office at Graz University of Technology and transferred it to Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH on April 1, 2009. It is thus integrated into the efforts of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to serve the market in Southeast Europe. The Graz branch of the IGD is part of a “Visual Computing” cluster of excellence established at TU Graz.

The »Visual Computing« division deals with solutions in graphic data processing, for computer vision as well as in virtual and augmented reality. Generative modeling is to be converted into practical applications. Alternative approaches to describing 3D shapes allow furniture, buildings or machines to be modeled and modified.

The BioSG software is a product of Fraunhofer IGD Graz. With their help, highly complex molecules can be shown, rotated and enlarged in three dimensions. The software is computationally undemanding and is particularly suitable for conference presentations.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Facts & Figures | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  2. Homepage iuk.fraunhofer.de
  3. Research Lines | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  4. Technologies | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  5. Interactive simulation | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  6. Information visualization | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  7. a b Archive link ( Memento of the original dated February 22, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.semavis.net
  8. Kawa Nazemi, Reimond Retz, Dirk Burkhardt, Arjan Kuijper, Jörn Kohlhammer, and Dieter W. Fellner. 2015. Visual trend analysis with digital libraries. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Knowledge Technologies and Data-Driven Business (i-KNOW '15). ACM, New York, NY, USA, Article 14, 8 pages. doi : 10.1145 / 2809563.2809569
  9. Virtual & Augmented Reality | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  10. Spatial Information Management | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  11. Medical Imaging | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  12. biometrics | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  13. Smart Living | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  14. [1]  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Fraunhofer IGD. Press release from March 10, 2016.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.igd.fraunhofer.de  
  15. [2] , Fraunhofer IGD. Smart Living & Biometric Technologies department.
  16. [3]  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Fraunhofer IGD. Press release from March 10, 2016.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.igd.fraunhofer.de  
  17. Real-time visualization | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  18. http://www.instantreality.org/
  19. http://www.web3d.org/
  20. http://www.x3dom.org/
  21. 3D printing | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  22. 3D scanning | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .
  23. CultLab3D | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved on July 9, 2018 (German).
  24. Fraunhofer goes Singapore: Federal Research Minister opens Fraunhofer Project Center  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.fair-news.de  
  25. Smart Singapore | Fraunhofer IGD. Retrieved July 9, 2018 .

Coordinates: 49 ° 52 ′ 27.2 "  N , 8 ° 39 ′ 34.5"  E