XR @ CISESS

Welcome TO XR @ CISESS

We firmly believe that immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality will change the way we interact with the digital world. At the Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS) at the University of Maryland: College Park, we blend this innovative technology with the fields of geoscience and meteorology to demonstrate the technology's potential for scientific innovation and education. Below, you can learn more about our projects and the field of XR technology!

Terrality

A atmospheric and oceanic data visualization application that utilizes virtual-reality (VR) to demonstrate datasets on a three-dimensional globe. We have utilized this application to demonstrate the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mechanism, as well as a supercell thunderstorm.

Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center

An educational application that teaches geoscience to general audiences using virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR). For example, we demonstrate how the faraday cage effect keeps you safe during a thunderstorm, how the water cycle works, how different types of lightning work, and more.

What is XR?

XR, which is short for extended reality, is an umbrella term used to describe immersive technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.

Virtual Reality

In virtual reality, you leave behind your physical environment to be completely immersed in a simulated 3D environment. We use virtual reality in the Virtual Proving Ground and Training Center to immerse our users in a virtual recreation of our lab space!

Mixed Reality

With mixed reality, you are immersed in a simulated 3D environment (like virtual reality) that is mixed with elements of your real environment. For example, a mixed-reality application could replace your floors with lava!

Augmented Reality

In augmented reality, devices like smart glasses or your smartphones utilize cameras and other sensors to add objects and other information to your real world environment.

HOW DO WE MAKE OUR APPS?

Meta Quest

The Meta Quest headsets--such as the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and the Meta Quest 3--are arguably the most affordable, popular, and advanced XR headsets on the market. We use these headsets to develop and run our apps!

Unity

Unity is referred to as a game engine, but don't be mislead--it's not just for making games! Unity helps us to develop our 3D XR applications and run them on a variety of headsets.

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