AR/VR Tools User Guides

The KAUST Visualization Core Lab (KVL) provides augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) hardware, software, and technical support. KVL provides a wide variety of AR/VR devices as well as high-end Windows workstations for AR/VR development. KVL also provides access and support for AR/VR software such as Avizo, Unity, SimLab, and GetReal3D. In some cases, KVL also provides development support and collaboration for special projects. Contact us or watch this presentation to learn more.

Users who wish to quickly access an AR/VR workstation can book our Vive facility. Contact us to request access to other AR/VR hardware below (we also have legacy hardware not listed here, e.g., HTC Vive, Meta 2, Magic Leap 1, Oculus Rift).

• HoloLens 2 (2X)
• HTC Vive Pro 2 (2X)
• HTC Vive Pro (1X)
• HTC Vive Focus 3 (2X)
• Meta/Oculus Quest 2 (2X)
• Meta/Oculus Quest Pro (2X)

Below are the main software solutions that KVL supports for data visualization and interaction in AR/VR. If your data or research problem requires something else, reach out to us to discuss possible collaboration.

The easiest way to bring your data to VR is by using Avizo. If you can load your data in Avizo, then you can visualize and interact with your data in VR by following a few steps without the need for any programming. A big advantage of this approach is that it works out of the box in three different KVL facilities that users can book: 1) Vive head mounted display, 2) Zone 5 immersive display, and 3) CUBES immersive display. Zone 5 and CUBES are great for giving impressive demonstrations/presentations that can wow your audience with a unique stereo 3D visualization experience. Another advantage is that you can also use Avizo as a powerful tool for processing your data, and it works on your laptop/desktop as well.

Users can also develop their own AR/VR application using the Unity game engine. KVL can provide Educational Unity licenses upon request. If your dataset is or can be converted to a mesh format, e.g., FBX, OBJ, DAE, then it is relatively easy to bring your data into an AR/VR application in Unity. If your dataset is tabular, e.g., csv, then you can use the DXR toolkit to create glyph-based plots.