
Researchers at GSA’s School of Simulation and Visualisation (SimVis) at the Pacific Quay are experts in 3D digital visualisation, virtual reality and augmented reality, and have won numerous industrial research contracts in this area.
Recently, SimVis has been at the forefront in use of advanced data capture technologies to generate accurate 3D virtual models of physical structures in the real world. SimVis is also the first art school-based R&D centre to be awarded a grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), highlighting the team’s strength in combining creative expertise with STEM skills.

High impact projects involving GSA’s SimVis include:
- Scottish Ten – virtual modelling of Scottish and international UNESCO World heritage sites, with Historic Environment Scotland and CyArk.
- 3D virtual anatomy model – developing an ultra-realistic 3D, interactive, virtual model of the whole human anatomy that will transform medical and surgical education and training.
- Virtual reality to improve manufacturing of future medicines – a collaboration of SimVis with the University of Strathclyde.
The Scottish Ten project utilised high precision laser scanning to generate virtual models of ten heritage sites