Visualisation capability
The eResearch Office, in conjunction with Associate Professor Paul Pigram, Head of Physics, and VeRSI (The Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative) have completed a project to create a Visualisation hub within Physical Sciences.
On 23rd August 2011, Victorian Minister for Technology, Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips, launched the Visualisation Laboratory (VisLab), a high-tech laboratory equipped with innovative visualisation technology to allow researchers to run experiments remotely.
“VisLab will support Victorian researchers to open up doors to new research opportunities and generate breakthrough discoveries,”
“These facilities are an excellent example of what can be achieved through utilising our state’s infrastructure, as well as providing a facility for La Trobe’s researchers to engage with their international counterparts.”Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips
Researchers based in remote locations will be able to use VisLab to gain virtual access to laboratory infrastructure, allowing them to perform experiments without the expense of travelling to the laboratory.
VisLab will link to the Australian Synchrotron and other local and international facilities, including those with existing La Trobe remote stations. It will link to analytical equipment at Berlin’s BESSY Synchrotron, the Canadian Light Source at Saskatoon and Chicago’s Argonne Advanced Photon Source machine.
VisLab also doubles as a classroom, promoting and teaching science and technology to high-school and university students.
“The outreach work by VisLab will promote science and technology as exciting career paths and help ensure the skills of our future researchers are of the highest calibre,”
“To ensure the current technology skills in Victoria are maintained, the Victorian Government has committed a further $2 million in funding to the Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI) through which VisLab was funded.”Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips
This new space acts as a dedicated home for the Virtual Beam Line to the Synchrotron and is also La Trobe’s first Visualisation Laboratory. The room allows for the remote use of scientific instruments and imaging of scientific data. La Trobe now has the capability for interactive and immersive research collaboration, visualisation of simulations and deep imaging.
This visualisation lab also acts as a remote training laboratory and classroom for teaching instrument-centric science and exposing students to the laboratory experience.
The facility is made up of:
- A virtual beam line (for the synchrotron)
- HD videoconference theatrette for research
- Research simulation laboratory
The three activities in the facility are located in the PS1 building, room 114. High speed data networking existing in room 110 has been linked to this new room via patch lead from the existing switches.
A project to establish a second Visualisation Laboratory, to be located within Life Sciences, is planned for later in 2011.
