Handshake with VIA University College
- Post by: Marco Bertoni
- 16th October 2024
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From September 30 to October 2, the BTH team—Marco Bertoni, Carl Toller Melén, Giulia Wally Scurati, and our visiting fellow from Politecnico of Milano Riccardo Giussani—visited Denmark for a collaborative event with VIA University College, AugmentCity, and Region Central Denmark. The focus was on the expanding field of Extended Reality (XR) and its applications in education and industry.
VIA University College, a prominent higher education institution in Denmark, has campuses in Aarhus, Horsens, and Viborg. Established in 2008, it offers a variety of programs in engineering, health sciences, social sciences, education, and business, known for its hands-on learning approach and strong industry collaborations. Our main host was Thomas Bøgevald Bjørnsten, head of the research program for digital and sustainable processes at VIA, and a key contact for the EU RESIST project.
The collaboration commenced with a lunch meeting at VIA Campus Aarhus Filmbyen, followed by a review of the RESIST project objectives and findings. The subsequent workshop centered on XR collaborations, focusing on best practices and research opportunities between VIA and BTH. Participants also had a chance to experience the Graphycal Digital Twin developed by AugmentCity, discussing the challenges and benefits of integrating XR to enhance decision-making and immersion.
Day two began at VIA Campus Horsens, where the team revisited the RESIST transfer plan and engaged in targeted workshops. A visit to the VIA XR Lab showcased cutting-edge technologies, including the FESTO Learning Factory, where hands-on VR experiences provided valuable insights into XR applications.
A standout moment was the tour of Fængslet, a former prison now serving as a cultural venue. Participants interacted with VR installations that illuminated the site’s history, demonstrating XR’s potential in cultural heritage engagement. Special thanks to CoFlow Visuals and Jørgen Jakobsen for their guidance during the Fængslet tour.
On the final day at VIA Campus C in Aarhus, discussions focused on twinning strategies and implementing climate adaptation solutions from Region Central Denmark to Region Blekinge.
While leveraging immersive technologies and digital twins can be challenging, the knowledge exchange across our specialized research areas brought us closer to actionable ideas. In the end, a great road trip to during which we discovered a valuable partner for developing tools and methods for enhancing XR solutions to support climate change adaptation processes and more.