CU@AG
GROUP MEMBERS
- Aria Zhang
- Hudson Pu
- Kunle Salami
- Shuheng Wang
INDUSTRY PARTNER
Carleton University Art Gallery (CUAG)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
CU@AG (See you at the Art Gallery) intends to increase awareness of the Carleton Art Gallery through a virtual reality (VR) experience and augmented reality (AR) app. Through the VR and AR experiences, users can tour the Carleton campus and learn about several exterior artworks through visual and audio narrative. The intended audience is made up of current Carleton students, both undergraduate and graduate, who regularly visit the campus. Even though they frequently move around campus, they often overlook the artworks and sculptures from outside the CUAG and few have accessed the gallery. CU@AG provides potential CUAG visitors with a fun and interactive experience that will guide them to the gallery.
GROUP MEMBERS
- Aria Zhang
- Hudson Pu
- Kunle Salami
- Shuheng Wang
INDUSTRY PARTNER
Carleton University Art Gallery (CUAG)
final project
The video shows a walkthrough of the VR experience, developed with Unity Engine and Oculus Quest 2 for Windows PC. This project aims to increase the communication between users, artworks, and the campus. By experiencing the virtual tour, users can slow down from their real life, take some time to investigate the artworks, read about their background stories, and be aware of Carleton’s wonderful art collection and the gallery’s exhibitions.
Development of VR environment
The VR experience consists of a campus model, artworks models, information panels, and other design elements. The campus model is created in Unity 3D using an FBX import of complex campus model provided by Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS). Environmental elements, textures, and sounds are added to the experience.
Artwork Models
Artwork models were created using photogrammetry, a process that involves taking multiple photographs of the same object or area from different angles and using specialized software, Reality Capture, to stitch them together, to create an accurate 3D model. Photogrammetry provided a method for including accurately modelled and highly detailed artwork.
VR Navigation
Within the VR experience, users follow light markers on the ground to lead the participant through the multi-location tour. At each artwork, an information panel is present that includes both text and audio narration explaining the significance of the artwork.
AR App
In addition to the VR experience, a prototype for an AR app called CUAG’s Manifest Reality was designed to bring visitors around campus physically. While following the storyline on the app, visitors can explore the campus and artwork, ending their journey at the Carleton University Art Gallery.
