Digital Twin – VR Excavation Scenario

Year: 2022

Project Overview

This project, developed for the NewWorkDesignLab™ at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden, created a Digital Twin of a small laboratory space. Using the exact dimensions and geometry of an existing room on campus, I designed an immersive VR excavation environment for the Quest2 VR headset.

The experience showcased a blend of realistic archaeology-inspired visuals and creative set extensions, transforming a modest lab space into a dynamic excavation site. This environment served as an interactive exhibit during the Long Night of Sciences 2022, where visitors, especially children, enthusiastically explored the possibilities of immersion and spatial perception.

My Role

As the designer for this project, I was responsible for:

Custom Asset Creation: Designing and optimizing all objects, including excavation tools and architectural elements, for seamless use in midrange VR.
Environment Design: Building a realistic excavation scene based on accurate room measurements using game pipeline techniques.
Collaboration and Integration: Delivering visual assets and layout, later implemented in Unity by a technical collaborator for VR headset compatibility.

Features

Exact Digital Twin Geometry of the original room for precise spatial tracking.
Haptic Alignment: Virtual objects correspond precisely to their physical counterparts, allowing users to touch and interact with real-world furniture and items.
Custom Set Extensions to expand the experience creatively beyond the room’s physical boundaries.
Optimized for Quest 2, ensuring midrange VR performance and accessibility for public demonstrations.

Experience the Transformation

Check out the project animations to see how a small space can be reimagined through VR design.

Overlay animation showing the transformation from a real room to its digital twin matching the dimensions and geometry.

Overlay animation showing the transformation from the digital twin to the VR experience.

Gallery

This gallery showcases the immersive VR environment of an excavation site, created for the Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften 2022. Designed to demonstrate the potential of VR for spatial extension and creative engagement, it became a highlight for visitors, especially children were excited.

Workshops and Services

I offer research-driven design solutions focused on creating immersive virtual environments for education and outreach. Key services include:

Virtual Environment Design: Crafting interactive and visually engaging spaces tailored to specific use cases, such as science communication or spatial research.
3D Asset Development: Creating modular and detailed assets for use in real-time applications, ensuring high performance and realism.
Advisory for Immersive Projects: Supporting teams in implementing innovative solutions for educational showcases, public events, or research visualization.