Digital Lab
Digital Twin Solution
The Digital Lab (D-Lab) is a technology arm of the Centre for SDIs and Land Administration (CSDILA) which provides advanced interactive data capture, analysis, and visualisation tools, as well as solutions to contribute to research, development, and teaching in a wide range of scientific disciplines such as Computer science, Engineering, Physical sciences, Health, Planning and Architecture. Located on Level 1 at Melbourne Connect, the D-Lab is equipped with current technology and applications to capture and visualise data and develop cutting-edge 3D technology applications.
We are open to partnerships proposals, so please contact us if you are interested in collaborating with us!
D-Lab News & Event
Research Areas
By provision of a wide range of tools and technologies for data capturing, visualisation, and analysis, the D-Lab can support teaching and research activities in various domains:
- Land Administration
- Digital Twins and Smart Cities and Buildings
- Infrastructure Engineering
- Buildings and City Planning
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Health
- Disaster Management
Capabilities
The role of the D-Lab is to provide service and promote creation and innovation in scientific research, education and training and to boost productivity in academia and industry through provision of:
Data collection
Data collection using state-of-the-art data capturing equipment
Data visualisation
Data visualisation using a range of cutting-edge tools and technologies
Data analysis
Data analysis to generate novel digital solutions that can support decision making
Completed Projects
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3D Scanning and Modelling
The innovative use of 3D laser scanners enables efficient and accurate production of digital replicas in various conditions, ranging from complex shapes to large scale scenes. This project utilises a premium terrestrial laser scanner, the Faro Focus S350, and a handheld mobile laser scanner BLK2GO, to capture detailed point clouds with ultra-high quality for the Kenneth Myer Auditorium and the Hanson Dyer Hall of the University of Melbourne (Southbank).
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Birrarung Resilience: A Digital Twin Approach
In 2023, D-Lab created a digital twin of the Birrarung (Yarra River) confluences within Melbourne's Yarra Bend park for the aboriginal heritage design and planning studio Design with Country: Resilience Studio, led by the Melbourne School of Design and the Wurrundjeri Woi-wurrung Education Group. This studio focuses on developing landscape architecture, infrastructure planning, and urban design strategies along the Birrarung through a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates indigenous knowledge and heritage, aiming to address resiliency and adaptation along the riverine corridor in collaboration with traditional owners, city managers, and professionals, aligning with the Yarra Development strategy plan and Melbourne Design Week. The D-Lab was tasked with creating multiple high-accuracy three-dimensional models of the area to be used by designers and researchers of the studio. The D-Lab processed airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, extracted the topographic model of the bare Earth to create a Digital Terrain Model, and delivered models in multiple resolutions, from lighter and easier to visualise to denser and high visual fidelity models.
Publications
Journal Publications
1. BIM and real estate valuation: challenges, potentials and lessons for future directions , Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management,
Jafary, P., Shojaei, D., Rajabifard, A., Ngo, T., 2022.
Link
2. A review of augmented reality visualization methods for subsurface utilities , Journal of Advanced Engineering Informatics,
Muthalif, MZA., Shojaei, D., Khoshelham, K., 2022.
Link
Refereed Conferences
1.A Framework To Integrate BIM with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based Property Valuation Methods, ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume X-4/W2-2022, 17th 3D GeoInfo Conference, 19–21 October 2022, Sydney, Australia
P. Jafary, D. Shojaei, A. Rajabifard, T. Ngo, 2022
PDF
2.Resolving perceptual challenges of visualising underground utilities in mixed reality, The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLVIII-4/W4-2022, 17th 3D GeoInfo Conference, 19-21 October 2022, Sydney, Australia
M.Z.A. Muthalif, D. Shojaei, K. Khoshelham, 2022
PDF
Project opportunities
We are interested in collaborating with industry partners! For the latest opportunities, please contact:
Prof Abbas Rajabifard
Services
The D-Lab provides high-quality services via the provision of:
- Industry-leading real-time data capturing equipment
- Professional-grade accurate photorealistic laser scanners
- NFC equipped indoor environment sensors
- Web-based 4D real-time indoor positioning devices
- Cutting-edge 3D visualisation equipment
- Modernistic Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality headsets
- A digital twin platform
Selected Capabilities and Tools
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Leica BLK2GO Handheld Laser Scanning
Equipped with handheld SLAM(Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping) technology and the cutting-edge cloud-based visualisation and collaboration platform HxDR, the new BLK2GO handheld laser scanner is the industry's first wireless handheld imaging laser scanner. This premium piece enables precise and productive reality capture with astonishing accuracy (~ 6-15mm) with the speed of mobile mapping.
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Leica BLK360 Imaging Laser Scanning
The all-new Leica BLK360 is an advanced precision imaging laser scanner. At the push of a button, users can capture a full scan with spherical images in only twenty seconds. With the Visual Inertial System (VIS) technology, BLK360 pre-registers your scans on-site automatically in the field and facilitates scan processing.
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Hovermap ST
Hovermap ST is an award-winning 3D LiDAR mapping and autonomy payload for drones. Utilising world-leading SLAM-based LiDAR technologies, omni-directional collision avoidance as well as various cutting-edge technologies, Hovermap ST provides accurate and industry-grade capabilities for mapping activities in challenging environments.
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HTC Vive
HTC Vive Pro Eye Virtual Reality Headset Kit provides high quality immersive visualisation with dual-OLED displays with a combined resolution of 2880 x 1600 pixels and 615 PPI with Room-scale tracking up to 100m2
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Matterport Pro2 3D Camera
High-quality 3D capturing camera with unlimited 4K print quality photography through 134 mega-pixels resolution. It captures images with rate of 20s per scan with a 5 GHz Wi-Fi band and generates 3D modes and 360° views.
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Oculus Quest 1
Oculus Quest is a VR headset developed by Oculus as an all-in-one gaming system with all-in-one VR system which supports display refresh rate of 72Hz with 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye.
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HoloLens
HoloLens are a pair of mixed reality smartglasses developed and manufactured by Microsoft.
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ERS CO2 sensor
ERS CO2 sensors detect the indoor climate and monitors the indoor environment with NFC and a passive infrared camera. Being NFC equipped and enabled, the ERS CO2 sensor monitors indoor temperature, humidity, light, motion, and CO2 level.
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FARO FOCUS S350
The FocusS S350 laser scanner enables long-range measurements up to 350m, and the FocusS S120 measures up to 120m, for creating complete and photorealistic 3D images in minutes, in high accuracy and with mm-level range noise.
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FARO GEO-SLAM ZEB-REVO
A hand-held, lightweight laser scanner to rapidly build highly accurate 3D models. Faro Geo-Slam Zeb-Revo captures 43,000 points per second in real-time with outstanding accuracy of up to 6mm for scanning up to 30 meters.
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DJI Matrice 300 RTK
The DJI Matrice 300 RTK platform is designed with extensive system and sensor redundancies to maximize flight safety and reliability. These redundancies and safety mechanisms include dual flight control system sensors, dual control signal links, dual intelligent batteries, dual transmission links, obstacle sensor system redundancies, and three-propeller emergency landing. Offering up to 55 minutes of flight time, advanced AI capabilities, 6 directional sensing & positioning and more, the M300 RTK sets a whole new standard by combining intelligence with high performance and unrivalled reliability.
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FARO FREESTYLE 3D
A hand-held, industrial-grade laser scanner for 3D documentation in real time. This is suitable for small objects for real-time visualisation of the point cloud.
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Hologram Table
Hologram tables are latest visualisation technology to show 3D models such as buildings and infrastructures with the possibility of interaction.
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3D-Pos Camera Unit
The 3D-Pos camera unit, powered by deep learning, enhances indoor monitoring with discreet 3D human pose and position detection. Prioritizing privacy, it's ideal for secure indoor spaces, offering valuable insights while safeguarding personal information.
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Insta360 Pro 2
ERS CO2 sensors detect the indoor climate and monitors the indoor environment with NFC and a passive infrared camera. Being NFC equipped and enabled, the ERS CO2 sensor monitors indoor temperature, humidity, light, motion, and CO2 level.
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LED VIDEO WALL
A 3x3 luminous LED video wall for super-size high-resolution visual content displays.
Prof Abbas Rajabifard
Researchers
Prof Abbas Rajabifard
