The EVOCATION project, spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Oliver Staadt at the University of Rostock, Germany, embarked on an ambitious journey from October 1st, 2018, to May 31, 2023. This initiative encountered unforeseen hurdles due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions. Despite these challenges, EVOCATION emerged triumphant, achieving remarkable milestones by successfully delivering all project components while navigating through a landscape reshaped by the pandemic. The project's administrative prowess adapted to the adversity, orchestrating the project kick-off, five workshops, and four summer schools, demonstrating resilience and determination throughout.
Comprising four scientific themes, EVOCATION delved into groundbreaking research:
1. Shape and material capture: Pioneering novel techniques for object and environment digitization, EVOCATION revolutionized the digitization landscape by focusing on two crucial aspects. First, it honed techniques for the scalable digitization of complex objects, catering to a diverse array of material properties. Second, it fine-tuned indoor capture methodologies using mobile devices integrating laser scanning and photography. These advancements significantly bolstered visualization research and facilitated the seamless integration of telepresence applications into various domains.
2. Scalable interactive visualization: EVOCATION endeavored to elevate 3D model depictions across multiple devices, aiming beyond mere visual replication. In doing so, it addressed the complexities of presenting multimodal data with varying noise and accuracy, while also tackling the intricacies of web distribution for models embedded with complex optical properties. Additionally, the project undertook a comprehensive study to refine communication methods for conveying geometric, conceptual, and semantic information associated with 3D models.
3. Optical printer models and automated mold generation: A cornerstone of EVOCATION's innovation was the development of cutting-edge models predicting spectral reflectance and translucency. These models became pivotal in achieving accurate color and translucency prints. Furthermore, the project introduced an automated mold assembly generation system and innovative methods for designing bending-active structures. These breakthroughs significantly expanded the scope of 3D metamaterial concepts, potentially revolutionizing standard casting techniques in medium- to large-scale manufacturing.
4. Display systems: Through pioneering advancements in photorealistic rendering using foveated rendering, EVOCATION catapulted efficiency in rendering pixel-rich displays without compromising visual quality in real-time applications.
EVOCATION celebrated its achievements by showcasing three pioneering pilots: Cultural Heritage Capture and Replication, Indoor Mapping for AEC, and Immersive Tele-Collaboration, documented and accessible through their dedicated YouTube channel.
In total, the project yielded 56 publications across esteemed scientific journals and international conferences. These contributions represent groundbreaking advancements in shape and material capture, visualization techniques, optical printing, and display systems, promising transformative applications across diverse industries while substantially enriching scientific discourse.
