Wayne Young – Think Research

Supervisor:
Dr Xiaosong Yang

Industry mentor:
Conor Mullan

Advanced graphics visualisation

The focus of my research is to investigate the potential benefits that existing and emerging technologies in the video games and visual effects industries can bring to the air traffic management sector.  Currently companies in the ATM industry make significant investments in bespoke 3D technology, often with costly and restrictive licensing deals.  Yet in the Video Games Industry there exists many packages that produce similar results, often to a higher quality and to a much lower cost to the developer.

It’s not just data visualisation that could benefit. Video games have provided users ways and means to work and move around in a 3D space, and the industry is continuing to innovate with new control devices and display technologies. Videogames and air traffic management both present challenges to the user that are three-dimensional in nature. Other industries, in particular defence, are beginning to realise the benefits of the technology as the field of Serious Gaming develops.  It’s my goal to prove that these technologies can be adapted to meet the needs and requirements of the air traffic management industry.