Speaker: Dr. Patrick Lynett - University of Southern California
Abstract:
Virtual reality (VR) has become a transformative force in understanding and responding to natural disasters. In this talk, we discuss current progress on TsuRuni, a virtual reality experience that simulates natural hazards, such as tsunamis and flooding, with realism and interactivity. By leveraging Unreal Engine and compute shader technologies, TsuRuni can create digital twins of real-world cities to deliver immersive simulations that are not only visually stunning but also grounded in accurate data representations.
This immersive platform allows users to experience the raw power of natural disasters within a safe, controlled environment, promoting a deeper understanding of these events. TsuRuni’s digital twin cities, reconstructed automatically using a data-driven pipeline from bathymetric and topographic data, satellite imagery, and land cover data, offer geographic accuracy down to topographical features and infrastructure elements. The VR environment is further enhanced with dynamic simulations of earthquakes, destruction physics for building collapses, and the integration of environmental factors like power outages and fires.
Personalization features in TsuRuni will enable users to tailor their experience, including character customization reflecting diverse ages, weights, and physical conditions, adding a personal dimension to the simulation. Users can choose their starting location within the digital twin city, affecting the challenges they face during the disaster simulation.
The TsuRuni project taps into the potential of GPU-accelerated computing, utilizing compute shader programs for highly detailed hydrodynamic modeling. By harnessing the computational power of GPUs, TsuRuni achieves simulations of complex water behaviors with speed, surpassing real-time processing rates. This level of performance is made possible through an efficiently designed computational pipeline and the application of advanced texture and shader programming.
TsuRuni’s virtual reality experience offers a first-person perspective, interactive elements for user engagement, and narrative integration. This project not only aims to advance public awareness and education regarding natural hazards but also serves as a testbed for developing new coastal protection and disaster preparedness solutions.
