Current Projects

There are two main themes to our research work: character modelling and animation, led by Dr Steve Maddock, and virtual reality and interfaces, led by Dr Daniela Romano. A brief description of each current project is given below and further information can be obtained by following the links to individual researchers.

RECITE: Rethinking a City's Theatres, Digital Creativity and Innovation Oct 2010 - Oct 2013 Supervisory team: Dr Chengzhi Peng, Prof Flora Samuel (Architecture); Dr Steve Nicholson, Dr Frances Babbage, Dr Carmen Szabo (English); Dr Steve Maddock, Dr Daniela Romano (Computer Science). PhD students: Adam Park, Rosie Ward, Cong Ye. The key purpose of RECITE is to undertake groundbreaking interdisciplinary research into the challenges of how a city's theatres, including both spaces and performances, could be digitally mapped, modelled and documented.

URSULA: Urban River Corridors and Sustainable Living Agendas Urban Rivers Jan 2008 - Dec 2011 Partners: Prof David Lerner, Dr Joby Boxall, Dr Stephen Connelly, Dr John Davison, Prof John Michael Henneberry, Prof Eckart Lange, Prof L Maltby, Prof S Sharples, Dr Virginia Stovin, Dr Philip Warren, Prof Stuart Lane, Dr E Sharp, Dr Susan Molyneux-Hodgson, Mr P Bibby, Prof Kevin Gaston, Dr Daniela Romano (Computer Science), Dr Paul Armsworth. Research Assistant: Ed Morgan; PhD student: Lewis Gill The project aims to identify the social, economic and environmental gains to be made from innovative interventions in urban river corridors, using the River Don and its tributaries as a case study. It is supported by Sheffield City Council and the Environment Agency and many non-governmental organisations. It draws expertise from multiple academic departments at Sheffield, incorporating a real mix of disciplines from engineering through to ecology, planning and the social sciences.

SPICE - Simulation & Prediction In Crowded Environments Jan 2008 - Dec 2010 Partners: Dr Daniela Romano, University of Sheffield, Prof Robert (Bob) Stones, University of Birmigham. Research Assistant: Twin Karmakharm The project aims to provide an virtual environment for decision making training for emergency situation in crowded environments.

Physically-based facial animation and wrinkles Researcher: Mark Warburton; Supervisor: Maddock PhD studentship, 2010- This study is investigating the modelling of wrinkles in a physically-based facial animation approach.

MIVO: Modelling interactions in a Virtual Oviduct Researcher: Mark Burkitt; Supervisors: Walker (Computational Systems Biology) and Romano PhD studentship, 2008- This study is investigating the interaction of sperm with the oviduct.

Visual Speech in Technology Enhanced Learning Researcher: Priya Dey; Supervisor: Maddock PhD research sponsored by ESRC/EPSRC, 2008- This study is investigating the use of visual speech in second language learning.

Gesture to Speech Researcher: Arturo Arroyo Palacios; Supervisor: Romano CONACYT PhD studentship, 2005-

Presence Research Researcher: Jorge Arroyo Palacios; Supervisor: Romano CONACYT PhD studentship, 2005- This work is investigating the measurement of the feeling of presence in Immervise Virtual Reality Applications.

Characters Emotional Gesture Expression Researcher: Ahmad Shaarizan Shaarani; Supervisor: Romano PhD research sponsored by Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia, 2005- This study aims to understand the role of affect in personalizing interactive interfaces that use embodied animated human characters.