What Is VSimulators?
Our academic and industry partners explain how VSimulators will enable multi-disciplinary research into factors affecting human comfort, health and well-being
Sectors
VSimulators provides a platform for multi-disciplinary research to study the human experience of the built environment. It is a catalyst, drawing together a range of industry and academic sectors, supported by an extraordinary community of researchers. Click on the sector links below to explore ways in which VSimulators can support academic and industry based research.
VSimulators support research in transforming construction, modular design and reductions in embodied energy, by placing humans at the centre of their customised design prior to construction.
VSimulators enables research in to the factors affecting human comfort, perception and and responses to their environment. This will enable humans to be placed at the centre of future design.
VSimulators supports extensive research into how people move, balance and respond to their moving surroundings, helping to create supportive programmes, environment designs and equipment.
VSimulators offers state of the art virtual reality technology aligned to a motion platform and environmental conditions, creating a realistic, immersive experience for exploration by one or more people.
VSimulators can handle multiple feeds of raw information contributing to the development of new ways to visually interpret, analyse and use complex or multiple feeds of data
VSimulators can uniquely support research into vibration analysis of structures, machinery and other engineered facilities, advising on the proposed design before commencing construction.
VSimulators provides a platform for the development of new and novel creative techniques, as a tool for expression, performance and story telling
VSimulators is an ideal platform for research related to acceleration, deceleration and motion in transport, exploring factors such as human response to vibrations, assisted driving and balance.
Our Expertise
Our knowledge base can support your use of the VSimulator facilities. With expertise spanning from structural dynamics to vibration engineering, psychological analysis to medical application, and biomechanical investigation to physiological data capture, our interdisciplinary team can support a broad range of sectors in using the VSimulators facilities for research purposes.
Vibration Engineering
The Vibration Engineering Section are experts in vibration serviceability, dynamic analysis, testing and monitoring of large civil engineering structures including bridges, buildings, lighthouses, grandstands, tall timber structures and staircases. Vibration serviceability is the study of the whole field of environmental vibration, both natural...
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Architecture & Civil Engineering
The Architecture and Civil Engineering team who developed VSimulators at University of Bath is led by Antony Darby, whose research interests include structural dynamics, most recently investigating perception and acceptability of dynamic motion. Working together with a multi-disciplinary team, this research is providing the next generation of...
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Human Factors
Research into Human Factors seeks to place people at the centre of designs for the built environment, by researching the interaction of humans with the world around them. This research field draws on our academic expertise from a range of disciplines including architecture, psychology, the medical profession, physiology, bio-mechanics, and...
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Immersive Reality
Immersive Reality is an evolving areas of expertise across the Universities and our academic communities. We offer research knowledge in the use of virtual reality for training purposes, creative applications, human modelling, psychology and exploring ideas around big data and visual analysis. The VSimulators facilities provides a unique...
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Health & Wellbeing
Our expertise in Health & Wellbeing draw on research and knowledge from leading academics within medical science, physiotherapy, psychology, physiology, sports science and biomechanics. Research areas include gait analysis, intervention and therapy for patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and dementia, the role of the...
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Data Science
The Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDASI) at University of Exeter provides a hub for data-intensive science activity within the University and the wider region. Research expertise offers innovative means to interrogate and understand data, to innovate and apply cutting-edge data analytical methodologies. We offer a...
Read MoreCase Studies
Our case studies offer ideas as to how academics and industry are planning to use VSimulators in future multi-disciplinary research, development and innovation. Contact us to explore your research idea.
Dancing on the Sky Bridges at the National Gallery, Singapore
100 pedestrians danced to music by Daft Punk, Beastie Boys and Stardust whilst a research team from Full Scale Dynamics Ltd (FSDL) and the Vibration Engineering Section at University of Exeter evaluated the vibration serviceability of the two sky bridges crossing the atrium at the National Gallery in Singapore
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Wireless Testing of Jiangyin Suspension Bridge
Development of pioneering technologies in synchronised wireless data logging enabled modal testing of the 1,385m span Jiangyin Suspension Bridge in Jiangsu province in China, to evaluated the health condition of the structure for JSTI, China
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Studying Synchronisation In Pedestrians on Footbridges
Human-structure vibrations generated by pedestrians on structures, particularly footbridges, is an important area for civil engineers. Walking tests on a 110m long, single tower, cable-stayed footbridge in Exeter enabled researchers to study synchronisation amongst pedestrians on the bridge.
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Structural Testing of a Heritage Railway Bridge with the Flying Scotsman Locomotive
Monitoring deflections of the Mineral Line Bridge in Somerset, under different loading conditions, including travel across the bridge by the famous Flying Scotsman Locomotive. The bridge forms part of the West Somerset Railway (WSR), a heritage railway line, with 20 miles of track in the South West of England.
Read MoreLatest News
Find out the latest news on the VSimulators facilities in Exeter and Bath
Cutting the Turf for Exeter VSimulators State of the Art Research Facility
A turf-cutting ceremony marked the start of construction of the University of Exeter’s pioneering VSimulators - a state-of-the-art, world class facility, combining virtual reality for up to nine occupants with a sophisticated motion platform.
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VSimulators – virtual reality facilities to support human factors research and innovation
Plans for a major new centre for research and development in the vibration engineering sector are in the final stages of development at the Universities of Exeter and Bath.
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Heather Macklyne (EPSRC Portfolio Manager) Visits Vibration Engineering Section and VSimulators
The University of Exeter and the Vibration Engineering Section (VES) welcomed Heather Macklyne, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Portfolio Manager, with responsibility for Ground Engineering, Structural Engineering, Built Environment, Infrastructure and Urban Systems.
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