Interview with Richard M. Levy of the University of Calgary

Interview with Richard M. Levy of the University of Calgary

Richard Levy is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Calgary. Professor Levy's research has been to expand the repertoire of computer techniques used by planners, architects and real estate developers in decision making. His research on the role of computer visualization in planning considers how visual images are used as evidence in legal cases.


CGA: Could you introduce yourself?

Title:
Richard M. Levy, Ph.D., MCIP
Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Design
Director of Computing, Faculty of Environmental Design

	Richard Levy - Phimai, Thailand Click to enlarge

CGA: Tell us about your background. How did you originally get involved
With computer graphics?

RL: In 1991, I started working on a concept design for a waterfront development in Geneva NY. The team included an architect, planner and myself. We thought that if we could use CAD to create a massing plan for the town, we could effectively show alternative designs. Given that we were working on 386 and 486's with AutoCAD we knew that creating a 3D model would be a challenge. In retrospect it is amazing we were able to produce a fairly good model of the area.

CGA: Much of your work focuses on facilitating the use of computer visualizations in the design and planning processes. What sparked the initial interest to focus in on this area of research?

RL: After I came to the University of Calgary in 1992, I was introduced to Barry Pendergast, who showed me some of the work he was doing in architecture, planning and computing. Having worked some in this area, I got excited about using the technology to facilitate the urban planning process. Early on I had the opportunity to work with Prof. Walter Jamieson on a project in Pincher Creek that involved the development of a concept plan for main street. This was the first of many projects that I have worked on since joining the faculty. Over the years I have used computer visualization in urban planning, visual impact assessment, virtual tourism and archaeological reconstruction.

CGA: What have been some of the major roadblocks that you have experienced in trying to promote the use of visualizations in the planning and design stages?

RL: I think that in the early years it was difficult to convince planners and architects that the technology had enough capability to do anything interesting. The software was limited in power and computers were slow. Today, the problem is a lack of awareness of the power of computing in design. In part this stems from a lack of investment in training before you see real return. I am still surprised that many firms use CAD as a glorified 2D drafting tool when it can be used as a decision support tool.

CGA: Can you tell us about any success stories where visualizations have aided in the successful completion of a project?

RL: I have created a number of models for visual impact assessment. Without the ability to show the project as a series of animations, there would have been a complete misunderstanding of the true impact of the project on the environment.

CGA: Another very interesting area of your research involves the digital preservation of historic sites. How did your research lead to this area of computer graphics?

RL: I actual began my academic career as an historian. I completed a PhD in architectural history from the University of California, Berkeley. My interest in architectural reconstruction began as a graduate student with a study of the Domo of S.Maria del Fiore. If I only had a computer capable of doing 3D graphics in 1985 I would certainly have used it to construct a model of the cathedral. In 1999 when Prof.Walter Jaimeson, Director of the Urban Management Program of AIT approached me with the idea of reconstructing the temple site at Phimai, I felt it was an exciting opportunity to apply the technology to historic reconstruction and virtual tourism. I was aware of the work that had been done on Rome and Pompeii and saw the reconstruction of the Phimai temple site as a challenge.

CGA: Your latest work involving the Temple Site in Phimai, Thailand has received a Lot of attention. Can you explain how you became involved with this project and what the main goals of the project were?

RL: In 1999, an initial site visit was made to collect data and discuss the scope of the modeling effort with the museum staff at Phimai, and with Dr. Walter Jamieson, The computer model of the Temple site began as a demonstration project to illustrate the value of new media in the promotion of an historic site. During the course of constructing the computer model of the site, interest also emerged in using the model as a vehicle for communicating ideas about the site's reconstruction.

	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Elevation Click to enlarge

	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge

CGA: A project of this scale and complexity is clearly a massive undertaking. Can you walk us through the steps that were involved in bringing this project to fruition?

RL: Actually, anyone who has built a model from architectural drawings would be familiar with the process. Time and computing always puts some constraints on the reconstruction. One strategy to get around reconstructing the site one block at a time was to create a generic version of each class of architectural elements. Adopting this approach insures that projects intended for public education can be completed within a reasonable period. Where elements are composed of flat planes, such as lintels, a simple geometric primitive can be used to represent a lintel or column shaft. In the reconstruction of Phimai, where information existed on the profiles of cornices capitals and base moldings, lofts (extrusions along a path) were used to add detail to the model. Photographic images served as the basis for creating the image maps that represented the carved relief. Unfortunately, photos did not exist for entire areas of the site. In these cases the profiles and textures from other parts of the site were used as a guide to make the model consistent in detail throughout. Recreating an accurate reproduction of the sculptural detail would have required 3D digitizing or scanning. In the future I hope to use scanning technology to make a more accurate model of the site.

	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Model Click to enlarge

CGA: How much time was involved to complete this project?

RL: Hard to know how much time I have invested in this project. In actual modeling time perhaps there is over a thousand hours. Rendering and video editing time on the project was done over the course of several months.

CGA: How did you approach the task of modeling temple site? Were there any special tools or techniques that were used to render and model the project?

RL: The project used AutoCAD and 3DStudio VIZ on a Pentium III 733. I only wish I had access to rendering farm to speed up the final rendering process.

CGA: What were some of your biggest challenges for this project?

RL: Access to the site would have been very helpful during the course of the project. Unfortunately this is not an easy site to visit. During the course of building the model, it would have been helpful to return to the site. Unfortunately, you just have to make do with the data you have sometimes.

	Richard Levy - Phimai Photograph Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Photograph Click to enlarge	Richard Levy - Phimai Photograph Click to enlarge

CGA: Was your work on the temple one of the first projects of this nature or have other World heritage sites received the same treatment?

RL: There are a number of sites that have been modeled using CAD. A good site to visit is www.vsmm.org for information on virtual archaeology.

CGA: Do you have any more plans to digitally preserve other historic sites or monuments?

RL: I am in the early stages of planning a virtual reconstruction of Calgary in 1900. Based on photos, plans, drawings and digital scanning it would be possible to build a virtual time machine that would enable a visit to the past.

CGA: Is there any one project that you are particularity proud of? Why?

RL: The Phimai Reconstruction. Having the work shown at SIGGRAPH2001, Los Angeles and published in Computer Graphics World and Canadian Architect was a real honor.

CGA: How do you see the future of computer graphics aiding in the preservation of architecture?

RL: With 3D scanning technology 3d meshes of actual objects and sites that are accurate to 5 mm or less it will be possible to create very accurate models of historic buildings. Computer models based on this data will prove invaluable in reconstruction and preservation. By taking snapshots over time it will be possible to use these models then to see if there is any settlement in the structure. Action can then be taken to reduce the potential for structural failure.

CGA: What are your plans for the future? Are there any new projects on the horizon?

RL: The Virtual Calgary project is one of several projects being planned. I am also working on a virtual speed skating simulator with Dr. Ruth Morey Sorrentino Ph.D, and Dr. Larry Katz of the University of Calgary's Kinesiology department. With support of MACI we should have a working prototype by winter 2001.

CGA: What advice can you give to other academics that are interested in pursuing the same or similar avenues of research as you own?

RL: Make the commitment to the technology and don't be discouraged if your first efforts are not what you expected.

CGA: What is your favorite link to visit on the web? (not necessarily CG related)

www.cgw.com (Computer Graphics World)
www.vsmm.org (International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia)
www.3dcafe.com

CGA: Which/What web based resources that you have found the most informative?

www.3dcafe.com
www.discreet.com