SFU/UBC launch visual analytics research institute
Fred Popowich, Director of VIVA, 604.803.7319 (cell); popowich@sfu.ca
Erica Branda, SFU Advancement, 778.782.3353/778.231.1274; ebranda@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, SFU PAMR, 778.782.4323
Lorraine Chan, UBC Public Affairs, 604.822.2644; lorraine.chan@ubc.ca
Correction Appended
Researchers from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia have collaborated with industry partners to launch the Vancouver Institute for Visual Analytics (VIVA) with a $1.25-million investment from the Boeing Co.
The new institute will help Vancouver become a major centre for innovation in visual analytics—an emerging field that uses computers to analyze and visually convey massive amounts of data in a form that people can more readily understand. The technology is particularly useful to decision-makers in increasingly data-intensive sectors such as health care, transportation and public safety.
“This investment will allow us to continue the quality of research innovation for which Vancouver has become known,” says VIVA director Fred Popowich, an SFU computing science professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
“Visual analytics has great promise for scientific and economic innovation, and UBC and SFU are committed to establishing Vancouver as the national hub for visualization and visual analytics research and expertise.”
The Boeing investment is a result of Canada’s Industrial & Regional Benefits (IRB) policy and is an integral part of the aerospace company’s IRB program associated with the acquisition of 15 CH147 medium-to-heavy-lift helicopters for the Canadian Forces.
The grant augments a 2008 Boeing investment of $1.35 million in support of its IRB program associated with the acquisition of four C-17 Globemaster III multi-mission transport aircraft delivered to the Canadian Forces, designated CC177 in Canada.
“Our government believes it is important that Canadians and Canadian businesses throughout the country benefit from military equipment purchases,” said industry minister Tony Clement. “By modernizing and improving the government's industrial and regional benefits policy, we are supporting research and helping bring new technologies to market."
Canada’s IRB policy requires prime contractors such as Boeing to make investments in the Canadian economy as a result of winning defence and security contracts with the Government of Canada.
“Boeing’s investment in VIVA will promote improvements in aerospace, safety and security, health, business analytics and other high-tech industries in the area of visual analytics,” says Dave Kasik, Boeing senior technical fellow for visualization and interactive techniques.
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(Image available for download: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfupamr/4557704481/)
Correction: April 27, 2010
This release was edited from its original form to better conform with PAMR style.
Backgrounder
About the Director and principal investigators
Dr. Fred Popowich is Associate Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Professor at the School of Computing Science, and Associate Member of Cognitive Science at Simon Fraser University.
The principal investigators of the VIVA research team are:
- Dr. John Dill, SFU Professor with the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology,
- Dr. Ron Rensink, UBC Associate Professor with the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, and Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, and
- Dr. Brian Fisher, SFU Associate Professor with the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, and Associate Director of the UBC Media And Graphics Interdisciplinary Centre (MAGIC).
About SFU
Ranked by respected national surveys as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities for almost 20 years, Simon Fraser University is named after a famous explorer and known for its pioneering spirit.
Spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings. Mentored by faculty acclaimed for their research and teaching abilities and coached by dedicated advisors and employers in our work integrated learning program, our more than 100,000 graduates enjoy limitless career opportunities.
About UBC
The University of British Columbia is one of Canada's largest and most prestigious public research and teaching institutions. Located in the Pacific Rim gateway of Vancouver, one of the world's great cities, and in the Interior city of Kelowna, UBC is a global centre of research and learning. It offers more than 50,000 students a range of innovative undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts, sciences, medicine, law, commerce and other faculties. UBC consistently attracts more than $450 million per year in research funding from government, non-profit organizations and industry through 7,000 grants.
UBC is consistently ranked among the world’s 40 best universities, one of only two Canadian universities in this category. It is ranked within the top 10 North American universities, and first among Canadian universities, in terms of the number of U.S. life sciences patents and the quality of activity generated from those patents, including spin-off company creation.
About Boeing’s investment in visual analytics research in 2008: http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2008/mr-08-060.html
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