Research degree project_In-situ authoring of mixed reality content for task procedural guidance-University of South Australia

Use new technology to improve the way we train in engineering

The University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – has an exciting research degree project available at our Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), investigating novel in-situ Mixed Reality (MR) authoring methods to innovate engineering training.

Learning to operate complex equipment is essential in the engineering field, both in education and industry. Compared to the common practice of using manuals or procedure documents on a 2D screen, which lacks real-world context, MR technology overlays digital information onto the physical environment, improving understanding of the task procedures and task efficiency.

However, applying it to real-world cases can be challenging – the creation of MR training content with current tools requires programming skills and is a time-consuming process. This project seeks to address this problem, making it easier for industry experts or practical tutors to rapidly create MR training content with procedural guidance.

With MR continuing to emerge as a valuable technology, this project will provide you with the specialist skills and knowledge to apply new methods to engineering and lead a wider adoption of MR-based training in industry and education.

What you’ll do

The successful candidate will undertake activities such as surveying literature in the latest technology developments in MR; designing and developing MR prototype systems; designing and executing user studies and system evaluations; and writing research reports and academic publications.

You  will also gain access to the cutting edge equipment and facilities at IVE, and have opportunities to present your research outputs to academic and industry audiences at a range of events, travel permitted.

In this project you will join a thriving research environment and be mentored and supported by expert academics and fellow research degree students. Our research team holds close collaborations with research groups and companies across Australia and around the world, which will allow you to connect with a pool of experts in MR research beyond those who are already directly involved with this project, and engage with industry and potential end users of the technology.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based at UniSA’s Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE). IVE is the largest VR, MR and AR research group in Australia with more than 100 members from diverse disciplines including, IT, engineering, design and art. IVE provides access to cutting-edge technology and equipment for MR research, such as HoloLens 2 and Oculus Quest, as well as dedicated user study and experiment space.

Supervisory Team

Dr Gun Lee – Principal Supervisor

Professor Mark Billinghurst – Co-Supervisor

Mr Peter Barnard – SA Power Networks – End-User Advisor

Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses.  Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $28,597 per annum is available to eligible applicants. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.

Eligibility and Selection 

This project is open to application from both domestic applicants and international applicants onshore in Australia or New Zealand.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time, and to be based at our Mawson Lakes Campus in the north of Adelaide.  Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.

Essential Dates

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer.  Extended deferral periods are not available.  Applications close at 11.30pm, Monday, 4th October [ACST].