College of Engineering

Visualization and Computation Advancing Research (ViCAR) Center

The Visualization and Computation Advancing Research (ViCAR) Center is a cornerstone of the university’s research infrastructure, providing advanced computing, visualization, and technical resources that drive innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high-impact discovery.
As a premier campus-wide facility, ViCAR supports faculty, students, and research collaborators by providing access to high-performance computing, immersive visualization technologies, and specialized software environments for modern research and teaching.
ViCAR enables transformative work across a broad range of fields, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing simulation, computational science, digital visualization, virtual reality, engineering simulation, and large-scale data analysis.

Advancing Research Across Disciplines

ViCAR plays a vital role in strengthening the university’s research capacity. By combining advanced computational systems with visualization technologies and specialized software, the center helps accelerate discovery, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and expand opportunities for innovation across science, engineering, bioinformatics, data science, and related disciplines.
The center provides an environment where researchers can process large datasets, build and test models, run simulations, develop new computational methods, and visualize complex results more effectively.

 Visualization Systems

ViCAR provides advanced visualization technologies that enhance discovery through immersive research, interactive exploration, and high-resolution scientific display. These resources support faculty, students, and research collaborators in analyzing complex information, building simulation environments, and advancing innovation through visual computing.

  • MechDyne ARC-6 Visualization System: Large-scale high-definition platform for collaborative visualization and scientific analysis.
  • Virtual Reality Resources: 10 HTC Vive Pro headsets with controllers, tracking sensors, and tall mounts, along with 2 Oculus Rift headsets with controllers and tracking sensors
  • MechDyne PowerWall: 3D stereo-vision system with tracking capabilities for immersive visualization.
  • 3D Printing Resources: Multiple 3D printers for prototyping, design validation, model development, and research applications.
  • Additional Visualization Tools: ZED stereo camera and related technologies for immersive and interactive environments.
  • Applications Supported: Virtual reality, engineering design, simulation, modeling, rapid prototyping, and interactive data visualization.

High-Performance Computing

ViCAR provides a robust and scalable high-performance computing environment for research, teaching, modeling, simulation, and data-intensive applications.
The center includes seven HPC servers equipped with GPUs, large memory capacity, and substantial storage resources to support computationally demanding workloads. These systems enable research in scientific computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, quantum computing simulation, and other emerging computational fields. 
By providing the infrastructure needed for advanced computing, ViCAR helps researchers move efficiently from ideas to analysis, simulation, and discovery.

Software and Computing Environment

ViCAR offers a comprehensive software and development environment for scientific computing, advanced research, and technical innovation.
  • Programming and Development Tools: C, C++, Java, Fortran, Perl, and Python
  • Scientific and HPC Environments: scientific computing, parallel computing (MPI and OpenMP), CUDA programming, and data analysis
  • AI and Advanced Research Workflows: machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, bioinformatics tools, and quantum computing simulation
  • Windows-Based Research Software in IRC107: Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, MATLAB, VISSIM, COMSOL, and ANSYS
  • Applications Supported: 3D development, modeling, simulation, visualization, engineering analysis, and research instruction.

Storage Infrastructure

ViCAR provides large-scale storage infrastructure to support computational research, simulation output, scientific datasets, genomic and proteomic data, and long-term project needs.
Its storage environment is designed to meet the growing demands of modern data-intensive research and to provide investigators with the capacity needed for high-value scientific and engineering work.

Research Collaboration and Innovation

ViCAR is more than a computing facility. It is a collaborative research hub that brings together technology, expertise, and innovation to support impactful scholarships.
The center strengthens faculty-led research, student engagement, interdisciplinary partnerships, and external collaboration by providing the infrastructure required for advanced computational and visualization-driven work.
By integrating high-performance computing, immersive visualization, specialized software, and technical support, ViCAR helps transform ideas into discovery and research into real-world impact.

Contact us

Dr. Marwan Bikdash
Founding Director

Dr. Kristen Rhinehardt
Assistant Director

Dr. Hamid D. Ismail
Research HPC Administrator