Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Wendy Alexander has announced that the latest project to receive Proof of Concept funding will involve computer scientists at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh who will receive £200,000 towards developing digital technology which could dramatically reduce the cost of film-making and television production.

The researchers are applying the latest laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques to create 'virtual film sets' which could eventually replace costly studio sets and cut the time that crews spend filming on location. Staff at the two universities hope that when the techniques are applied to the production process, they will ultimately transform the way films are made.

John Patterson of the University of Glasgow's Department of Computing Science explains: "Building on the work funded by EPSRC for the 3D MATIC Faraday Partnership in 1997, Glasgow Scientists are addressing the problem of building realistic-looking 3D Virtual Sets from 2D photographic images, a necessary step in the economic realisation of pre-visualisation stages in film and TV production, also a useful aid in developing 3D backgrounds for cartoon animation since most cartoon animation systems now allow these.

"So far the technology has been hampered by the labour-intensive task of building these 3D models directly and then discovering that they don't look quite right even with the most 'photorealistic' of computer graphics renderers. The 3D analysis and capture technology developed by the Turing Institute in conjunction with 3D MATIC (now the Imaging Faraday Partnership) has been applied directly to this task and the Scottish Enterprise award is welcome recognition of the usefulness of this work and its future application in animation production and film and TV preproduction."

Roy Middleton, Director of Edinburgh Virtual Environment Centre at the University of Edinburgh - which is working in tandem with 3D-MATIC at the University of Glasgow - said: "This project provides the opportunity to combine the complementary talents of two of Scotland's leading academic research centres in the capture and simulation of reality with the backing of Scottish Enterprise. The collaborative venture will provide for leading edge research and development, culminating in the creation of a product which could revolutionise the traditional methods of film and TV production."

Ms Alexander announced that Scottish universities, research institutes and NHS Trusts are to receive an additional £1 million to turn world-beating research into commercial success.

The money will go to the Proof of Concept Fund, managed by Scottish Enterprise and aimed at boosting the commercial potential of Scottish innovation.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For further information on the University of Glasgow project contact Dr John Patterson 0141-330 5323 jwp@dcs.gla.ac.uk

For further information on Proof of Concept funding contact: Jane Martin, Senior Press and Public Affairs Exec, on 0141 228 2403 or 07887 825005 jane.martin@scotent.co.uk

First published: 10 September 2001