ABSTRACT
The energy industry uses diverse data and complex earth and process models to design and manage energy extraction projects ranging from conventional oil and gas to novel enhanced recovery projects. These data seats models are often large, complex, and computationally expensive to maintain and use, motivating use of visualization to improve model quality and comprehension. A new reservoir geoscience visualization center is being created at LSU to address these needs in education and research. The geoscience visualization laboratory is funded by a gift of $1M for design, remodeling, equipment, software, and early-life maintenance and support. The selected room is approximately 800 feet, with adequate ceiling height and withnearby space to house noisy components. The desit,>n and construction are undertaken by a set of three committees: a steering committee controls funds and ensures the donor's intentions are honored, a user committee specifies desired capabilities, and the technical committee specifics components required to achieve the capabilities. The steering and technical conm1ittees work with the architect and contractor to ensure the capabilities arc realized. The user committee has formulated an interactive, collaborative setting vis-a-vis an immersivc or theater setting. The technical committee has specified a combination of high-performance workstations, large tiled display, projectors, and high performance compute, rendering, and file servers. The steering committee has provided further guidance on capabilities and esthetics. The laboratory is now in late design stages.
