Project Acacia

Project Acacia, led by Afghan Scholars in collaboration with Next Lab during Fall 2024, explores using 3D technologies to create high-fidelity digital twins of real-world environments. These 3D, interactive models enable stakeholders to explore, analyze virtually, and plan spaces, with applications in urban planning, retail attraction, and infrastructure development.


Project Acacia demonstrates the power of digital twin technologies in improving stakeholder engagement, planning, and learning. Through this project, Next Lab and the Afghan Scholars have built a foundation for future exploration of Matterport’s potential, providing ASU with innovative tools for immersive experiences and virtual exploration. 3D captures were conducted at the Next Lab, Hayden Library and other ASU campus locations. This effort highlights the versatility and value of 3D capture technology while building foundational skills within the team.

Key objectives

1. Enable ASU’s use of Matterport technology: Acquire hardware, licenses, and platform access for 360 capture creation.

2. Train and build expertise: Equip the Afghan Scholars and team members with the skills to capture, process, and optimize 3D models.

3. Create a Proof of Concept (PoC): Demonstrate the value of digital twins for practical applications, such as immersive learning and campus navigation.

4. Deliver tangible products: Develop high-quality digital twins of designated spaces to showcase Matterport’s capabilities as case studies.

Scope of work

Learning and training: Conduct workshops and hands-on sessions to familiarize the team with Matterport functionalities, such as scanning, editing, and virtual environment creation.

Proof of Concept development: Capture and model the Next Lab space to demonstrate Matterport’s potential applications.

Partner collaborations: Work on 1-2 partner projects to provide actionable insights and showcase the technology’s versatility.

Project showcase:

Demo reel:

Launch date:
  • December 2024
Creators:
  • Hadisa Rezayee
  • Rahila Jafari
  • Laila Sahar
  • Zakera Sharifi
  • Devanshi Marfatia
  • Dan Munnerley
  • Michael Blackledge
Partners:
  • ASU Enterprise Technology
  • Matterport Inc.