This document summarizes a project to create an avatar-based virtual map of Lamar University. The project aims to provide an interactive 3D navigation experience for users to explore the campus. It describes the implementation, which included converting physical buildings into 3D virtual buildings. Testing was conducted to refine the experience. Future work is planned to add 360 VR compatibility and GPS tracking to make the virtual campus more realistic.

1. LAMAR UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL MAP
DR. STEFAN ANDREI |ANKUR SHAH|BHARAT KUMAR TEJWAN|CHANDRAKANT RUDANI |KISHOR DATTA GUPTA|MILIN JOSHI| LAMAR
UNIVERSITY
Problem
Many universities provide 2D or 3D maps and
even interactive maps. However, these maps
do not provide a complete “interaction” with
the user.
Solution
This platform provides a virtual view of the Lamar campus
with buildings of interest. The avatar-based navigation game
for the Lamar University campus can be a platform for Lamar
University that serves numerous purposes alongside its main
goal of navigation.
Project Overview
This project uses Unity’s Navigation & Path finding system to
reach the selected destination along with several different
components which makes Unity unique from different 3D
games software. There are certain definitions from Unity
software which we would like to introduce for the simplicity to
understand the implementation of our project are then used in
the classroom as teaching aids.
Implementation
Procedure
Lamar
map f
Lamar map
Placed 3d
file ion
map
wireframe
Wireframe
with
shaded
Shaded wireframe
Full
textured
Textured
Stages
Publication
“Modeling, Designing, and Implementing an Avatar-based Interactive Map”- BRAIN -
Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, Edusoft Publishing, Vol. 7,
No. 1, pp. 50-60 (2016).
Conclusion
We designed and developed a virtual realistic campus of Lamar University
using agile software developing process. With a rapid prototyping, we
converted each physical building into avatar-based virtual buildings. Our
team is dedicatedly working on future enhancements and constantly keeping
an eye on new requirements that can be helpful to everyone. Our team is
continuously putting efforts on making virtual campus of Lamar University
to be more realistic.
Future Works
We started work making 360 VR compatible and also prepare for
Gps tracking. And street view conversion with real-time even news
add system
• Any difficulty in design, coding and testing a
modification should signal the need for re-
design or re-coding.
• Modifications should fit easily into isolated and
easy-to-find modules. If they do not, some re-
design is probably needed.
• Modifications should become easier to make as
the iterations progress. If they are not, there is
a basic problem such as a design flaw or a
proliferation of patches.
• Patches should normally be allowed to exist for
only one or two iterations. Patches may be
necessary to avoid redesigning during an
implementation phase.
References
• Bimlesh Wadhwa, Stefan Andrei, Soo Yuen Jien. -Software Engineering- An Object
Oriented Approach. McGraw Hill, Revised Edition, 2007.
• blogs.Unity3d.com/category/services/ [accessed on March 12, 2015]
• docs.Unity3d.com/Manual/class-NavMeshAgent.html [accessed on April 5, 2015]
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our advisor Prof. Dr. Stefan
Andrei (Chair of the Department of Computer Science, Lamar University)
for the continuous support of our research project, for his patience,
encouraging motivation, and knowledge. His guidance helped us in all the
time of research.
We also want to acknowledge the partial support from the “Center of
Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship (CICE)”, “the Dean’s
Office of the College of Arts and Sciences”, “the College of Business”, “the
College of Education”, and “College of Engineering”.
We thank the Office of Finance and Operations, Lamar University, for
providing the official LU building plans.
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