SMVDU Faculty Members Secure ₹93 Lakh Grant from DST for Preserving Architectural Heritage Sites in Jammu & Kashmir

REASI, January 31 ; In a significant achievement, a team of researchers from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has been awarded a grant of ₹93 lakh for their research project titled “Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Based Visualization for Lost / Endangered Architectural Heritage Sites in Jammu & Kashmir”. The project, submitted under the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, aims to harness the power of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to preserve and promote the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Jammu & Kashmir.

Led by Principal Investigator, Ar. Vinod Kumar, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture & Landscape Design, the research team includes Co-Principal Investigators, Dr. Bharat Bhushan Jindal, Associate Professor at the School of Civil Engineering, and Dr. Naveen Kumar Gondhi, Associate Professor from the School of Computer Science. The research team plans to employ cutting-edge technologies, including Geographical Information System , 3D modeling, point cloud data processing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial simulations, to create immersive and interactive experiences for stakeholders in physical as well as in virtual mode, including policymakers,  conservationists, and the general public.

By leveraging AR and VR, the project aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the endangered or lost cultural & architectural heritage sites and through this to promote sustainable tourism practices in the region. Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of SMVDU, Dean of Research & Development, Prof. A.K. Das, Head of the School of Architecture, Ar. Abhiney Gupta, Head of the School of Civil Engineering, Dr. V.K. Dogra, and Head of the School of Computer Science, Dr. Sunanda, along with the faculty members of all schools, congratulated the research team on this achievement.

They stated that this project will not only contribute to the preservation of Jammu & Kashmir’s rich architectural and cultural heritage but also showcase the university’s commitment to innovative research. The grant awarded by the DST is a testament to the project’s potential to make a significant impact in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The research team is excited to embark on this innovative project and contribute to the preservation of Jammu & Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.