Raffaele de Amicis is associate professor at the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at Oregon State University. He received his Ph.D. in design and methods of industrial engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy. From 1999 until December 2002, he was a research fellow at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics in Darmstadt, Germany and senior researcher at the at the Technical University of Darmstadt. Before arriving at OSU, he was the founding director of GraphiTech, Center for Advanced Computer Graphics Technologies in Trento, Italy, where he was recognized for leadership in science, technology, and innovation. Between 2003-16, acting as a consulting professor, he has educated and mentored diverse groups of learners, from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, principally in the undergraduate and graduate courses at the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science and at the ICT International Doctoral School, University of Trento. He has authored 3 books, contributed to 15 scientific texts, and is author or co-author of more than 120 scientific papers. De Amicis has been the project coordinator of several multidisciplinary research projects contracted or funded by the European Commission, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, governmental agencies and industry with an overall budget of 20 million Euros.

Since 2010, he has been the vice-president of the Board of Directors at GraphicsMedia.net - International Network for the Cooperation in Applied Research in Computer Graphics, Multimodal and Multimedia Technologies and Visual Interactive Digital Media Technologies, where he has developed strong competencies in how to build and manage successful multinational organizations. In this context, he has established strong linkages to diverse academic and research institutes, both at the national and international level.

Many of us feel inspired by technology, both emotionally and creatively. Others are evangelists of the idea that once we rely on technology, we lose the ability to be creative. The objective truth is, however, that technology and creativity often go hand in hand.

My research interest is founded within this aforementioned scenario. I consider the design of a visualization system a very articulated activity, characterized both by intuition-based problems as well as by mathematical-related issues, during which designers shape their mental model into a practical solution through a series of abstraction processes and mental simulations. In this regard, how creativity and technology are interwoven is really fascinating me.

At OSU I will address my research on the opportunity yet unexpressed provided by Mixed Reality Environments in the area of design and creativity. Virtual and Augmented reality is the future of creative content. Today design production is changing rapidly, as designer use computers to generate forms and then digital fabrication to build models for design review.

The frequently cited adage “standstill is regression”, is the driving force of my research: I have always promoted and pursued the scientific vision and conceptual re-orientation, according to the global and local changes.

Research Areas

I have carried out research in different, but quite related, areas. Some keywords, which could be used to describe my research projects, are: Virtual & Augmented Reality, GeoVisualization, Visual Analytics, Geometric Modelling, Sketch- and gesture-based interaction, Digital Heritage.

Research Description

In the last decade, I’ve been strongly focused on the design of geo-intelligent complex visualization systems, products and related services; addressing aspects such as adaptive behavior, context awareness and highly dynamic interaction. In this context, I have been the Principal Investigator of relevant international research projects, where I focused on evaluating how human participation and the use of technology might be considered as key factors for smart and sustainable urban development in the context of civil protection, eco-terrorism, energy efficiency, e-inclusion, smart cities, and territories.

In this regard, my research has been directed towards the use of spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) to create new 3D-enabled data visualization services and to develop applications and UI to support decision makers to deliver better, quicker and more effective policy in the specific fields of urban development; urban planning, monitoring and regulatory governance; environmental policy; emergency services; and mobility applications.Many of us feel inspired by technology, both emotionally and creatively. Others are evangelists of the idea that once we rely on technology, we lose the ability to be creative. The objective truth is, however, that technology and creativity often go hand in hand.