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Overview

Since 1989, the Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) has provided visualization support for NASA’s Glenn Research Center. The unique lab develops graphic visualizations from data and models to provide researchers, scientists, engineers, and others with visual tools to develop solutions for their work.

The GVIS team is part of the Advanced Computing and Visualization Branch at NASA Glenn, which works to unite the worlds of visualization and scientific computing. The lab is committed to providing services to NASA employees, whether they want to discuss their needs and ideas or experiment with equipment.

GVIS also regularly participates in technical and public engagement, bringing interactive visuals of NASA Glenn to the people.

Fun Facts

The Computer Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) consists of three vertical walls and a floor measuring 22.5 feet wide by 18.5 feet deep.

The Computer Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) consists of three vertical walls and a floor measuring 22.5 feet wide by 18.5 feet deep.

The Graphics and Visualizations Lab (GVIS) was the first facility in Cleveland to have high-speed frame buffers connected to a supercomputer.

The Graphics and Visualizations Lab (GVIS) was the first facility in Cleveland to have high-speed frame buffers connected to a supercomputer.

The lab is the first facility in Ohio to possess a Computer Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE).

The lab is the first facility in Ohio to possess a Computer Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE).

GVIS had the first HD video animation system in Cleveland.

GVIS had the first HD video animation system in Cleveland.

The lab was the first place in Ohio to have virtual reality systems with head-mounted displays.

The lab was the first place in Ohio to have virtual reality systems with head-mounted displays.

Background

About the Lab

The lab supports the visualization of a wide variety of 3D data and models such as CAD, point clouds, and volume data.

GVIS specializes in:

• Virtual design
• Interactive 3D simulations
• Natural user interface development
• Mission scenario visualizations

GVIS is capable of high-impact data visualization, web-based visualization, time-accurate data representation, and using virtual/ augmented reality for digital engineering.

The GVIS Lab also places an emphasis on education and engagement by educating the community through hands-on educational events at local schools, museums, and organizations. By hosting tours of the lab and conducting presentations and events, the lab inspires the next generation of STEM-minded students.

Learn More About GVIS History

Visualization of the X-59 supersonic plane being developed for the QueSST mission.

Visualization of the X-59 supersonic aircraft, the center of NASA’s QueSST mission.

GVIS

Featured Video

What We Do

One of the lab’s main objectives is to work with scientists and engineers to produce custom graphics applications of their projects.

Learn More About Our Work

A 3D rendering of a white and blue, coned-shaped fan floats in a blue 3D environment. — DGEN 380 Engine Model
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) is in the process of developing a 3D model of the DGEN 380 engine. This small turbofan can produce 570 pounds of thrust and is located in the Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Laboratory (AAPL) at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
NASA

Two metal flights of stairs sit in a white, brick, windowless facility room. Other equipment such as television sets, cabinets, and technology is lined up on the walls of the room. — NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) Visualization
This VR experience developed at the Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) walks the viewer through the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT), an aeronautics test site located at NASA’s Glenn Research Center at Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio.
NASA

A 3D rendered model of a cylindrical metal core floats in a blank white background. The core has green detailing, sharp blades, and a smaller cylindrical piece attached at the end. — Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTec) Model
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) is currently in the process of developing a detailed 3D model of the Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTec), a project that aims to develop small core engine technologies for fuel burn reductions and other sustainable efforts.
NASA

A 3D rendered image of a white, brick, windowless facility room contains pipes in the center of the room. A large, funnel-shaped pipe flows water into the pipe to its left. Shelving, cabinets, and other equipment line crowd the rest of the facility. — Adaptive Icing Tunnel (AIT) Visualization
This Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) project aimed to create a digital twin of the Adaptive Icing Tunnel (AIT), an icing wind tunnel at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland with a 1-foot-by-1-foot test section.
NASA

A 3D rendering of a tall, skinny, cylindrical robot sits on the rocky surface of Enceladus, a moon of Saturn. The background behind the robot is pure black with part of Saturn showing to the right. — Enceladus Tunnel Bot Animation
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) developed this 3D animation displaying the capabilities of the Enceladus Tunnel Bot, a small robot that descends through the surface of Enceladus into a vent to collect unaltered liquid samples.
NASA

A warmly lit 3D rendering of the Manufactured Ecosystems Mars Habitat contains large immovable walls, an archway on the right, and various types of plants growing on the sandy surface within the walls. The text in the bottom right of the image reads: "Manufactured Ecosystems". — Manufactured Ecosystems Mars Habitat Visualization
This Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) visualization showcases the Manufactured Ecosystems Mars Habitat, a project that researched how ecosystem services provided on Earth could be replaced or supported by technology as well as determined the steps to achieve this technology.
NASA

A 3D rendering of a metal cone-shaped engine floats in a pitch black background. — High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM) Visualization
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) developed this visualization of the High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM), a car-sized engine that can meet the needs of high- efficiency aircraft propulsion.
NASA

A girl wearing a VR headset and holding a controller in her hand gazes at a 3D environment of a wind tunnel facility. The walls around her and the floor beneath her are screens and display parts of this visualization. — 10×10 Supersonic Wind Tunnel Visualization
This Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) visualization allows users to delve into the point cloud displays of the 10×10 Supersonic Wind Tunnel located at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
NASA

A white, commercial aircraft (SUSAN) plane flies over Earth's surface below. — SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) Visualization
The SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) visualization developed at the Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) displays a cutting-edge concept for a hybrid electric commercial jet aircraft.
NASA

A massive grey pipe sits in the middle of a beige brick facility room. Stairs, shelving, and drawers line the walls of the facility. — W8 Facility Visualization
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) created the W8 Facility Digital Twin, which allows users to immerse themselves in the virtual environment and navigate through the facility within a VR setting.
NASA

An astronaut looks down at a screen while kneeling on the moon's surface. A ship and a small vehicle sit behind him. — Lunar Communications Architecture Animation
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) developed an animation of the Lunar Communications Architecture, showcasing the Lunar LTE Studies project and the pivotal role played by the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
NASA

Two purple and yellow robotic-like hands reach towards red cubes floating in space. — International Space Station Visualization
The International Space Station immersive visualization allows the user to virtually explore a model of the orbiting laboratory through technologies such as gesture recognition, gaming controllers, and a virtual reality headset.
NASA

A man with a VR headset on his head and controller in his hand looks at a visualization of a plane sitting in a concrete lot. — Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Visualization
At NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) team has developed a concept of operations for command and control of UAM, which the Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) has modeled as a 3D simulation.
NASA

A sleek, white plane with blue detailing flies over the clouds and Earth's surface below. — NASA’s X-59 Quesst Visualization
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) developed a VR flyover experience of NASA’s X-59 Quesst, which allows viewers to explore the question that led NASA to take on this ambitious project: can we develop a quiet supersonic aircraft?
NASA

A black fan with blue highlights draws in air represented by bright blue and green lines. — Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) Visualization
The Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) visualization demonstrates the testing conditions, tunnel modifications, design elements, and challenges of the BLI test performed in NASA Glenn Research Center’s 8×6 Supersonic Wind Tunnel.
NASA

A large, blue dome, blue tent, and other equipment sit in a beige, brick facility room. — W-1A Visualization
The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) developed a virtual reality experience that allows users to take an immersive tour of W-1A, NASA Glenn Research Center’s Low Speed Axial Compressor facility.
NASA

A 3D rendering shows a white rocket and grey cubical vehicle floating in a pitch black background. — NASA Concept Vehicles Visualization
The NASA Concept Vehicles visualization allows users to manipulate, dissect, and learn about experimental vehicles at NASA, designed to be used with zSpace, a 3D augmented reality computer.
NASA

Technical & Public Engagement

GVIS employee showcasing a hybrid electric flight simulator.

For the Benefit of All

The GVIS team regularly participates in a variety of public, professional, and technical engagement programs. The team showcases virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D models of NASA innovations and developments through interactive measures. These events include professional symposiums & conferences, family-oriented library presentations, and teen-only STEM museum night events.

Group of people around a table. One has a virtual reality headset on while the rest observe.

The Heart of GVIS

The lab emphasizes the importance of connecting GVIS, and NASA as a whole, with the community. Engagement and education are driving forces behind the lab; GIVS participates in events on a near weekly basis. Through exhibiting the lab's technology, the lab bolsters the future generations of scientists and engineers while bridging the gap between NASA and the surrounding community.

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Capabilities

Using Our Facilities

The GVIS Lab maintains a large collection of computing, visualization, and user interaction devices.

GVIS supports NASA’s Glenn Research Center in visualization, as well as the surrounding research community. If you are considering using GVIS data visualization, 3D modeling, or other services, please contact the team.

Learn More About the GRUVE Lab

A young boy with a controller in his hands looks intently at a television screen in front of him. A woman bends down next to him pointing at the screen, guiding him through the VR experience.

GVIS Intern demonstrates the X-59 flyover experience to a participant at the Cleveland Cavaliers event, “Score with STEM”.

NASA/Jef Janis

GVIS Resources

A sleek, white plane with blue detailing flies over the clouds and Earth's surface below.

GVIS Visualizations Archive

Sep 19, 2025

PDF (18.48 MB)

Advanced Computing and Visualization Branch

The GVIS Lab is part of the Advanced Computing and Visualization Branch. The scientific computing side of the team specializes in technical areas ranging from artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, mathematical modeling, and web software integration. The visualization part of the Branch focuses on AR/VR, 3D graphics, and data visualization. Through the Advanced Computing and Visualization Branch, the GVIS Lab collaborates with experts in scientific computing to ensure technical accuracy in the visualizations.

Contact Us

Need to reach us? You can send an email directly to the GVIS Team (GRC-DL-GVIS@mail.nasa.gov) or to the team leader, Herb Schilling (hschilling@nasa.gov).

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