UW SER 3D Visualization Center Launches Service Center, Adds Advanced Hyperspectral Facility
Published September 21, 2026
James Amato, an associate research professional in UW’s School of Energy Resources, looks at a core sample under the mounted hyperspectral scanner in UW’s 3D Visualization Center. (UW Photo)
The 3D Visualization Center at the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER) has launched a dedicated service center, marking a major milestone in its expansion as a regional hub for spatial data, advanced image capture and software development.
This new structure makes the center’s advanced technological capabilities broadly accessible to researchers across the university, external academic institutions and private industry partners.
Alongside this organizational transition, the center has completed construction of a state-of-the-art darkroom facility designed specifically for its mounted hyperspectral camera. The specialized environment enables year-round, high-resolution spectral scanning of geological core samples, eliminating the seasonal constraints of winter months and inclement weather.
“Formalizing the service center model represents a significant step forward in our mission to deliver decision-ready spatial data and advanced digital models,” says Kyle Summerfield, program manager of the 3D Visualization Center. "The completion of the darkroom allows hyperspectral data capture to continue outside of the field season and enables us to perform critical core and sample analysis in addition to airborne and tripod-mounted data acquisition. Our standardized service framework ensures that academic and industry partners alike can easily access our team's specialized expertise.”
The center’s integrated service offerings cover the entire pipeline from physical data acquisition to interactive software deployment. The comprehensive suite of capabilities includes geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, software development and 3D modeling, alongside expert consulting and training. The center’s newly established hyperspectral remote sensing program introduces a new, cutting-edge technology that is gaining strong interest from private industry, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, positioning the center for new applied research and service opportunities.
The center also offers strategic consulting and hands-on training to help organizations design scale, and maintain their own GIS, remote sensing and immersive visualization programs.
“The specialized expertise and technological capabilities housed within the 3D Visualization Center are extraordinarily niche -- we are one of only a handful of entities nationwide with this level of integrated spatial, imaging and software resources under one roof,” says SER Executive Director Pete Obermueller. “We are thrilled to launch this service center structure, enabling us to advance innovation across the University of Wyoming and sister academic institutions, while offering crucial capabilities to industry partners to reduce uncertainty and risk in mineral exploration and extraction.”
To ensure broad access, the center has instituted a tiered rate structure serving three distinct client groups that is available on the website. Organizations interested in partnering with the center, exploring rates or scoping research projects can contact the SER 3D Visualization Center directly at uw3dviz.com.
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.