Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Stefan Maierhofer
Stefan is the co-founder of the award-winning Start-up Aardworx and is a senior researcher in the Semantic Modelling and Acquisition Group at VRVis. He is also the former head of this research group. The group of about 10 highly motivated researchers and students builds real-world software for a number of industry partners, and also performs applied and basic research resulting in publications at international conferences and journals. The group's overarching goal is to make it easy to capture and manipulate usable models from reality by trying new ideas to represent, visualize and understand vast amounts of data that is readily generated at almost arbitrary detail with today's scanning and photogrammetric technologies. Additional research into advanced lighting simulation allows real-time interactions with physically-based light sources in terms of movement and scene modification in order to provide a fast, dynamic and easy-to-use way to visualize new lighting concepts in architectural scenarios.
Besides, the group also manages to produce reusable high-quality software components from its research projects and therefore is also responsible for core development, maintenance and support of the resulting Aardvark software libraries. Aardvark is used across a large number of projects in multiple groups at VRVis and is our way of sustaining, accumulating and evolving past results for future projects and development.
Stefan Maierhofer studied Computer Science with a focus on Computer Graphics and Algorithms at the Technische Universität Wien (Vienna University of Technology) and received a Ph.D. (with distinction) from the same university in 2002. Apart from his obvious interest in Visual Computing, he also has a solid understanding of Software Engineering and Design due to a multi-year exposure to industry, mainly as an independent consultant.
Research (main areas)
- Smart Modeling and Reconstruction
- Incremental Computation and Functional Reactive Systems in Visual Computing
- Visual Computing Systems Architecture
Projects
- 2015 – ongoing; Virtual Geodetic Mapper, rmDATA GmbH; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2015 – ongoing; Curve Processor, Clever Contour GmbH; Group Manager
- 2015; IMP Institutsgebäude Light-Sim., Inst. f. Molek. Pathologie, ATP; Group Manager
- 2015; Mobile Color Calibration, Invicon Chemical Solutions GmbH; Group Manager
- 2014 – ongoing; VAMOS, Zumtobel AG, Hefel Wohnbau; Group Manager
- 2014 – ongoing; AMBAVis, ÖBV, Belvedere, Uni Manchester, …; Group Manager
- 2014 – ongoing; Immobilienbewertung, Meixner Vermessung ZT GmbH; Group Manager
- 2014 – ongoing; ENSEMBLE, Strategic Research; Group Manager
- 2014; MYFLY, MYFLY GmbH - Live Support Communication; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2014; Twinkle; D. Swarovski KG; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2013 – 2014; Clever Cast II, Clever Contour GmbH; Group Manager
- 2012 – 2015; REPLICATE, ViewApp, ICGA, VCE; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2012 – 2015; Deep Pictures, IST Austria; Group Manager
- 2012 – 2015; LocaPhoto, Institut für Schallforschung; Group Manager
- 2012; Clever Cast, Clever Contour GmbH; Group Manager
- 2011 – 2013; RT-Analysis 3D, Heinemann Oil GmbH, KAUST; Project Manager
- 2010 – 2013; HILITE, Zumtobel AG, Hefel Wohnbau; Group Manager
- 2006 – present; Aardvark Platform; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2011 – 2012; Facsimile, Ingenieurbüro Gersthofer; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2011 – 2012; Logistics Tracking; Load on – Transportanalytik; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2011; Immobilien Tools, Mag. Ludwig Bresich Immobilientreuhänder; Group Manager
- 2011; Rekonstruktion für Bussimulator, ViewApp GmbH, Group Manager/Researcher
- 2011; FindMyHome.at; FindMyHome.at GmbH, Project Manager/Researcher
- 2011; GPGPU Traveling Salesman; impactit GmbH, Project Manager
- 2010; Tactile Paintings; ArteConTacto; Group Manager
- 2010; Gemälde für Blinde, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Project Manager
- 2010; Petwalk, Petwalk Solutions GmbH, Group Manager
- 2010; CUDA Traveling Salesman Optimization, ImpactIt GmbH, Project Manager
- 2010; Hofburg, Wiener Kongresszentrum Hofburg Betriebsges.m.b.H, Project Manager
- 2010; Questionnaire, Oeser GmbH, Project Manager/Researcher
- 2009; Panfilm 360, Project Manager
- 2008 – 2009: Archetype, Activision|Blizzard Corporation; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2007 – 2009; Wiki Vienna; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2008; Mobilkom Fahrsimulator; Project Manager
- 2007 – 2008; Microsoft UltraView; Microsoft Research; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2008; Infrastruktur-Schnittstelle SSI; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2007 – 2008; VEI 3D; Project Manager
- 2007 – 2008; 3D Inside; Project Manager
- 2006 – 2007; Digitaler Streckengraph Assistant - DISA; Project Manager/Researcher
- 2005 – 2006; Creative Histories – The Josefsplatz Experience; Senior Researcher
- 2004 - 2005; GeomeTree; Senior Researcher
- 2003 - 2009; Rule-Based Rendering; Project Manager
- 2003 - 2009; Content Rendering; Project Manager
Hounours and Awards
- Rigorosum, „mit Auszeichnung bestanden“ (doctoral comprehensive examination)
- Best Paper Award, CESCG 2000, "A Flexible Framework for Volumetracing"
Aktuelle Projekte
Sharc
Tools and methods to handle, manage, manipulate and assess multiple varying survey and light planning data sources in a common environment.
Software platform
Aardvark
Universal components for greater clarity and efficiency.
Pillars
Strategic research project.
twinkle
Project in Machine Learning.
Ehemalige Projekte
VAMOS
VAMOS - Visual Analytics for Modelling and Simulation: Enhancing simulation setup and design scenarios using tools and methods from Visual Analytics
Lighting Simulation
HILITE
HILITE - High Quality Lighting Simulation: A dynamic, interactive, realistic real-time lighting simulation for complex architectural environments.
Deep Pictures
Deep Pictures: Creating Visual and Haptic Vector Images.
Virtual Acoustics
LocaPhoto
Virtual Acoustics - Localisation Model & Numeric Simulations
ENSEMBLE
Seamless analysis of data from multi-run simulations.
Publications
Harald Steinlechner, Bernhard Rainer, Michael Schwärzler, Georg Haaser, Attila Szabo, Stefan Maierhofer, Michael Wimmer ()
Adaptive Point-cloud Segmentation for Assisted Interactions
Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics and Games (I3D) 2019
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
Harald Steinlechner, Georg Haaser, Stefan Maierhofer, Robert F. Tobler ()
Attribute Grammars for Incremental Scene Graph Rendering
GRAPP 2019
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
Harald Steinlechner, Georg Haaser, Bernd Oberdorfer, Daniel Habe, Stefan Maierhofer, Michael Schwärzler, Eduard Gröller ()
A Novel Approach for Immediate, Interactive CT Data Visualization and Evaluation using GPU-based Segmentation and Visual Analysis
International Conference on Industrial Computed Tomography (ICT) 2019
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
A. Walch, C. Luksch, A. Szabo, H. Steinlechner, G. Haaser, M. Schwärzler, S. Maierhofer ()
Lens flare prediction based on measurements with real-time visualization
The Visual Computer, the pdf provided here is the author's version of the work. The final publication is available via Springer.
A. Reichinger, H. G. Carrizosa, J. Wood, S. Schröder, C. Löw, L. R. Luidolt, M. Schimkowitsch, A. Fuhrmann, S. Maierhofer, W. Purgathofer ()
Pictures in Your Mind: Using Interactive Gesture-Controlled Reliefs to Explore Art
ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
M. Schwärzler, L. Kellner, S. Maierhofer, M. Wimmer ()
Sketch-based Guided Modeling of 3D Buildings from Oriented Photos
in Proceedings of the 32nd Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics and Games
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
G. Haaser, H. Steinlechner, M. May, M. Schwärzler, S. Maierhofer, R. Tobler ()
Semantic Composition of Language-Integrated Shaders
Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics - Theory and Applications: International Joint Conference, VISIGRAPP 2014, Lisbon, Portugal, January 5-8, 2014, Revised Selected Papers
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
A. Reichinger, S. Maierhofer, A. Fuhrmann, W. Purgathofer ()
Gesture-Based Interactive Audio Guide on Tactile Reliefs
© Reichinger 2016. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proc. ASSETS'16
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
A. Reichinger, A. Fuhrmann, S. Maierhofer, W. Purgathofer ()
A Concept for Re-Usable Interactive Tactile Reliefs
Proceedings of ICCHP 2016, Part II
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
G. Haaser, H. Steinlechner, S. Maierhofer, R. F. Tobler ()
An Incremental Rendering VM
Proccedings of HPG 2015
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
G. Haaser, H. Steinlechner, M. May, M. Schwärzler, S. Maierhofer, R. F. Tobler ()
CoSMo: Intent-based Composition of Shader Modules
Proceedings of International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (Grapp 2014)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
M. Wörister, H. Steinlechner, S. Maierhofer, R. F. Tobler ()
Lazy Incremental Computation for Efficient Scene Graph Rendering
in Proceedings of High-Performance Graphics (HPG 2013)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
A. Reichinger, P. Majdak, R. Sablatnig, S. Maierhofer ()
Evaluation of Methods for Optical 3-D Scanning of Human Pinnas
International Conference on 3D Vision
I. Reisner-Kollmann, S. Maierhofer, W. Purgathofer ()
Reconstructing Shape Boundaries with Multimodal Constraints
in Computer & Graphics
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
M. Arikan, M. Schwärzler, S. Flöry, M. Wimmer, S. Maierhofer ()
O-Snap: Optimization-Based Snapping for Modeling Architecture
ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG)
A. Reichinger, F. Rist, M. Neumüller, S. Maierhofer, W. Purgathofer ()
Computer-Aided Design of Tactile Models – Taxonomy and Case-Studies
Computers Helping People with Special Needs
I. Reisner-Kollmann, S. Maierhofer ()
Segmenting multiple range images with primitive shapes
in Proceedings of 9 th International Conference on Systems, Signals and Image Processing (IWSSIP 2012)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
I. Reisner-Kollmann, S. Maierhofer ()
Consolidation of Multiple Depth Maps
in Proceedings of IEEE Workshop on Consumer Depth Cameras for Computer Vision (CDC4CV 2011)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
M. Hornáček, S. Maierhofer ()
Extracting Vanishing Points across Multiple Views
in Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR 2011)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
A. Reichinger, S. Maierhofer, W. Purgathofer ()
High-Quality Tactile Paintings
ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage (JOCCH)
Przemyslaw. Musialski, Christian. Luksch, Michael. Schwärzler, Matthias. Buchetics, Stefan. Maierhofer, Werner. Purgathofer ()
Interactive Multi-View Façade Image Editing
Vision, Modeling, and Visualization (2010)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
P. Musialski, M. Recheis, S. Maierhofer, P. Wonka, W. Purgathofer ()
Tiling of Ortho-Rectified Facade Images
in Proceedings of Spring Conference on Computer Graphics (SCCG 2010)
Publication Additional Files and Images Bibtex
Przemyslaw. Musialski, Peter. Wonka, Meinrad. Recheis, Stefan. Maierhofer, Werner. Purgathofer ()
Symmetry-Based Facade Repair
Vision, Modeling, and Visualization Workshop 2009 in Braunschweig, Germany (VMV09)
P. Musialski, R. F. Tobler, S. Maierhofer, C. A. Wüthrich ()
Multiresolution Geometric Details on Subdivision Surfaces
in Proceedings of the 5th international conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques in Australia and Southeast Asia (Graphite 2007)
S. Maierhofer, R. Simon, R. F. Tobler ()
Simplified Guided Visibility Sampling for Location Based Services
in Proceedings of the CORP 2007
P. Wonka, M. Wimmer, K. Zhou, St. Maierhofer, G. Hesina, A. Reshetov ()
Guided Visibility Sampling
in Proceedings of SIGGRAPH
M. Lipp, St. Maierhofer, R. Tobler ()
A Flexible Real-Time Framework for Pre-Calculated Global Illumination Solutions
in Proceedigns of GRAPP
A. Reichinger, St. Maierhofer, R. Tobler ()
Skylight illumination and rendering of urban scenes
in Proceedings of CORP (International Symposion on Information and Communication Technologies in Urban and Spatial Planning)
K. Karner, G. Hesina, St. Maierhofer, R. Tobler ()
Improved reconstruction and rendering of cities and terrains based on multispectral digital aerial images
in Proceedings of CORP (International Symposion on Information and Communication Technologies in Urban and Spatial Planning)
R. Tobler, St. Maierhofer ()
Improved Illumination Estimation for Photon Maps in Architectural Scenes’
in Proceedings of WSCG (International Conference in Central Europe on Computer Graphics, Visualization and Computer Vision)
R. Tobler, St. Maierhofer ()
A Mesh Data Structure for Rendering and Subdivision
in Proceedings of WSCG (International Conference in Central Europe on Computer Graphics, Visualization and Computer Vision)
S. Mantler, G. Hesina, S. Maierhofer, F. R. Tobler ()
Real-Time Rendering of Vegetation and Trees in Urban Environments
in Proceedings of CORP -International Symposium on Information and Communication Technologies in Urban and Spatial planning
A. Fuhrmann, R. Tobler, S. Maierhofer ()
Real-Time Glossy Reflections on Planar Surfaces
in Proceedings of AfriGraph
G. Hesina, S. Maierhofer, R. Tobler ()
Texture Management for high-quality City Walk-throughs
in Proceedings of CORP -International Symposion on Information and Communication Technologies in Urban and Spatial Planning
F. R. Tobler, St. Maierhofer, Wilkie. A ()
A Multiresolution Mesh Generation Approach for Procedural Definition of Complex Geometry
in Proceedings of the Shape Modeling International
St. Maierhofer ()
A Flexible Framework for Volume Tracing
in Proceedings of CESCG (Central European Seminar on Computer Graphics for students)