VR2Planets

VR2Planets is a French company specializing in the processing of 3D geospatial data and its immersive visualization through virtual reality. The company was established on October 3, 2016, by François Civet, a researcher in planetary electromagnetism, stemming from work at the Nantes Planetology and Geodynamics Laboratory (LPG). This initiative was born from a desire within the laboratory to better disseminate scientific knowledge, particularly the imagery data from space exploration probes. Civet's background includes a Ph.D. where he developed a method for using satellite magnetic data to understand the internal structure of planets, a technique applicable to various bodies in the solar system. The company has received backing from accelerators and incubators, including ESA BIC Nord France and Tech the Moon.

The core of VR2Planets' business is developing custom applications that transform complex scientific and satellite data into interactive, three-dimensional virtual environments. This service primarily targets the scientific, educational, and public outreach sectors. Clients include prominent space and research institutions like the French space agency CNES, NASA, CNRS, and CEA. For instance, NASA utilized the company's VR2Mars application to prepare teams for the InSight lander mission. The business model involves providing high-end services for complex data processing and creating bespoke visualization tools for research, education, and events. Its product, VRExplorer, is a collaborative platform that allows multiple remote users to load and interact with digital terrain models in a shared virtual scene.

VR2Planets' technology allows scientists to analyze geological features with greater precision, overcoming the distortions of 2D projections and enabling a more intuitive understanding of stratigraphic relationships. For education, it provides an immersive way for students to explore planetary surfaces. The company’s portfolio includes applications for visualizing various celestial bodies like Mars (VR2Mars), Jupiter's moon Ganymede (VR2Juice), and the Sun (VR2Sun), often in partnership with major space missions like ESA's EnVision. A significant achievement was winning the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement in 2016, recognizing the development of immersive methods for visualizing planetary imaging data.

Keywords: geospatial data visualization, virtual reality, 3D data processing, planetary science, immersive technology, scientific data visualization, geosciences, space exploration, satellite imagery, 3D modeling, digital terrain models, collaborative VR, CNES, NASA, ESA, research software, EdTech, VRExplorer, data analysis, planetary mapping, geological modeling, virtual environments, remote sensing, scientific communication