Mobile Workshop: The Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida

Join us for a mobile workshop to the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) Labs at The University of Central Florida. During this mobile workshop, attendees will travel to the IST and visit three different active labs that focus on digital twinning, augmented reality, and technology integration and learn more about what they are researching and accomplishing to contribute to the innovations in local government.

IST is a community of researchers and scholars fostering leading-edge, human-centered interdisciplinary research in emergent technologies. We are educators producing the next generation of leaders. We are partners and collaborators coming together with other forward-thinking organizations ready to take on the world’s toughest challenges. Our focus on simulation touches virtually every industry sector, and that connection provides boundless opportunity for our students, faculty/staff, and partners. We engineer solutions using advanced and emerging technologies to develop a wide variety of simulations and software.

Our team recommits every day to bringing together the collective strengths of industry, defense and government, and academia so that, together, we find big, bold solutions to diverse challenges.

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Time: 8:00am-12:00pm

Fee: $50. Sign up during the registration process.

Space is limited!

Already registered for the Orlando LGRC, but want to purchase a ticket? Simply log in to your account, go to the Orlando LGR event and select individual registration. You will receive a warning notice that you have already registered. Please select the “ADD SESSIONS TO MY REGISTRATION” button. This will take you where you can add the tickets to your registration. If you should run into any issues, or have questions, contact Elizabeth Snyder at esnyder@icma.org.

Urban Digital Twin (UDT) Lab

Visit Objective
Introduce how AI-driven urban digital twins integrate infrastructure, mobility, environment, and human behavior data to support evidence-based planning, operational resilience, and policy evaluation for cities and counties.

Key Takeaway
Participants will understand how digital twins move beyond visualization into decision-grade systems that enable scenario testing, risk mitigation, and cross-department coordination for smarter, faster local government action.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab)

Visit Objective
Demonstrate how immersive VR and AR technologies enhance planning, stakeholder engagement, workforce training, and public communication through intuitive, spatially grounded interaction with complex data.

Key Takeaway
Attendees will see how immersive environments accelerate understanding, improve collaboration, and reduce implementation risk by allowing decision-makers and communities to experience policies and designs before deployment.

Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL)

Visit Objective
Showcase how AI, digital twins, XR, and data platforms are integrated into scalable solutions for workforce development, emergency preparedness, and public-sector innovation.

Key Takeaway
Visitors will learn how integrated emerging technologies can modernize service delivery, upskill public-sector talent, and translate research innovations into operational systems for local governments.

Meet Your Hosts

Dr. Soheil Sabri

Director, Urban Digital Twin Lab (UDT Lab)

Dr. Soheil Sabri is the Director of the Urban Digital Twin Lab at UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training. His research focuses on AI-enabled digital twins, spatio-temporal modeling, and data-driven decision systems for urban infrastructure, mobility, and sustainability. Dr. Sabri collaborates closely with government and industry partners to translate advanced analytics into actionable tools for planning, operations, and policy design.

Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira

Co-Director, Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab)

Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira is the Interim Director of IST and a pioneer in virtual reality, as well as the inventor of the CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment. As Co-Director of VARLab, her work centers on immersive visualization, human-centered computing, and the use of VR/AR to improve understanding of complex systems across science, engineering, and public applications.

Dr. Dirk Reiners

Co-Director, Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab)

Dr. Dirk Reiners is Co-Director of VARLab and a leading expert in interactive computer graphics, immersive analytics, and real-time visualization. His research advances the integration of large-scale data, simulation, and immersive technologies to support collaborative decision-making and experiential learning.

Dr. David Metcalf

Director, Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL)

Dr. David Metcalf is the Director of METIL and a nationally recognized leader in emerging technology, workforce innovation, and applied AI. His work focuses on integrating digital twins, XR, and intelligent systems into scalable platforms that enhance learning, preparedness, and operational effectiveness across public and private sectors.

Michael Eakins

Creative Lead, Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL)

Michael Eakins is the Creative Lead at METIL, specializing in immersive experience design, XR storytelling, and human-centered technology integration. He bridges technical innovation and practical application, ensuring emerging technologies are accessible, engaging, and impactful for real-world government and workforce use cases.