Professor Sami S. Brandt’s research in audio-visual computing began with a love of music

On 11 April at 15:00, newly minted professor of the Computer Science Department at IT University in Copenhagen, Sami S. Brandt will present his inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at IT University of Copenhagen.

Sami BrandtComputer Science DepartmentProfessor portrait

Written 18 March, 2024 19:48 by Theis Duelund Jensen

Paradoxically, it was a love of music that led Sami S. Brandt to pursue a career path in science. Being proficient on both the guitar and the piano, he grew up playing classical music, but it was a summer university programme in his native Finland that came to set his future career course:

“As a teenager I had seen a segment on TV about digital modeling of a guitar. Digitally recreating the sound, an acoustic guitar produces, was an exciting idea to me and years later, when I spent a summer working in a university acoustics lab, I was working with the guitar modelling and analysis myself,” says Sami S. Brandt who will present his inaugural lecture as professor at ITU on 11 April.

Since then, mathematical and statistical modeling of signals and to an even greater extent images has been central to Sami S. Brandt’s work. At university, he studied engineering physics and mathematics, with the major in information science and minor in acoustics and audio signal processing. In 2002, he completed his doctoral degree at Helsinki University of Technology, where he studied the imaging geometry estimation problem in transmission electron microscopy in order to facilitate accurate 3D reconstruction of TEM images.

“3D imaging is important in a variety of sectors and the biomedical branch is among them. I have worked on creating better imaging of, for instance, proteins to give a better understanding of their atomic structure. The central problem in imaging is the recovery of three-dimensional information on the basis of two-dimensional images. It’s ultimately coupled with the geometry estimation problem, and I have always been fascinated by geometry,” says Sami S. Brandt.

Mixed reality pioneer work
At the moment, Sami Brandt is busy coordinating a new joint academic and industry research project in the field of mixed reality. XTREME, as it is called, is a collaboration between ITU and 14 partners (among others the MUNCH museum in Oslo and the Finnish National Opera and Ballet) aimed at creating cutting-edge mixed reality technology to transport concerts and performing art events into users’ homes.

“Music, art, and performance are important parts of life for most of us. Unfortunately, traditional concert venues and performance schedules can limit access to these benefits. The XTREME project seeks to eliminate these barriers by creating an immersive virtual experience that seamlessly blends the real and digital worlds,” says Sami S. Brandt.

There is almost endless potential in the development of this type of technology, according to the professor. People with disabilities or physical impairments will be able to take advantage of cultural productions which are otherwise difficult to attend on-site, and there is also a social component in the fact that users ideally will be able to attend cultural events with friends in remote locations.

“With the XTREME project, I am also returning to the audio and acoustics field – we’re going to have an audio lab here at ITU – and I am happy that it is back in my life again. I have always been excited about doing research that makes a difference in the world. At the end of the day that is what is most important to me,” says Sami S. Brandt.

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