Digital Twin for Spatial Previsualization

My Mellon Fellowship project will be a physically constructed miniature model of a space (such as a film set or livable interior) paired with a fully developed digital twin in Unreal Engine. The physical model includes movable components - such as walls and props - equipped with sensors to track their positions relative to the overall scene. These movements are reflected in the digital twin in real time, enabling simultaneous physical and digital previsualization of a space. The final project extends this system into a fully navigable VR experience, allowing users to move seamlessly between third-person manipulation and first-person immersion. This project aims to support and accelerate the prototyping of complex, immersive, and highly thematic environments at a professional level. Rather than serving as a simplified demonstration, the final system is designed to function as a robust design tool. It enables designers to rapidly iterate on spatial layouts, test experiential qualities, and communicate ideas clearly across both technical and non-technical stakeholders. The integration of a responsive digital twin with a tangible model allows for intuitive interaction while preserving the depth, atmosphere, and scale of a fully realized environment. The completed project will demonstrate how hybrid physical-digital workflows can bridge gaps in traditional design processes. It will produce a system in which users can manipulate a space physically, visualize it digitally with high fidelity, and experience it immersively in VR. The final outcome will not only be a working prototype, but a scalable framework for future applications in themed entertainment, architecture, and immersive storytelling.