I am an Associate Professor at the IST, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training at the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida. I hold a Secondary Joint Appointment in the Department of Computer Science and in the Learning Sciences Faculty Cluster. I am also co-director of the SENSEable Design Laboratory.


I'm excited to work with highly motivated students! Please read this if you are interested in joining my group.

  • Associate Professor
  • University of Central Florida
  • IST, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training
  • Office: P2-0140B (Partnership 2)
  • 3100 Technology Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32826
  • 407.882.1353
  • jkider [at] ist.ucf.edu
  • My Calendar

  • LAB: SENSEable Design Laboratory

What I do

My research develops the foundations of changing the current architectural design, construction, and operational practices through modeling, simulation, and training. I strive to understand the impact the built environment has on humans; and conversely how humans impact the built environment. This is a complex problem that transcends disciplinary boundaries. My research introduces computational methods to make buildings more energy-efficient while keeping humans-in-the-loop. I introduce a first principle physics-based approach to energy and light simulation that produces more informed design choices and therefore better performing buildings, retrofitting, and cities.


I am the co-Director of the SENSEable Design Lab at the Institute for Simulation and Training in the School for Modeling, Simulation, and Training which is a transdisciplinary lab researching responsive sustainable design theory. I study how emerging Augmented Reality (AR) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies can be integrated to increase human performance by improving the retraining of construction workers for retrofitting and repurposing buildings. Here we develop, validate, and test simulation methods utilizing complex capture methods, illumination simulations, and spectral rendering to improve design solutions for building energy use and occupant comfort. My research requires an anti-disciplinary approach that combines the best of disciplinary knowledge and processes from computer science, architecture, psychology, and engineering to innovate new knowledge and approaches.


I had the pleasure to be mentored by Dr. Donald Greenberg as a Research Associate and Postdoctoral Scholar at Cornell University in the Program of Computer Graphics. I completed my Ph.D. at the Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, where I was advised by Dr. Norman Badler. While at Penn, I ran the SIG Center for Computer Graphics serving as the Associate Director for three years. I also was a lecturer in the Department of Computer and Information Science. I had the pleasure of teaching and advising the amazing students in Penn's Digital Media Design Undergraduate Program and Computer Graphics and Game Technology Master Program.

RESEARCH

I solve physically-based design problems leveraging VR/AR/XR and computer graphics.

SENSEable Design

Interdisciplinary approach grounded in Computer Science to capture, model, and simulate.

TEACHING

I teach transdiplinary classes in modeling, simulation, training; Research Methods; and XR.

SERVICE

I help to sustain the profession and university academic communities to foster collaborations .

  • Education

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania

    2012

    Advisor: Dr. Norman I. Badler
    Dissertation: Simulation of 3D Model, Shape, and Appearance Aging by Physical, Chemical, Biological, Environmental, and Weathering Effects

    Researched time-varying physically-based material and rendering changes, and capturing behavior-based animation of human movement with a custom multi-modal motion capture system.

  • M.S. in Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania

    2005

    Advisor: Dr. Norman I. Badler
    Investigated computer graphics modeling and animation techniques for embodied agents, virtual humans, and their applications for real-time simulation and animation.

  • B.S. in Computer Science, The Catholic University of America

    2003

    Minors: Mathmatics and Political Science.
    Internship (Software Development), Naval Research Laboratory (Host: Dr. Lawrence C. Schuette) : Developed real-time mapping and RF propagation display software for the Navy.

  • Experience

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Cornell University

    2012 - 2016

    Advisor: Dr. Donald P. Greenberg
    Researched theoretical algorithms and numerical simulations for a physically-based all-weathersky model for daylighting and energy simulations. We modeled and simulated responsive architecture through numerical simulation to provide collaboration tools to the early-phase design process. Also, we developed built and capture validation measurements for spectral skylight.

  • Lecturer (Full-Time), University of Pennsylvania

    2011 - 2012

    Instructor for Physically-based Animation, GPU-Programming, and Senior Capstone Design courses. I served the Computer Science department as a Part-time adjunct Lecturer (2008-2011) teaching courses in the Digital Media Design and the Computer Graphics and Game Technology Programs.

  • Associate Director; SIG Center, University of Pennsylvania

    2009 - 2012

    Managed five funded computer graphics research projects for the SIG Center for Computer Graphics, summer intern program, and advised a variety of student research projects. Investigated computer graphics modeling and animation techniques for embodied agents and virtual humans.

My Research and Creative Works

NEWS: In 2021, I have been awarded a UCF Research Incentive Award (RIA) and UCF College of Graduate Studies Excellence in Research Award for my interdisciplinary research activity.

All Built Environment XR BIM - Digital Twins Cultural Heritage
NEH: Documenting Cultural Heritage
Capturing Spectral Skylight
LiDAR Scanning Digital Twins
NSF: XR-BIM - Retrofitting
AFRL: advanced infrared simulation
LiDAR Scanning for Retrofitting
Collaborative Daylighting Design
Simulating Spectral Skylight
Multi-modal Motion Capture
Aging and Weathering Simulation
Soil and Mudbrick BRDF Models
Kinetic building facade systems

Publications

BIM Driven Retrofitting Design Evaluation of Building Facades
John Sermarini, Robert Michlowitz, Joseph J. LaViola Jr., Roger Azevedo, Lori C. Walters, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Symposium on Spatial User Interaction, 2022

MemoryScan: Smart Digital Transformation of Large-scale Environments for Eliciting Location Specific Knowledge
Robert Michlowitz, Joseph T. Kider Jr. Lori C. Walters
Workshop on Photorealistic Image and Environment Synthesis for Mixed Reality IEEE-ISMAR (PIES-MR), 2022

Coherent vorticity and discontinuous flow in particle-based SPH modeling
Oddny Brun, Joseph T. Kider Jr., R. Paul Wiegand
International Journal of Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements, 2022

Embodied facade retrofit design with Augmented Reality in the built environment
John Sermarini, Joseph J. LaViola Jr., Roger Azevedo, Lori C. Walters, Robert Michlowitz, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Building Simulation, 2021

A critical review of the effectiveness of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment Rating System (STARS) framework on campus sustainability
Lauren Doocy, Arash Zarmehr, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Building Simulation, 2021

Radiant spectral energy for simulation in the built environment
Joseph Del Rocco, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Building Simulation, 2021

Whole-building energy simulation analysis and optimization of residential building equipped with air-duct system in three different regions
Arash Zarmehr, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Building Simulation, 2021

Kinematic Evaluation of Linear and Parabolic Pointing in Virtual Reality
John Sermarini, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Joseph J. LaViola Jr., Daniel S. McConnell
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (HFES), 2021

Physics-Based Real-Time DynamicGeneration of Temporal Energy Maps for Virtual Training in Realistic IR Sensors Simulators
Harleen J. Lappano, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Mark Faulk
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) , 2021

Particle-based Flow Vorticity Analysis by Use of Second-generation Wavelets
Oddny Brun, Joseph T. Kider Jr., R. Paul Wiegand
Journal of Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements, 2021

Real-time spectral radiance estimation of hemispherical clear skies with machine learned regression models
Joseph Del Rocco, Paul Bourke, Charles B. Patterson, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Solar Energy, 2020

Simulation Analysis of a Ventilated Building Integrated-Photovoltaics Air-Gap Duct System for Natural Ventilation of a Building
Arash Zarmehr, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Building Simulation, 2019

Transition Portal for daylighting calculations in early phase design
Joseph T. Kider Jr., Bruce Walter, Sandy Fang, Ege Sekkin, Donald P. Greenberg
Energy and Buildings, 2019

Robust Path Matching and Anomalous Route Detection Using Posterior Weighted Graphs
Lauren Doocy, Steven D. Prager, Joseph T. Kider Jr., R. Paul Wiegand
ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems (TSAS), 2019

Accurate graphics BRDF material properties and illumination for dirt and mudbrick structures
Emiliya Al Yafei, Virginia Badler, Norman I. Badler, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies, 2019

Learning and estimating whole sky visible, VNIR, SWIR radiance distributions from a commercial camera
Joseph Del Rocco, Charles Brandon Patterson, Hassen Dhrif, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
SPIE Optics and Photonics for Information Processing XII, 2018

An affective kinetic building facade system - Mood Swing
Nathan Moulton, Joseph Del Rocco, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Stephen M. Fiore
Advanced Building Skins (ABS), 2018

Modeling and Simulation of Parametric Wind-Catcher Designs for Natural Ventilation in Sustainable Building Skin Architecture
Arash Zarmehr, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Advanced Building Skins (ABS), 2018

Temporal IR Energy Maps for Synthetic Virtual Training
Joseph T. Kider Jr., Mark Faulk, Ron Moore, Julian Barriga, Jerred Holt
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) , 2018

RoMA Interactive Fabrication with Augmented Reality and a Robotic 3D Printer
Huaishu Peng, Jimmy Briggs, Cheng-Yao Wang, Kevin Guo, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Stefanie Mueller, Patrick Baudisch, François Guimbretière
Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '18), 2018

Accurate Soil and Mudbrick BRDF Models for Archaeological Illumination Rendering with Application to Small Finds
Virgina Badler, Joseph T. Kider Jr , Megan Moore, Bruce Walter, Norman I. Badler
EUROGRAPHICS Workshop on Graphics and Cultural Heritage (GCH), 2017

A Framework for the Experimental Comparison of Solar and Skydome Illumination
Joseph T. Kider Jr., Daniel Knowlton, Jeremy Newlin, Yining Karl Li, and Donald P. Greenberg
ACM Transactions on Graphics (SIGGRAPH ASIA), 2014

Efficient Motion Retrieval in Large Motion Databases
Mubbasir Kapadia, I-kao Chiang, Tiju Thomas, Norman I. Badler, Joseph T. Kider Jr.
Interactive 3d Graphics and Games (I3D), 2012

Fruit Senescence and Decay Simulation
Joseph T. Kider Jr, Samantha Raja, and Norman I. Badler
Eurographics, 2011

A Data-driven Appearance Model for Human Fatigue (HONORABLE MENTION AWARD)
Joseph T. Kider Jr, Kaitlin Pollock, and Alla Safonova
SIGGRAPH/ Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation (SCA), 2011

Intelligent Camera Control using Behavior Trees
Daniel Markowitz, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Alexander Shoulson, and Norman I. Badler
Motion in Games (MIG), 2011

Human Model Reaching, Grasping, Looking and Sitting using Smart Objects
Damian Slonneger, Matthew Croop, Jeremy Cytryn, Joseph T. Kider Jr.,Richard Rabbitz, Eric Halpern, Norman I. Badler
International Symposium on Digital Human Modeling (DHM), 2011

CRAM it! A Comparison of Virtual, Live-Action and Written Training Systems for Preparing Personnel to Work in Hazardous Environments
Catherine Stocker, Ben Sunshine-Hill, John Drake, Ian Perera, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Norman I. Badler
IEEE International Conference on Virtual Reality (VR), 2011

High-dimensional Planning on the GPU
Joseph T. Kider, Mark Henderson, Maxim Likhachev, Alla Safonova
IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2010

Real-time Evacuation Simulation in Mine Interior Model of Smoke and Action
Pengfei. Huang, Jinsheng Kang, Joseph T. Kider Jr., Benjamin Sunshine-Hill, Jon McCaffrey, Desiree Rios, Norman Badler
Computer Animation and Social Agents, 2010

Recreating Early Islamic Glass Lamp Lighting (BEST PAPER AWARD)
Joseph T. Kider Jr., Rebecca L. Fletcher, Nancy Yu, Renata Holod, Alan Chalmers, and Norman I. Badler
International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (VAST), 2009

All-Pairs Shortest-Paths for Large Graphs on the GPU (10 year TEST OF TIME AWARD)
Gary Katz and Joseph T. Kider Jr
Graphics Hardware, 2008

Teaching and Educational Activities

NEWS: In 2021, I have been awarded a UCF Teaching Incentive Program Award (TIP) and UCF College of Graduate Studies Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award for my teaching productivity and excellence in graduate teaching.

   University of Central Florida
I have taught 5 different classes at UCF, developing 3 courses.

IDC6700 - Interdisciplinary Approach to Data Visualization
A hands-on, interdisciplinary perspective on basic principles and fundamentals of visualizing statistical information.
Topics include: effective visualizations, perception, representation, and general principles.
Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Summer 2021.

IDS 6145: Simulation Techniques (New Developed Course)
SIMTECH provides a broad survey of fundamental techniques for three different categories of simulation.
Topics include: effective modeling, and designing discrete-event, continuous-based, and agent-based simulations.
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Spring 2017.

IDS 6938: Mixed Reality for Modeling and Simulation (Special Topics Seminar) (New Developed Course)
A hands-on, interdisciplinary perspective on basic principles and fundamentals of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.
Topics include: color science, perception, cognition, HCI, computer graphics, and AR/VR concepts.
Spring 2020, Spring 2019.

IDS 6938: Building Performance Simulation (Special Topics Seminar) (New Developed Course)
Basic and advanced building performance simulation methods and their underlying principles that impact energy, thermal, and visual comfort.
Topics include: daylighting simulations, thermal comfort, energy usage, EnergPlus fundamentals, Radiance.
Spring 2017, Fall 2016.

IDS 6145: Research Practicum and Methods
A project-based capstone course for M.S. students in Modeling and Simulation Graduate Program.
Topics include: research methods, research design, modeling and simulation approaches, and research ethics.
Spring 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018.

Advanced Topics Primer (Offline Supplementary Resource)
An interdisciplinary primer to aid students in fundamentals of math, programming and human subject research who come from different discplines.
Topics include: Python Programming, Git, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations.
Ongoing - Open Course Materials - Jointly developed with R. Paul Wiegand.


   Cornell University
I co-taught one class (with Don Greenberg) on Virtual Reality while at Cornell.

CS 4654: Design in Virtual Reality(co-listed as an Architecture Studio)
A hands-on, interdisciplinary perspective on basic principles and fundamentals of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.
Topics include: designing VR environments, color science, perception, cognition, HCI, computer graphics, and AR/VR concepts.
Spring 2016. - Course Webpage- Co-Taught with Donald Greenberg.


   University of Pennsylvania
I taught three classes during grad school at Penn. I was a Lecturer for the Department of Computer and Information Science (CIS) for the 2011-2012 school year teaching a full course load (4 courses). From 2008-2011, I served as a Part-time Lecturer for CIS teaching roughly 2-3 courses a year. In 2010, I was awarded The Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Students.

CIS 565: GPU Programming and Architecture
This course examines the architecture and capabilities of modern GPUs (graphics processing unit).
Topics include: CUDA, GLSL, WebGL, massively parallel algorithms, graphics pipeline, real-time rendering, 3D engine architecture.
Fall 2011, Spring 2010, Summer 2009, Spring 2008 Co-Taught with Gary Katz.

CIS 563: Physically Based Animation
Students are introduced to common numerical methods, physical models, and physically based modeling techniques.
Topics include: Particle system dynamics, mass-spring system, PBD, fluid simulations, rigid bodies, character animation.
Spring 2012, Spring 2011.

CIS 497: Senior Capstone Design Project
The senior capstone design project provides an opportunity to define, design, and execute a project of the student's own choosing.
Topics include: Research Methods, Research Design, and ethics.
Spring 2012, Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Spring 2009 Co-Taught with Norm Badler.


[Research Group]

Full SENSEable Design Lab Team

Contact Address

I am an Associate Professor at the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. IST is located in the Partnership II building in Research Park.

Dr. Joseph T. Kider Jr.

IST, School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training

Office 0141B

3100 Technology Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32826

Orlando, FL 32826

jkider [at] ist.ucf.edu

Joseph.Kider [at] ucf.edu

+ 407.882.1353