Faramarz Samavati

I am a Full Professor of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, specializing in Computer Graphics, Visualization, and Geoinformatics. My research focuses on modeling methods for 3D objects and their integration into large‑scale spatial systems. Alongside foundational theoretical work, I actively pursue practical innovations that bridge research and deployment. My contributions have advanced technologies in Digital Earth, sketch‑based modeling, medical visualization, and geospatial data modeling.

I have more than 170 peer-reviewed publications and eight Best Paper Awards. I have supervised and trained 15 PhD, five Postdoctoral Fellows and more than 50 MSc thesis-based students.

I lead the Graphics, Interaction and Visualization (GIV) research group at the University of Calgary. For the current projects publications, and other ongoing activities in my research team, please refer to GIV webpage.

Honours, Awards, and Nominations

  • Mitacs Innovation Award for Outstanding Research Leadership, 2025 — National recognition for leading the development of a next‑generation 3D digital earth framework based on the Discrete Global Grid System (DGGS).
  • Established Career Scholarship Excellence Award, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Aug 2020.
  • Best Paper Award, Expressive 2017, Brown, A. and Samavati, F.F., Jul 2017.
  • ASTech Nomination & Finalist, 2017, Nominated by the Faculty of Science for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology. Selected by the ASTech Foundation as Award Finalist. The ASTech Awards are Alberta's highest Science and Technology honours.
  • Best Paper Award of 2015 IEEE International Conference on Cyberworlds, Ketabchi, K., Runions, A., Samavati, F.F., Oct 2015.
  • Peak Scholar Award, Honoured by the President of the University of Calgary, Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Knowledge Engagement, Nov 2014.
  • Best Paper Award of 2014 IEEE International Conference on Cyberworlds, Hasan, M., Samavati, F.F., and Jacob, C., Oct 2014.
  • Great Supervisor Award, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary, Sep 2014.
  • Digital Alberta Award 2013, Best in Cross-Platform, “Sketch3D”, Jun 2013.
  • Michael Sweeney Award for Best Student Paper in Graphics at the Graphics Interface Conference, 2013. Mahdavi-Amiri, A. and Samavati, F.F., “ACM: Atlas of Connectivity Maps for Semiregular Models”, 2013.
  • IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 2011 Best Paper Award. Olsen, L, Samavati, F.F., and Jorge, J., “NaturaSketch: Modeling from Images and Natural Sketches”, 2011.
  • Best Paper Award from Computer Graphics International, Ottawa, Canada. Runions, A. and Samavati, F.F., “Partition of Unity Parametrics: A Framework for Meta-Modeling”, 2011.
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Recognition of Service Award, In Appreciation for Contributions to ACM, Co-Chair, Sixth ACM/Eurographics Symposium on Sketch-Based Modeling and Interaction, Aug 1-2, 2009.

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