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What if creating a sophisticated virtual training environment could begin with capturing the real world rather than recreating it from scratch? That possibility is driving a new collaboration between The DiSTI Corporation and Verge Visions, bringing together two complementary technologies poised to reshape how military and commercial organizations develop immersive training solutions. The collaboration addresses a growing challenge across the defense industry: developing highly realistic, technically accurate training environments while reducing the time, cost, and complexity traditionally associated with creating detailed 3D assets.
“Our collaboration with Verge Visions will help customers develop highly realistic virtual training solutions faster and more cost-effectively,” said Jason Thagard, CEO of DiSTI. “By combining Gaussian Splatting techniques with DiSTI’s proven training expertise, we can reduce development timelines, minimize dependence on physical equipment, and help organizations train personnel more efficiently while improving operational readiness.”
By integrating Verge Visions’ rapid digital twin creation capabilities with DiSTI’s established training development methodologies and VE Studio platform, the companies aim to accelerate the transformation of real-world equipment, vehicles, aircraft, and facilities into interactive virtual training environments.
Bridging Photorealism and Training Intelligence
At the foundation of the collaboration is Verge Visions’ expertise in Gaussian splatting, an advanced 3D reconstruction technique that transforms imagery captured from physical environments into highly detailed, photorealistic digital representations. Unlike traditional 3D modeling approaches, which can require extensive manual asset development, Gaussian splatting enables the rapid creation of visually accurate digital environments from real-world imagery.
“The real opportunity with digital twins is what we can do with them once they're created,” said Richie Romero, CEO of Verge Visions. “Imagine being able to explore an aircraft, understand how its systems work, and practice complex maintenance procedures before ever touching the real equipment. That's the direction we're headed, and our collaboration with DiSTI is an important step toward bringing that level of training to life.”
DiSTI brings the instructional design expertise, systems modeling, interactive procedures, and training methodologies necessary to transform digital assets into meaningful learning experiences. Its VE Studio development platform supports creating virtual maintenance trainers that let personnel explore complex equipment, practice maintenance procedures, troubleshoot faults, and develop critical technical skills in a controlled, repeatable environment.
Together, these complementary capabilities create opportunities to significantly streamline the development of high-fidelity virtual trainers without sacrificing the technical accuracy and instructional sophistication DiSTI customers expect.
Advancing the Digital Twin from Visualization to Intelligent Simulation
The collaboration also supports a broader vision for digital twin technology, moving beyond static visual representations toward increasingly sophisticated, connected, and intelligent digital environments.
Verge Visions’ digital twin capability model outlines five progressive levels of maturity:
1. Digital Replica – Scan It: High-fidelity capture of physical assets using technologies such as LiDAR, photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, and point cloud reconstruction to create geometrically accurate digital representations.
2. Interactive Model – Open It: Enrichment of digital assets with component-level information, part numbers, maintenance histories, and technical records, enabling users to explore and understand complex equipment virtually.
3. System Simulation – Run It: Integrate physics-based behaviors and system interactions that let users operate equipment, execute procedures, and explore realistic fault conditions without risking physical assets.
4. Connected Twin – Sync It: Incorporation of sensor data, application programming interfaces, and live telemetry to connect virtual models with their real-world counterparts.
5. Intelligent Twin – Let It Think: Application of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and machine learning to support condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and increasingly autonomous decision-making.
While each level adds capabilities, the progression shows how photorealistic digital assets can provide a foundation for advanced training, operational analysis, and long-term equipment sustainment.
For defense organizations, this approach can reduce dependence on physical training assets, expand access to complex equipment, and give personnel realistic opportunities to develop and maintain proficiency before performing procedures in operational environments.
Accelerating Readiness Through Advanced Virtual Training
The collaboration is particularly relevant to military aviation, ground vehicle maintenance, maritime systems, and other technically demanding environments where access to operational equipment is limited, maintenance procedures are complex, and training readiness is essential.
The approach also supports the growing demand for digital transformation across defense and commercial industries, where digital twins are increasingly being evaluated for their ability to support workforce development, maintenance planning, equipment familiarization, and lifecycle sustainment.
Rather than treating photorealistic digital twins as standalone visualization tools, DiSTI and Verge Visions are focused on extending their value through interactive training, technical content integration, and simulation-driven instruction.
Experience the Collaboration at I/ITSEC 2026
The DiSTI Corporation will showcase its collaboration with Verge Visions at the 2026 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida.
Attendees are invited to visit DiSTI at Booth #771 to learn how advanced Gaussian splatting technology, photorealistic digital twins, and DiSTI’s proven virtual training capabilities can help organizations modernize maintenance and operational training.
The demonstration will highlight the potential of combining next-generation digital asset creation with established simulation and training technologies to accelerate the development of immersive, technically sophisticated learning environments.
For more information about the solutions provided by DiSTI and the company’s partnership with Verge Visions, contact sales@disti.com.
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