Lafayette - Visualization technology is increasingly becoming vital to doing business in various fields, including oil and gas, a BP executive said Wednesday.

BP has 19 such visualization “hives” spread across its worldwide operations, using them for various tasks that involve breaking down tons of data into viewable, three-dimensional images, said Jim Thomson, who oversees the program for BP.

Thomson spoke Wednesday at the last day of the fifth annual TechSouth technology exposition and summit, which attracts participants to Lafayette from across the Gulf Coast.

The technology used by large, global companies such as BP is available in Lafayette — through the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise — or LITE — to small and medium-sized business.

Thomson said visualization has helped BP save money, innovate and become more efficient.

And because humans are “visual” thinkers, the ability to view data, rather than read it in a chart or spreadsheet, can lead to “ah-ha” moments, Thomson said.

Also Wednesday at TechSouth, the Governor’s Technology Awards were presented.

Bruce Hoffman with Engineering and Environmental Solutions in New Orleans was named the Technology Leader of the Year. His company has developed a process to design and build energy-efficient, affordable housing.

Internet travel and entertainment booking company iSeatz, based in New Orleans, was named Innovator of the Year.

University of Louisiana professor Ramesh Kolluru was named University Technology Leader of the Year. Kolluru wears many hats at the university, including director of the Center of Business and Information Technologies, assistant vice-president for Research and Development and executive director of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies institute.

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By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Advocate Acadiana bureau