Mario Costa SousaView profile
Professor
Mario Costa Sousa is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary. He holds a BSc from Catholic University of Petrópolis (1989), an MSc from Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (1994), and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Alberta (1999). His primary research focuses on computer graphics, scientific visualization, and sketch-based modeling with applications to geoscience and reservoir engineering. He leads the illustrares research group, which develops novel visual computing paradigms for interdisciplinary challenges in science, engineering, and design. Research interests include non-photorealistic rendering, sketch-based interfaces, visualization/visual analytics, and human-data interaction. His work integrates geoscientific data with interactive modeling tools to address reservoir uncertainty and enhance decision-making in energy and environmental domains. Recent projects involve rapid prototyping of subsurface CO2 sequestration models and machine learning for drill core analysis. He teaches courses such as CPSC 591/691 Rendering (Fall 2024), CPSC 319 Data Structures (Winter 2025), and DATA 501 Data Science Capstone (Winter 2025). His research has contributed to energy innovation initiatives at the University of Calgary, focusing on geothermal energy and unconventional reservoirs. Key collaborations include work on Gaussian process-based uncertainty quantification, functional data analysis for production forecasting, and immersive VR tools for surgical training (e.g., NeuroSimVR and JackVR oil rig simulators). His publications span reservoir modeling, geological visualization, and interactive systems for spatial data exploration.





