Facilities
Discover our cutting-edge research facilities, reservation and use process.
Quicklinks
Quicklinks
Facilities
Reservation and use
Our facilities
The Experivan
The Experivan is a mobile lab that enables researchers to take their research on the road and go directly to their target population to conduct their experiments. The Experivan is set up to offer a wide variety of research possibilities. It is equipped with a 4G hotspot, two wall-mounted working stations, a laptop, a TV screen, and audio and video systems. With seating and table arrangements. Researchers can bring their own equipment to use in the van or make use of the BMS Lab equipment.
The XR Lab 1 (LA 1503)
This XR Lab is specially set up for the development of Virtual Reality environments and to carry out VR and Motion Capture experiments. This room is suitable for experiments that require both minimal and larger walking space as it has both a wide open area and a VR walking set-up where you can test your development and conduct research with your participants.
XR Lab 2 (LA 1511)
This office-setting room is used for XR (i.e. Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality) experiments. This space is better suited for experiments that require minimal walking space.
The Oost Simulation Centre
The Oost simulation centre enables researchers to conduct experiments and training involving driving simulations. Researchers can conduct their studies with a beamer or for more immersive experiences with VR headset (with eye-tracking). There are three simulator available, with diverse set of capabilities.
The Neuroscience Lab (LA 1513)
The Neuroscience lab is equipped with operational equipment dedicated to EEG and fNIRS research. Multiple AV possibilities exist, including an immersive 5m-wide double 4K seamless beamer setup.
Flexperiment Lab Spaces
The Flexperiment facility is a set up of seven small silent lab spaces with workstations. All the rooms are connected to a remote-controlled camera system that allows for remote monitoring of participants. Four of the rooms are set up for specialised areas, e.g. usability studies, VR, eye-tracking or scent. The remainder of the rooms are flexible to be adjusted based on the researchers' needs.
Flexperiment opens the possibility for a variety of research. Researchers use the specialised room for smaller-scale experiments with one participant at a time.
Serious Gaming Room (LA 1505)
This room is equipped with state-of-the-art (serious) gaming equipment and 4 workstations and enables different light sceneries. It is close to the break-out room (LA 1509).
Negotiation Room (LA 1509)
This small room can be used for breakouts, and gaming experiments . This room contains one table and 6 chairs. It can be used as a break-out room or for consultation during examinations in adjacent rooms.
CAVE (LA 2504)
The CAVE is an immersive research space for visualisation, interaction and simulation. It features three 115-inch 4K QLED displays, a high-performance workstation, and a stereo camera for depth sensing and motion tracking. It supports interactive applications, large-scale visualisations, simulations and research experiments.
Instruction Lab (LA 2516)
This space can be used for instructions, lectures and tutorials. It has seating for 40 and is equiped with a PC and a large TV. The Instructions Lab can be booked directly from Outlook.
The BMS Lab meeting room (LA 2518)
This advanced meeting room with high-end visualisation capacities holds place for up to 14 people. There are two large TVs on which you can present from a laptop. To book the room you can use Outlook and add the room to the meeting.
Reserving facilities
Step 1: Register your request
Follow the request registration procedure on the request registration page:
You need to register your request first to receive a code to complete reservations of facilities or software and equipment.
In certain circumstances this may not be needed, e.g. you are following a course where the professor arranged use of the lab facilities for you.
In certain circumstances this may not be needed, e.g. you are following a course where the professor arranged use of the lab facilities for you.
Step 2: Reservation
Reservation of the lab space on our Booqable shop.
Use the request ID you received to complete this reservation.
Step 3: Read the protocols and procedures
Before using our lab spaces, please read and comply with our:
Additional resources
Find more support at the following places:
- Info-Hub: In addition, via the Info-Hub read about the lab space you will be reserving to learn more about this room, the best practices and the protocols that apply for that room.
- Overview of All Equipment
- Overview of All Software
Check out our equipment and software list to see if there are any you may require for your research. Further information on equipment can be found in the Info-Hub.
Note
- We will evaluate your reservation request within 5 working days. During that time you will either get a confirmation of your request having been turned into a reservation or a comment on your request and its inadequacies.
- Pick up your equipment or key at the right time and date. Don’t forget your student or employee card!
Using facilities
Pick up
You can only book the facilities for the time you need them and have participants. If the room is reserved, yet no one has picked up the card or keys within the specified time of the reservation, your reservation will be cancelled.
Use
When using the facilities, make sure that you follow the house rules with can be found in each of the rooms. Not adhering to the house rules will result in a warning. If the house rules are not followed after the warning, any additional reservations you may have for the room will be cancelled.
Return
Before returning the card or keys, please make sure that the room is ready for next use and in the state in which you received it. If you need any help, please inform us. You can return the room card or keys in the key drop box next to the main office LA1501.
Data storage and processing
As part of the best practices and extensive guidelines of The University of Twente, the BMS Lab provides data storage and processing facilities to researchers and students that have a project signed up with us.
We provide two main services in this domain:
Remote Data Storage
Secure, centralised and remotely accessible data storage for your research project. These are accessible via student or employee credentials with the University VPN. There is no size limit, but include estimated storage size needed when requesting.
Mobile Data Storage
Decentralised data storage option when either collecting or transporting data to another party. The BMS Lab provides secure mobile (USB) storage devices for research.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can I make use of the lab's equipment or facilities?
Every use of the lab's facilities or equipment requires the registration of a project, a reservation for the equipment or lab spaces and approval from the lab's team. The BMS Lab uses a web form to guide interested parties through the process of registering and approving a project and reserving the needed facilities.
Please note that the process from receiving the request to approval of request can take up to 5 business days and that projects may only start after receiving approval. The facilities of The BMS Lab are available (mostly) for free for students and employees of the BMS faculty of the University of Twente.
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Can I use equipment outside of the BMS Lab?
It is allowed to bring equipment from the BMS Lab with you outside of the lab for research or educational purposes. Do however note that the lab has limited insurance coverage outside of its facilities.
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How do I check availability of an equipment or facility?
This can be seen on the reservation page. Browse through the calendar in the period your are interested and see if your preferred item is already reserved.
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What If I am late in returning or want to extend the renting period of an equipment?
If you foresee that you need to use the equipment or software for longer than you indicated when lending it, you will need to inform the BMS Lab of this. It is always possible to extend the lending period, however approval of this is dependent on incoming reservations for said equipment. Please come by or send us an email if you wish to extend.
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When can I make use of the BMS Labs services, equipment and facilities?
The BMS Lab aims to aid students and researchers at the University of Twente’s BMS faculty in their research and education. We provide support by supplying and advising on the use of technology in research. Most of our services are free for BMS faculty staff and students. Students and staff members can use our sign-up procedure to request both our expertise and facilities for use in their research, projects or educational activities.
BMS faculty students or staff members
The lab will generally try to honour requests that fit within the guidelines and meet the requirements. Furthermore, the lab requires adequate provisions for secure data management (read more about this on our policy page). Moreover, the educational or research activity should be officially part of the BMS faculty. This means that students that are supervised by a BMS faculty staff member in their research can in most cases use the lab’s facilities as well.
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How do I sign up for a project?
Follow the following steps:
- Go to the project sign-up page.
- Follow the instructions listed on-screen and fill in the form.
- Once complete, you can proceed to reserve your equipment from the e-mail you’ve received or the on page instructions.
- Having difficulties? Read the How to reserve equipment? / How to reserve lab space? pages for more information.
- You will receive a confirmation by the BMS Lab within 5 work days.
Please note that in some cases we require additional information or documents that are otherwise missing. We will contact you by e-mail and can only proceed to review your sign-up and/or reservation request once the information is complete and correct.
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Can I use The BMS Lab if I am not part of the BMS faculty or am an external company?
We love to cooperate with other researchers. We are funded by the university to support the work of BMS faculty staff members and students. In some cases, a non-BMS student can still freely use our facilities. For example, when a student is supervised by a BMS faculty staff member in their research. Furthermore, research or educational activities conducted without the co-operation of the BMS faculty, but that fit within the labs scope and focus, can of course inquire about using our facilities. In those cases, there might be a need for financial compensation in exchange for use of the lab’s facilities or expertise for favorable rates for University of Twente personnel and students.
External companies
External companies are welcome to do an inquiry. Such inquiries will be evaluated.
Do you have questions about this subject? Or, are you not part of the BMS faculty and interested in using our equipment, expertise or facilities? Then feel free to contact us.
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What do I need to know about the insurance coverage?
The lab’s lending and usage conditions specify that the lender is fully responsible and liable for the equipment in their care. In this case it thus also means that the lender is liable for any and all damages. Equipment valued (price when bought new) over 2.000 Euros is therefore not allowed to be taken off campus and in some cases not even outside of the BMS Labs facilities. Are you looking to use BMS Lab equipment outside of the lab's facilities in the Cubicus building at the University of Twente campus?
Is the total value (if bought new) of the equipment under 2.000 Euros? Then indicate your desire to bring it outside of the lab facilities when you register your project on the sign-up page (before you select and reserve your equipment).
Is the value (when bought new) of the equipment you are looking to use over 2.000 Euros? Then indicate this desire when you register your project. You might as a result:
- Be limited in your use of or travel with the equipment.
- Need to insure the equipment for the value of the equipment when bought new.
- Need to arrange safe and secure storage or return the equipment each day.
- Have your request rejected.
Employees of the University of Twente can often more easily use equipment outside of the BMS Lab’s facilities, as their department can take over the liability.
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What if I am late in returning or want to extend the renting period?
If you foresee that you need to use the facility for longer than you indicated when lending it, you will need to inform the BMS Lab of this. It is always possible to extend the lending period, however approval of this is dependent on incoming reservations. Please come by or send us an email if you wish to extend.
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How do I check the availabvility of the facility?
Go to the availability check page. Browse through the calendar in the period you are interested and see if your preferred item is already reserved.
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