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Visakhapatnam: As Visakhapatnam prepares for the 30th CII Partnership Summit, the municipal corporation is enhancing the city’s charms in novel ways. The GVMC is resorting to the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and mixed reality to create wall paintings.Designers of these paintings, S Nagendra Babu, explained the emerging scenario: "We use these techniques to measure, design and position the paintings on walls."He employs distinct techniques depending on the location. In accessible areas, AI-generated designs are projected directly onto walls, allowing workers to paint images over these projections.Projectors are not practical for high-traffic zones. There, artists wear VR and mixed reality headsets that overlay the design onto the wall surface, enabling them to paint while viewing the virtual template.According to Nagendra Babu, this technology helps in two ways: "When you draw on paper, it looks detailed. Ona wall, those details often disappear. With technology, we get perfect precision. Also, if a hand-drawn design is rejected, it takes over a week to redo it. With AI, we can complete a new design in 7-8 hours."His team has done 12 wall paintings at important locations across the city, covering a combined space of 1 lakh sq-feet. At AU Ground, they created colourful geometric shapes using AI. At Railway New Colony, they painted a sports-themed wall in bright green and yellow. Work is on from the AU Siripuram area to Peda Waltair Road.The team has a pack of 30 workers. Skilled artists are paid Rs.1,500-2,000 per day, while helpers get Rs.1,000-1,200.Earlier, Nagendra Babu's company, SMART, used AI to paint about 70 yoga poses covering 50,000 sq-ft for Yoga Andhra. The current work is being done under the guidance of the municipality’s commissioner and chief engineer.GVMC chief engineer Satyanarayana Raju, says, "We used AI during Yoga Andhra time too. The AP Green and the Beautification Board is handling all the plants and greenery work, while GVMC is doing all the wall paintings and installations."City beautification work is on in Zones 1 to 5 and Zone 8. This includes Beach Road, the roads leading to the airport and major tourist spots. “We are also adding fountains and statues at important road junctions to make the city look more attractive for the summit,” Raju said
