Heol XR helps wind and photovoltaic professionals to conduct projects with augmented reality.
Crédits photos : Artefacto
With client references like EDF, Veolia and Eiffage, Artefacto has established itself on the virtual reality scene in France. Historically specialized in real estate, training and industry, Artefacto has recently turned its attention to the renewable energy market. The company is presenting its new software solution, Heol XR, a augmented reality configurator for wind and photovoltaic projects. Meet the team at Laval Virtual on April 9-11, 2025.
Can you tell us more about your company?
Based in Rennes—Brittany, France—, Artefacto is specialized in virtual and augmented reality. We distinguish ourselves by our expertise in the creation and development of interactive immersive experiences. Founded in 1998 by the architect Valérie Cottereau, we’ve built a solid reputation in the VR/AR domain with tailor-made innovative solutions.
Our work focuses on creating top of the range virtual and augmented reality applications for sectors like education, training, industry and real estate. Our team members are developers, 3D infographics, UX/UI designers and immersion experts. They all work together to offer unique immersive VR/AR experiences.
We help our clients to see what doesn’t exist yet, with innovative image-based solutions. We are dedicated to shaping the future, driven by a pursuit of what comes next, with the goal of fostering a deeper understanding of the world of tomorrow. Our goal is to offer everyone the chance to make informed and conscious choices to build a better world by designing tailor-made software solutions around these 3 main topics: communicate and explain, commercialize and pilot, hire and train.
We focus on the user. For us, uses are more important than technology and image, augmented reality is a media, application is a tool and everything must be simple, efficient and relevant to use. For that, we designed softwares dedicated to our clients’ needs and personalized services for industry, training and real estate.
What will you exhibit at Laval Virtual?
We will present our new SaaS solutions, HeolXR™, dedicated to the visualization of wind and photovoltaic projects in augmented reality, as well as our 3D products configurator Urbasee™.
In our booth, visitors can do tests and demos of these two SaaS solutions. They can also discover the immersive experience offered by our 3D configurators, test visualization in augmented reality and manipulate interactive models in real time. These demos will showcase the simplicity, the efficiency and the advantages of our tools to facilitate decision-making and optimize project management.
Does your company have an upcoming project to share with us and our visitors?
We are proud to present Heol XR™, a SaaS solution for augmented reality simulations for wind and photovoltaic projects. Designed to meet technical requirements of energy transition professionals, this solution combines geolocated 3D modelization and immersive visualization to optimize the implementation and operation of renewable energy production facilities.
Heol XR™ has a GPS geolocation system which anchors 3D models directly in their real environment. This feature relies on precise positioning algorithms and offers reliable overlay of equipment with the ground, even in weak signal conditions or on isolated sites.
Thanks to an interactive simulation engine, the solution is able to analyse multiple layout scenarios. The user can adjust in real time the layout and orientation of wind turbines and solar panels, the height of masts and structures, and the azimuth and inclination to maximize production according to solar trajectories and topographical constraints. The 3D models can be configured and adapted directly on site via AR, so that you can instantly observe the visual and technical impact of each change.
Finally, Heol XR™ includes an integrated video and photo capture system to document simulations in real-life conditions. An intelligent photo editing feature generates visuals that can be used in technical reports or public consultation presentations, by simulating different project phases and lighting conditions.
In your business sector, how is your solution transforming the field?
In the industrial field, and in particular for manufacturers of furnishings and renewable energies, our software solutions Urbasee™ and Heol XR™ are transforming the customer experience.
With these immersive and interactive solutions, you can visualize projects in real-time, which offers a better understanding and an instant projection. They speed up the sales process, reduce costs and simplify customization. As a result, decisions are made faster, discussions are optimized and the user experience is enriched at every step of the business or decision-making cycle.
Sustainability and the environment are key topics of this century. How do you cope with these concerns in your XR technologies?
At Artefacto, we integrate sustainability and environmental responsibility at the core of our augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D solutions. Convinced that innovation must go hand in hand with preservation, we develop products that ally technological performance and respect of our planet.
Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has guided our actions for over 20 years, with concrete initiatives to minimize our ecological footprint.
First, our software solutions like Urbasee™ and Heol XR™ are designed to offer a high-quality immersive experience while reducing the energy footprint. We give priority to optimized digital infrastructures that consume fewer resources and promote the integration of renewable energies.
On the other hand, artificial intelligence is at the heart of our developments to improve the performance and precision of our solutions. Thanks to AI, we can optimize data processing and management, reducing the resources required and promoting increasingly relevant and responsible uses.
By offering immersive, interactive visualization, our tools also help to reduce travel and the production of physical materials. In that way, we support our customers in their own eco-responsible initiatives.
