Sep. 08, 2025
With its manufacturing facility getting ready to open in East Knox County by end of year, high tech company TreisD has announced that its headquarters will be located at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville. The new office is located in the Innovation South building at 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 209, less than 30 minutes from TreisD’s manufacturing facility in Mascot.
Furthermore, TreisD and Cherokee Farm Development Corporation (CFDC), which oversees UT Research Park, have agreed to launch a feasibility study on the visualization, assessment and resulting mitigation of geological anomalies that lead to sinkholes. The collaboration will leverage the company’s innovative capabilities and the park’s world-class resources.
The goal of the study is to equip experts to accurately visualize the depth, breadth, magnitude and positioning of sinkholes as they exist underground – using 3D AI to better predict their occurrence and address their potentially negative or even devastating effects.
TreisD chairman and founder
“This project is exactly what University of Tennessee and UT Research Park are here to do,” CFDC President and CEO Brett Malone said. “Not only did we play our part to bring a new technology company to Knoxville, but we also now are working with TreisD to utilize the full collaborative resources of the research park and tackle a prevalent and costly issue. This is the kind of mutually beneficial private-public alliance that highlights the best of our region. And, ultimately, we’re succeeding in generating partnership-powered tech-based economic development.”
Dolines, more commonly known as sinkholes, are prevalent in various regions across the United States, including East Tennessee, as well as in countries around the world. Susceptibility for sinkholes is largely due to the underlying geology of the region, characterized by soluble rocks like limestone beneath the surface soil. These rocks slowly dissolve as groundwater flows through them, forming voids and cavities underground that eventually can lead to surface collapses or sinkholes.
“Working with Brett and his team at the University of Tennessee and its research park has been wonderful,” said Leslie “Jerry” Nims, TreisD chairman and founder. “We are a high tech, visionary company, and UT Research Park is a great fit for us. We’re eager to further advance additional, real-world applications of TreisD’s innovative technologies, utilizing the world-class resources of University of Tennessee and supporting the community through the benefit of tech startup-supported research. Looking to the future, we believe this area will become a national innovation center.”
Employing the company’s innovative technology in 3D image capture and display, proprietary software and imaging algorithms, micro-optics, 3D AI capabilities and a growing 3D image library, TreisD plans to study the application of both large language models (LLM) and large vision models (LVM) to create true 3D images of sinkholes underground. TreisD then will explore the technical feasibility to use a hybrid of LLM and LVM to create these true-to-human-visual-system-and-depth-of-field 3D images.
While LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and ground-penetrating radar systems are used to capture data on distance, depth and other measurements – as well as bands of 2D images that are then used to create a representation of the underground environment – the goal of the TreisD and UT Research Park feasibility study will be to create actual 3D images, to scale and true to the human vision system, of sinkholes beneath the ground’s surface.
In addition to the feasibility study with UT Research Park, TreisD also has partnered with the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, offering a capstone course for students titled “Capturing Legacy 3D Image Data for AI Model Training Project.”
In the inaugural class that launched in summer 2025 wrapping on Sept. 16, TreisD instructs students on 3D depth of field, analog and digital technology and how to create their own 3D images.
Nims, along with TreisD Chief Scientist Dr. Bill Karszes, is responsible for designing and building the 1980s Nimslo 3D analog camera, which is used globally to create Nimslo/Nishika GIFs, the leader in 3D GIFs on the internet today. UT students in the class utilize this process in their study of 3D depth of field, and TreisD works with f/32 Photo, a locally owned, professional print lab and camera accessory store, to develop the 35mm film from the Nimslo cameras.
“I was so excited by the fact that Jerry Nims and his colleagues were working with UT students,” Nathan Dault of f/32 Photo said. “We process 35mm and many other types of film, including film for Nimslo GIFs, and those of us in the industry are very familiar with the dedicated following for these cameras and their resurgence in order to leverage their unique 3D depth of field to create modern digital GIF images. This reputation proceeds them, and it’s incredible to have Jerry and his team collaborating and innovating here in Knoxville.”
With the continuation of the capstone class this fall, TreisD anticipates that students will join the global community of Nimslo GIF creators; participate in an innovative dialogue and exchange of ideas with the company’s 3D AI technology experts; and potentially have the opportunity to contribute to TreisD research and development projects.
Another key connection with the company and the university is the shared focus on polymer science. TreisD will manufacture optical polymer material in its Eastbridge Business Park facility, and UT was ranked the top global university for polymer science in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities in 2022 and the No. 2 program in 2025.
“We also hope to continue collaborating with other UT colleges and departments,” said John Brandon, CEO of TreisD and former vice president of international for Apple, Inc. “UT’s top-rated polymer science program at the Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing was a major factor in TreisD’s decision to locate in Knoxville. We see future opportunities to work with the Tickle College of Engineering; College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences; and the Haslam College of Business, for example.”
Sinkhole damages in the United States over the last 15 years cost on average at least $300 million per year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With no national tracking of sinkhole damage costs, the actual cost is believed to be much higher than that estimate.
“Bringing new AI-based analysis to prevent the costly problem of sinkholes could help address a major issue for our community,” Malone said. “And that would be impactful at the national and global levels, as well. So, we’re starting with sinkholes, and let’s see where this partnership takes us.”
To learn more about UT Research Park or UT College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies, visit tnresearchpark.org or cecs.utk.edu, respectively. For more information about TreisD, go to treisdcorp.com. With its manufacturing facility getting ready to open in East Knox County by end of year, high tech company TreisD has announced that its headquarters will be located at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville. The new office is located in the Innovation South building at 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 209, less than 30 minutes from TreisD’s manufacturing facility in Mascot.
Furthermore, TreisD and Cherokee Farm Development Corporation (CFDC), which oversees UT Research Park, have agreed to launch a feasibility study on the visualization, assessment and resulting mitigation of geological anomalies that lead to sinkholes. The collaboration will leverage the company’s innovative capabilities and the park’s world-class resources.
The goal of the study is to equip experts to accurately visualize the depth, breadth, magnitude and positioning of sinkholes as they exist underground – using 3D AI to better predict their occurrence and address their potentially negative or even devastating effects.
“This project is exactly what University of Tennessee and UT Research Park are here to do,” CFDC President and CEO Brett Malone said. “Not only did we play our part to bring a new technology company to Knoxville, but we also now are working with TreisD to utilize the full collaborative resources of the research park and tackle a prevalent and costly issue. This is the kind of mutually beneficial private-public alliance that highlights the best of our region. And, ultimately, we’re succeeding in generating partnership-powered tech-based economic development.”
Dolines, more commonly known as sinkholes, are prevalent in various regions across the United States, including East Tennessee, as well as in countries around the world. Susceptibility for sinkholes is largely due to the underlying geology of the region, characterized by soluble rocks like limestone beneath the surface soil. These rocks slowly dissolve as groundwater flows through them, forming voids and cavities underground that eventually can lead to surface collapses or sinkholes.
“Working with Brett and his team at the University of Tennessee and its research park has been wonderful,” said Leslie “Jerry” Nims, TreisD chairman and founder. “We are a high tech, visionary company, and UT Research Park is a great fit for us. We’re eager to further advance additional, real-world applications of TreisD’s innovative technologies, utilizing the world-class resources of University of Tennessee and supporting the community through the benefit of tech startup-supported research. Looking to the future, we believe this area will become a national innovation center.”
Employing the company’s innovative technology in 3D image capture and display, proprietary software and imaging algorithms, micro-optics, 3D AI capabilities and a growing 3D image library, TreisD plans to study the application of both large language models (LLM) and large vision models (LVM) to create true 3D images of sinkholes underground. TreisD then will explore the technical feasibility to use a hybrid of LLM and LVM to create these true-to-human-visual-system-and-depth-of-field 3D images.
While LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and ground-penetrating radar systems are used to capture data on distance, depth and other measurements – as well as bands of 2D images that are then used to create a representation of the underground environment – the goal of the TreisD and UT Research Park feasibility study will be to create actual 3D images, to scale and true to the human vision system, of sinkholes beneath the ground’s surface.
In addition to the feasibility study with UT Research Park, TreisD also has partnered with the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, offering a capstone course for students titled “Capturing Legacy 3D Image Data for AI Model Training Project.”
In the inaugural class that launched in summer 2025 wrapping on Sept. 16, TreisD instructs students on 3D depth of field, analog and digital technology and how to create their own 3D images.
Nims, along with TreisD Chief Scientist Dr. Bill Karszes, is responsible for designing and building the 1980s Nimslo 3D analog camera, which is used globally to create Nimslo/Nishika GIFs, the leader in 3D GIFs on the internet today. UT students in the class utilize this process in their study of 3D depth of field, and TreisD works with f/32 Photo, a locally owned, professional print lab and camera accessory store, to develop the 35mm film from the Nimslo cameras.
“I was so excited by the fact that Jerry Nims and his colleagues were working with UT students,” Nathan Dault of f/32 Photo said. “We process 35mm and many other types of film, including film for Nimslo GIFs, and those of us in the industry are very familiar with the dedicated following for these cameras and their resurgence in order to leverage their unique 3D depth of field to create modern digital GIF images. This reputation proceeds them, and it’s incredible to have Jerry and his team collaborating and innovating here in Knoxville.”
With the continuation of the capstone class this fall, TreisD anticipates that students will join the global community of Nimslo GIF creators; participate in an innovative dialogue and exchange of ideas with the company’s 3D AI technology experts; and potentially have the opportunity to contribute to TreisD research and development projects.
Another key connection with the company and the university is the shared focus on polymer science. TreisD will manufacture optical polymer material in its Eastbridge Business Park facility, and UT was ranked the top global university for polymer science in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities in 2022 and the No. 2 program in 2025.
“We also hope to continue collaborating with other UT colleges and departments,” said John Brandon, CEO of TreisD and former vice president of international for Apple, Inc. “UT’s top-rated polymer science program at the Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing was a major factor in TreisD’s decision to locate in Knoxville. We see future opportunities to work with the Tickle College of Engineering; College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences; and the Haslam College of Business, for example.”
Sinkhole damages in the United States over the last 15 years cost on average at least $300 million per year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With no national tracking of sinkhole damage costs, the actual cost is believed to be much higher than that estimate.
“Bringing new AI-based analysis to prevent the costly problem of sinkholes could help address a major issue for our community,” Malone said. “And that would be impactful at the national and global levels, as well. So, we’re starting with sinkholes, and let’s see where this partnership takes us.”
To learn more about UT Research Park or UT College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies, visit tnresearchpark.org or cecs.utk.edu, respectively. For more information about TreisD, go to treisdcorp.com.
