Scientific visualization: techniques and applications

1 Introduction. - 1.1 What is Scientific Visualization? - 1.2 History and Background. - 1.3 Current Activities in Scientific Visualization. - 1.3.1 USA. - 1.3.2 UK. - 1.3.3 Europe. - 1.4 Background to the AGOCG Workshop. - 1.5 Introduction to the Book. - 1.6 Recommendations of the Workshop. - 1.7 Key References. - 2 Framework. - 2.1 Introduction. - 2.2 Scope. - 2.3 High Level Models. - 2.3.1 Model of Creative Thinking. - 2.3.2 Model of Scientific Investigation. - 2.3.3 Detailed Model of Visualization. - 2.4 Framework Model. - 2.5 Module Model. - 2.5.1 Overview. - 2.5.2 Details of Data Types. - 2.5.3 Details of Modules. - 2.6 Functionality Aspects. - 2.6.1 Functional Richness. - 2.6.2 Data Import and Export. - 2.6.3 Data Accuracy and Errors. - 2.6.4 Presentation of Metric Information. - 2.6.5 Distributed Architecture. - 2.7 Qualitative Aspects. - 2.7.1 Responsiveness. - 2.7.2 Human-Computer Interface. - 2.7.3 Appropriateness. - 2.7.4 Costs versus Benefits. - 2.8 Implementation. - 2.9 Key References. - 3 Visualization Techniques. - 3.1 Introduction. - 3.2 Elements of a Visualization Technique. - 3.2.1 Building an Empirical Model. - 3.2.2 Representation as an Abstract Visualization Object. - 3.2.3 Realization of the Visualization Object. - 3.3 Classification. - 3.4 Techniques for Point Data. - 3.5 Techniques for Scalar Entities. - 3.5.1 One-Dimensional Domain. - 3.5.2 Two-Dimensional Domain. - 3.5.3 Three-Dimensional Domain. - 3.6 Techniques for Vector Entities. - 3.6.1 Two-Dimensional Vector Fields. - 3.6.2 Three-Dimensional Vector Fields. - 3.7 Techniques for Tensor Fields. - 3.8 Image Processing Techniques. - 3.8.1 Introduction. - 3.8.2 Image Enhancement. - 3.8.3 Feature Extraction and Segmentation. - 3.8.4 Transformations. - 3.8.5 Image Processing Techniques. - 3.9 Animation. - 3.9. 1 Animation Techniques. - 3.9. 2 Video. - 3.10 Interaction Techniques. - 3.10. 1 General Viewing. - 3.10. 2 Display Techniques. - 3.10. 3 Parameters. - 3.10. 4 Associated Data (such as Colourmaps). - 3.10. 5 Selection. - 3.10. 6 Annotation. - 3.11 Perception of 3D. - 3.11.1 Context. - 3.11.2 Perspective and Lighting and Shading. - 3.11.3 Stereo Views. - 3.12 Conclusions and Future Trends. - 3.13 Key References. - 4 Data Facilities. - 4.1 Introduction. - 4.2 Data Sources. - 4.3 Data Classification. - 4.3.1 External and Internal Data. - 4.3.2 Original and Derived Data. - 4.3.3 Basic Primitive Elements and Logical Sets. - 4.3.4 Geometric and Property Data. - 4.3.5 Record Data. - 4.3.6 Relationships. - 4.4 Management of Data. - 4.4.1 Data Description and Manipulation Languages. - 4.4.2 Archiving. - 4.5 Data Transformation. - 4.5.1 Data Normalization. - 4.5.2 Filtering. - 4.5.3 Smoothing. - 4.5.4 Grid Rezoning. - 4.5.5 Coordinate Transformation. - 4.5. 6 Linear Transformation. - 4.5. 7 Geometric transformation. - 4.5. 8 Segmentation. - 4.5. 9 Feature Detection, Enhancement and Extraction. - 4.5.10 Colour Table Manipulation and Feature Mapping. - 4.6 Data Compression. - 4.6.1 Data Integrity. - 4.6.2 Compression Techniques. - 4.6.3 Standards. - 4.7 Data Formats. - 4.7.1 Generic Data Formats. - 4.7.2 Application-Specific Data Formats. - 4.7.3 Image/Picture Data Formats. - 4.7.4 Data Format Conversion Tools. - 4.7.5 Standards. - 4.8 Recommendations. - 4.9 Key References. - 5 Human-Computer Interface. - 5.1 Introduction. - 5.2 User Issues. - 5.2.1 Cognitive Issues. - 5.2.2 Perceptual Issues. - 5.2.3 Human Factors. - 5.2.4 Organizational Issues. - 5.3 System Issues. - 5.3.1 Flexibility. - 5.3.2 Separation of Logical and Physical Models. - 5.3.3 Virtual and Physical Interaction Devices. - 5.3.4 Dialogue Management. - 5.3.5 Context Sensitive Help. - 5.4 Conclusions and Recommendations. - 5.5 Key References. - 6 Applications. - 6.1 Introduction. - 6.2 Chapter Structure. - 6.3 Cartography. - 6.4 Study of Statistical Indicators. - 6.5 Remote Sensing. - 6.6 Analysis of Archaeological Data. - 6.7 Physical Chemistry and Drug Design. - 6.8 Biochemistry. - 6.9 Materials Research. - 6.10 Medical Science. - 6.11 Archaeological Reconstruction. - 6.12 Meteorology. - 6.13 Ice Stream Visualization. - 6.14 Oceanography. - 6.15 Oil Reservoir Engineering. - 6.16 Computational Fluid Dynamics. - 6.17 Dynamics of Systems. - 6.18 Program Visualization. - 6.19 Conclusions. - 6.20 Key References. - 7 Products. - 7.1 Introduction. - 7.2 Visualization Software Categories. - 7.2.1 Graphics Libraries and Presentation Packages. - 7.2.2 Turnkey Visualization Systems. - 7.2.3 Application Builders. - 7.2.4 Categories explored in this Chapter. - 7.3 Examples of Software Products. - 7.3.1 Factors. - 7.3.2 Examples of Turnkey Visualization Systems. - 7.3.3 Examples of Application Builders. - 7.4 Benchmarking and Validation. - 7.5 Future Trends. - 7.6 Conclusions. - 7.7 Key References. - 8 Conclusions. - 8.1 Summary- and where to get further information. - 8.2 Methodology and Reference Model. - 8.3 Techniques. - 8.4 Data Facilities. - 8.5 Human-Computer Interface. - 8.6 Applications. - 8.7 Products. - 8.8 Infrastructure Support. - 8.9 Other uses of Visualization Tools. - 8.10 Virtual Reality Systems. - 8.11 Importance of Scientific Visualization. - 8.12 References. - Appendices A Enabling Technologies. - A.1 Hardware. - A.1.1 Hardware platforms for ViSC. - A.1.2 Graphics input for ViSC. - A.1.3 Graphics output for ViSC. - A.2 Graphics software for ViSC. - A.2.1 2D Graphics Systems. - A.2.2 3D Graphics Systems. - A.2.3 Window Systems. - A.3 User Interface Toolkits. - A.4 Database Systems. - A.4.1 Basics. - A.4.2 Database Management System Products. - A.5 ViSC Generic Data Formats. - A.5.1 HDF. - A.5.2 NetCDF. - A.6 Key References. - B Glossary. - B.1 Visualization Terms. - B.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms. - C Bibliography.