Scientific Visualization

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.