HPC2N Colloquium, Jan 15, 2002

HPC2N Colloquium, Jan 15, 2002

High Performance Computing in Science and Engineering

Theme: Scientific Visualization

Program

Abstracts

Seminar 1 - Volume Models for Engineering Design and Analysis - January 15, 13.15 - 14.00 in room MA121, MIT-huset

Abstract

In this talk, I will describe research into converting surface models, such as a CAD model, into a volumetric form. This process is known as voxelization. CAD models provide accurate specification for an underlying surface model. These surface models are often complex, having surface specifications comprised of analytical basis functions that are difficult to deal with. A more problematic surface model discription is that of Contructive Solid Geometry (CSG) models. These models are specified as using analytical functions, as well as analytical operators that combine or subtract these functions to generate a surface model. Frequently, these models have to be converted to a more simple model, composed of geometric simplices. For sufficient accuracy, this conversion often generates extremely large triangle approximations. Voxelizing these large triangular meshes is computationally expensive. Volume models are useful, in that they cast the 2D surface model into a three-dimensional implicit model. With this 3D model, we can query properties of the space around the surface. Many contact simulation, die-casting problems and material analysis problems can best be studied in this volume framework. This talk will describe research to voxelized such models and a distance volume model that allows for the extraction of equi-distant surfaces from the original surface with a guaranteed error-bound.

Seminar 2 - Interactive Visualization of Large Datasets - January 15, 14.15 - 15.00 in room MA121, MIT-huset

Abstract

In this talk, I will describe research into converting surface models, such as a CAD model, into a volumetric form. This process is known as voxelization. CAD models provide accurate specification for an underlying surface model. These surface models are often complex, having surface specifications comprised of analytical basis functions that are difficult to deal with. A more problematic surface model discription is that of Contructive Solid Geometry (CSG) models. These models are specified as using analytical functions, as well as analytical operators that combine or subtract these functions to generate a surface model. Frequently, these models have to be converted to a more simple model, composed of geometric simplices. For sufficient accuracy, this conversion often generates extremely large triangle approximations. Voxelizing these large triangular meshes is computationally expensive. Volume models are useful, in that they cast the 2D surface model into a three-dimensional implicit model. With this 3D model, we can query properties of the space around the surface. Many contact simulation, die-casting problems and material analysis problems can best be studied in this volume framework. This talk will describe research to voxelized such models and a distance volume model that allows for the extraction of equi-distant surfaces from the original surface with a guaranteed error-bound.

Seminar 3 - Virtual surgerical simulators - January 15, 15.15 - 16.00 in room MA121, MIT-huset

Abstract

A critical component of air flight training is now the requirement of
many hours of simulated flying on a professional flight simulator.
These simulators have greatly reduced the time and cost of in-flight
training and improved the safety level of current pilots. Without the
use of such simulators, much more expensive equipment and personnel
time would need to be expended. As our ability to manage and display
large three-dimensional datasets increases, the medical community is
actively pursuing a similar shift or improvement in training. This
talk with discuss the critical factors in developing surgical
simulators and other training tools for the medical community. A
common thread thru all of these is the need to handle volumetric data,
real-time frame-rates and more attention to realistic rendering. These
systems also require interactive sounds and haptic feedback.