An efficient multi-resolution framework for high quality interactive rendering of massive point clouds using multi-way kd-trees

We present an efficient technique for out-of-core multi-resolution construction and high quality interactive visualization of massive point clouds. Our approach introduces a novel hierarchical level of detail (LOD) organization based on multi-way kd-trees, which simplifies memory management and allows control over the LOD-tree height. The LOD tree, constructed bottom up using a fast high-quality point simplification method, is fully balanced and contains all uniformly sized nodes. To this end, we introduce and analyze three efficient point simplification approaches that yield a desired number of high-quality output points. For constant rendering performance, we propose an efficient rendering-on-a-budget method with asynchronous data loading, which delivers fully continuous high quality rendering through LOD geo-morphing and deferred blending. Our algorithm is incorporated in a full end-to-end rendering system, which supports both local rendering and cluster-parallel distributed rendering. The method is evaluated on complex models made of hundreds of millions of point sample

COMBINED VISUAL EXPLORATION OF 2D GROUND RADAR AND 3D POINT CLOUD DATA FOR ROAD ENVIRONMENTS

Ground-penetrating 2D radar scans are captured in road environments for examination of pavement condition and below-ground variations such as lowerings and developing pot-holes. 3D point clouds captured above ground provide a precise digital representation of the road’s surface and the surrounding environment. If both data sources are captured for the same area, a combined visualization is a valuable tool for infrastructure maintenance tasks. This paper presents visualization techniques developed for the combined visual exploration of the data captured in road environments. Main challenges are the positioning of the ground radar data within the 3D environment and the reduction of occlusion for individual data sets. By projecting the measured ground radar data onto the precise trajectory of the scan, it can be displayed within the context of the 3D point cloud representation of the road environment. We show that customizable overlay, filtering, and cropping techniques enable insightful data exploration. A 3D renderer combines both data sources. To enable an inspection of areas of interest, ground radar data can be elevated above ground level for better visibility. An interactive lens approach enables to visualize data sources that are currently occluded by others. The visualization techniques prove to be a valuable tool for ground layer anomaly inspection and were evaluated in a real-world data set. The combination of 2D ground radar scans with 3D point cloud data improves data interpretation by giving context information (e.g., about manholes in the street) that can be directly accessed during evaluation

Blurring the boundaries between real and artificial in architecture and urban design through the use of artificial intelligence

[Abstract] This doctoral thesis explores the use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for architectural representation and modelling of both ‘real world’ and ‘artificially generated’ 3D objects. Current 3D architectural representation has reached high levels of reality, to the extent that it’s often hard to distinguish between ‘pictures from the real world’ and ‘artificially generated’ 3D renderings. The thesis will make use of the latest available 3D technologies in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) processes to increase the visual realism and geometrical precision of 3D models. The first line of research relates to architectural representation and visualization, by exploring the use of ‘Light Imaging Detection And Ranging’ (LIDAR) technology and proposing a point-based rendering (PBR) methodology, to seamless merge models obtained directly from the ‘real world’ with ‘artificially generated’ ones. The second line of research is related to geometrical architectural modelling, and proposes the use of evolutionary computation and self-organization logic to achieve more geometrical realism and accuracy in the 3D modelling process, by exploring the idea of auto-form generation. The research consists of three case studies, and algorithms are proposed for each one. The first one is related to 3D visualization through LIDAR scans and PBR rendering, the second to geometrical generation through evolutionary morphogenesis and the third one to human made self-organized systems (cities). From the results obtained from each case study final conclusions will be draw. The final objective is to determine the efficiency of using point-based technologies and artificial intelligence as a methodology to further blur the boundaries between ‘real world’ 3D models and ‘artificially generated’ ones.[Resumen] La Tesis explora el uso de tecnologías tridimensionales (3D) para la representación arquitectónica y modelado 3D, tanto de objetos ‘reales’ como de objetos generados ‘artificialmente’. El uso de tecnologías 3D ha permitido a la representación arquitectónica alcanzar niveles de realidad similares a fotografías, hasta tal punto que a menudo es difícil distinguir entre imágenes reales y representaciones 3D generadas artificialmente por ordenadores. La Tesis estudia el uso de las últimas tecnologías 3D disponibles, combinadas con procesos de inteligencia artificial como una forma que permita aumentar el nivel de realidad visual y exactitud geométrica de modelos 3D. Para ello la Tesis sigue dos líneas principales de investigación. La primera está relacionada con la representación y visualización arquitectónica, explorando el uso de la tecnología láser para detectar imágenes y medidas (LIDAR) y proponiendo una metodología de visualización mediante el uso de técnicas de infografías basadas en puntos (PBR) con el fin de combinar directamente modelos 3D obtenidos directamente del ‘mundo real’ y modelos 3D ‘generados artificialmente’. La segunda línea de investigación está relacionada con el modelado de geometrías arquitectónicas. Mediante el uso de computación evolutiva y procesos de auto-organización con el fin de lograr un mayor grado de realismo y exactitud en el modelado 3D, mediante la introducción de parámetros del mundo real en los algoritmos de morfogénesis evolutiva, explorando así la idea de la auto-generación de formas. La Tesis propone a través de tres casos experimentales, algoritmos para cada uno de ellos. El primero está relacionado con la visualización, el segundo con la morfogénesis geométrica y el tercero con sistemas complejos auto-organizados realizados por el hombre (ciudades). A partir de la evaluación de los resultados obtenidos de cada caso experimental, la tesis extraerá conclusiones finales sobre el uso de técnicas de inteligencia artificial como metodología para difuminar los límites entre los 'modelos de 3D del ‘mundo real’ y los ‘generados artificialmente’.[Resumo] A Tese explora o uso de tecnoloxías 3D para representación arquitectonica e modelaxe 3D, tanto de obxectos ‘reais’, coma de obxectos xerados artificialmente. O uso de tecnoloxías 3D na representación arquitectónica pode acadar uns niveis de realidade similares a fotografías, na medida en que moitas veces é difícil distinguir entre imaxes reais e representacións 3D xeradas artificialmente por ordenadores. A tese estuda o uso das últimas tecnoloxías 3D dispoñibles, combinadas con procesos de intelixencia artificial como un xeito de aumentar o nivel de realidade visaual e exactitude xeometrica de modelos 3D. Esta tese segue dúas liñas principais de investigación. A primeira está relacionada coa representación e visualización arquitectónica, explorando o uso das tecnoloxías láser para detectar imáxes e medidas (LIDAR) e propoñe unha metodoloxía de visualización mediante o uso de infografías basadas en puntos (PBR) para combinar directamente modelos 3D obtidos directamente do ‘mundo real’ e modelos 3D ‘xerados artificialmente’. A segunda liña de investigación está relacionada coa modelaxe de xeometrías arquitectonicas. Usando procesos de computacion evolutiva e auto-organización a fin de acadar un maior grao de realismo en modelaxe 3D, a través da introdución de parámetros do mundo real en algoritmos evolutivos de morfoxénese, deste xeito explorando a idea de auto-xeración de formas. A tese propón a través de tres casos experimentais, algoritmos para cada un deles. O primeiro esta relaccionado coa a visualizacion, o segundo coa morfoxénese xeométrica eo terceiro cos sistemas complexos auto-organizados feitos polo home (cidades). A partir da avaliación dos resultados de cada caso experimental, a tese extraerá conclusións finais sobre o uso da intelixencia artificial como unha metodoloxía para difuminar as fronteiras entre os modelos 3D reais e os xerados artificialmente

Augmented & Virtual Reality in der Produktentstehung : Grundlagen, Methoden und Werkzeuge; Interaktions- und Visualisierungstechniken, Virtual Prototyping intelligenter technischer Systeme mit AR/VR

12. Paderborner Workshop Augmented & Virtual Reality in der Produktentstehung, 23. und 24. April 2015 ; Heinz-Nixdorf-MuseumsForum, Paderborn; Jürgen Gausemeier, Michael Grafe, Friedhelm Meyer auf der Heide (Hrsg.