Artifact-Based Rendering: Harnessing Natural and Traditional Visual Media for More Expressive and Engaging 3D Visualizations

We introduce Artifact-Based Rendering (ABR), a framework of tools, algorithms, and processes that makes it possible to produce real, data-driven 3D scientific visualizations with a visual language derived entirely from colors, lines, textures, and forms created using traditional physical media or found in nature. A theory and process for ABR is presented to address three current needs: (i) designing better visualizations by making it possible for non-programmers to rapidly design and critique many alternative data-to-visual mappings; (ii) expanding the visual vocabulary used in scientific visualizations to depict increasingly complex multivariate data; (iii) bringing a more engaging, natural, and human-relatable handcrafted aesthetic to data visualization. New tools and algorithms to support ABR include front-end applets for constructing artifact-based colormaps, optimizing 3D scanned meshes for use in data visualization, and synthesizing textures from artifacts. These are complemented by an interactive rendering engine with custom algorithms and interfaces that demonstrate multiple new visual styles for depicting point, line, surface, and volume data. A within-the-research-team design study provides early evidence of the shift in visualization design processes that ABR is believed to enable when compared to traditional scientific visualization systems. Qualitative user feedback on applications to climate science and brain imaging support the utility of ABR for scientific discovery and public communication.Comment: Published in IEEE VIS 2019, 9 pages of content with 2 pages of references, 12 figure

Interactive Extraction of High-Frequency Aesthetically-Coherent Colormaps

Color transfer functions (i.e. colormaps) exhibiting a high frequency luminosity component have proven to be useful in the visualization of data where feature detection or iso-contours recognition is essential. Having these colormaps also display a wide range of color and an aesthetically pleasing composition holds the potential to further aid image understanding and analysis. However producing such colormaps in an efficient manner with current colormap creation tools is difficult. We hereby demonstrate an interactive technique for extracting colormaps from artwork and pictures. We show how the rich and careful color design and dynamic luminance range of an existing image can be gracefully captured in a colormap and be utilized effectively in the exploration of complex datasets

Information visualization approach in marine fisheries landing data

This paper studied the landings statistical data in marine fisheries by the state of Terengganu for the period of time 2000 until 2009 and to discuss some of the main features on how information visualization technique can be used as a keystone technology for represent these fisheries data. Information visualization (InfoVis) represents an abstract data in graphical representation concepts in such a way that is more natural or easier for human to comprehend. InfoVis is recognized as one of the important way to help users to study, explore, and present information in fisheries data. Today, this emerging technology is important in fisheries and plays a vital role in developing integrated approaches to fishery management and assessment. It helps to convey relatively complex technical information to scientists, managers and decision makers. Since visualization technology provide a high degree of functionality in sampling design, data assimilation, exploratory data analysis and model development, they will continue to play an increasing significant strategic role in fishery management and assessment

Attention and visual memory in visualization and computer graphics

Abstract—A fundamental goal of visualization is to produce images of data that support visual analysis, exploration, and discovery of novel insights. An important consideration during visualization design is the role of human visual perception. How we “see ” details in an image can directly impact a viewer’s efficiency and effectiveness. This paper surveys research on attention and visual perception, with a specific focus on results that have direct relevance to visualization and visual analytics. We discuss theories of low-level visual perception, then show how these findings form a foundation for more recent work on visual memory and visual attention. We conclude with a brief overview of how knowledge of visual attention and visual memory is being applied in visualization and graphics. We also discuss how challenges in visualization are motivating research in psychophysics

Упаковка векторных текстур в задачах синтеза изображений для систем визуализациим

Розглядається упаковка векторних текстур. Застосування векторних текстур дозволяє суттєво скоротити об’єми пам’яті при збереженні їх із високою роздільною здатністю. Вхідні дані для векторної форми надання перетворюються до деревоподібної структури. Розглянуто алгоритми упаковки як аналітично наданих, так і довільних векторних фігур. Структури, що їх отримано, дозволяють наносити текстуру без попередньої розпаковки до растрової форми надання, що прискорює її відображення. Основною особливістю такої упаковки текстури є можливість усунення аліайзинга в процесі нанесення її на поверхню об’єкта. Нанесення текстури добре реалізується при використанні методу зворотного трасування в системах візуалізації 3D-сцен.Packing of vector textures is considered. Using vector textures allows to significantly decrease memory size while storing them with high resolution. Input vector data are transformed into tree-like structure. Packing algorithms for both analytical and arbitrary vector textures are considered. Obtained structure allows texture mapping without pre-unpacking it into the raster form which speeds-up its rendering. Main feature of such a texture packing scheme is ability to remove an aliasing during texture mapping. The proposed texture mapping is well implemented if used with ray-tracing in 3D visualization systems

The Utility of Beautiful Visualizations

Geovisualizations provide a means to inspect large complex multivariate datasets for information that would not otherwise be available with a tabular view or summary statistics alone. Aesthetically appealing visualizations can elicit prolonged exploration and encourage discovery. Creating data geovisualizations that are effective and beautiful is an important yet difficult challenge. Here we present a tool for rendering geovisualizations of continuous spatial data using the painterly techniques of impressionist-era artists. The techniques, which have been tested in controlled studies, vary the visual properties (e.g., hue, size, and tilt) of brush strokes to represent multiple data attributes simultaneously in each location. To demonstrate this technique, we render two examples 1) weather data attributes (e.g., temperature, windspeed, atmospheric pressure) from the NOAA Global Forecast System and 2) fragile state indices as assessed by Foreign Policy Magazine. These examples demonstrate how open source geospatial visualizations can harness aesthetics to enhance visual communication and viewer engagement

Travails in the third dimension: a critical evaluation of three-dimensional geographical visualization

Several broad questions are posed about the role of the third dimension in data visualization. First, how far have we come in developing effective 3D displays for the analysis of spatial and other data? Second, when is it appropriate to use 3D techniques in visualising data, which 3D techniques are most appropriate for particular applications, and when might 2D approaches be more appropriate? (Indeed, is 3D always better than 2D?) Third, what can we learn from other communities in which 3D graphics and visualization technologies have been developed? And finally, what are the key R&D challenges in making effective use of the third dimension for visualising data across the spatial and related sciences? Answers to these questions will be based on several lines of evidence: the extensive literature on data and information visualization; visual perception research; computer games technology; and the author’s experiments with a prototype 3D data visualization system