Multi-temporal time-dependent terrain visualization through localized spatial correspondence parameterization

Visualizing quantitative time-dependent changes in the topography requires relying on a series of discrete given multi-temporal topographic datasets that were acquired on a given time-line. The reality of physical phenomenon occurring during the acquisition times is complex when trying to mutually model the datasets; thus, different levels of spatial inter-relations and geometric inconsistencies among the datasets exist. Any straight forward simulation will result in a truncated, ill-correct and un-smooth visualization. A desired quantitative and qualitative modelling is presumed to describe morphologic changes that occurred, so it can be utilized to carry out more precise and true-to-nature visualization tasks, while trying to best describe the reality transition as it occurred. This research paper suggests adopting a fully automatic hierarchical modelling mechanism, hence implementing several levels of spatial correspondence between the topographic datasets. This quantification is then utilized for the datasets morphing and blending tasks required for intermediate scene visualization. The establishment of a digital model that stores the local spatial transformation parameterization correspondences between the topographic datasets is realized. Along with designated interpolation concepts, this complete process ensures that the visualized transition from one topographic dataset to the other via the quantified correspondences is smooth and continuous, while maintaining morphological and topological relations. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Human Body Model Morphing for Assessment of Crash Rib Fracture Risk for the Population of Car Occupants

Fractured ribs are prevalent injury outcomes for vehicle occupants involved in crashes. Sex, age, and anthropometry of an occupant influences the risk to sustain rib fractures.The SAFER human body model (SHBM) represents an average sized male and includes a detailed ribcage model that has been validated for prediction of rib fracture risk in virtual crash simulations. Developments in parametric morphing of human body models have enabled re-shaping the SHBM to represent a wide range of body sizes for both adult males and females which can influence kinematic and injury risk predictions. The aim for this thesis was to enable the assessment of crash kinematics and rib fracture risk for the population of occupants by morphing the SHBM. Research was performed within objectives that included: providing a definition of the occupant population, creating morphed versions of the SHBM (MHBMs) and validating MHBM crash kinematic and rib fracture risk predictions within the defined population, develop a method to efficiently compute rib fracture risk across the population, and investigate factors beyond morphing that influences MHBM rib fracture risk predictions.The population definition includes 90\ua0% of the U.S.-population in terms of male and female height and weight variability. For validation, parametric morphing was used to create MHBMs geometrically matching age, sex, height, and weight of 22 human subjects in previous crash tests. Rib fracture risk and kinematic predictions from MHBMs were validated by comparison to test results and MHBMs showed good correlation for kinematics and had acceptable utility to predict rib fracture outcomes. However, the rib fracture risk for the most vulnerable, predominantly older, occupants was underestimated. One reason can be rib cortical bone microstructural defects, that are not represented by current SHBM rib material modeling.To compute population rib fracture risk in crashes, a metamodeling method based on 25 differently sized MHBMs of each sex was recommended. Using this metamodeling method it was also identified that seven selected MHBMs of each sex can be used to predict the population risk across two specific crash scenarios. This indicates a possibility to identify a small family of MHBMs that are generally representative of population rib fracture risk in future work.For further improving rib fracture risk predictions, a new rib fracture risk function was developed based on human rib test results. The new function is more sensitive to age compared to previous risk functions. Additionally, it was identified that the individual variability in rib cross-sectional width, as well as cortical bone thickness and material properties all substantially influence rib fracture risk predictions. Including the individual variability in these influential parameters in MHBM models will improve the capability of MHBMs to predict the rib fracture risk variability that exists in the population of occupants independently of sex, height, and weight.It is concluded that MHBMs representing geometrical shape trends due to height, weight and sex, and individual rib local variability can be used to assess kinematics and rib fracture risk for wide range of males and females of different sizes. However, more research is needed to accurately predict the risk for the most vulnerable, predominantly older occupants

KINE[SIS]TEM'17 From Nature to Architectural Matter

Kine[SiS]tem – From Kinesis + System. Kinesis is a non-linear movement or activity of an organism in response to a stimulus. A system is a set of interacting and interdependent agents forming a complex whole, delineated by its spatial and temporal boundaries, influenced by its environment. How can architectural systems moderate the external environment to enhance comfort conditions in a simple, sustainable and smart way? This is the starting question for the Kine[SiS]tem’17 – From Nature to Architectural Matter International Conference. For decades, architectural design was developed despite (and not with) the climate, based on mechanical heating and cooling. Today, the argument for net zero energy buildings needs very effective strategies to reduce energy requirements. The challenge ahead requires design processes that are built upon consolidated knowledge, make use of advanced technologies and are inspired by nature. These design processes should lead to responsive smart systems that deliver the best performance in each specific design scenario. To control solar radiation is one key factor in low-energy thermal comfort. Computational-controlled sensor-based kinetic surfaces are one of the possible answers to control solar energy in an effective way, within the scope of contradictory objectives throughout the year.FC

Complexity Reduction in Image-Based Breast Cancer Care

The diversity of malignancies of the breast requires personalized diagnostic and therapeutic decision making in a complex situation. This thesis contributes in three clinical areas: (1) For clinical diagnostic image evaluation, computer-aided detection and diagnosis of mass and non-mass lesions in breast MRI is developed. 4D texture features characterize mass lesions. For non-mass lesions, a combined detection/characterisation method utilizes the bilateral symmetry of the breast s contrast agent uptake. (2) To improve clinical workflows, a breast MRI reading paradigm is proposed, exemplified by a breast MRI reading workstation prototype. Instead of mouse and keyboard, it is operated using multi-touch gestures. The concept is extended to mammography screening, introducing efficient navigation aids. (3) Contributions to finite element modeling of breast tissue deformations tackle two clinical problems: surgery planning and the prediction of the breast deformation in a MRI biopsy device

Numerical Modeling and Analysis of Tidal Variance and Marsh Productivity in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida

Long term sustainability in salt marsh and mangroves is dependent on dominant species, such as Spartina alterniflora, to capture organic and inorganic sediment. The research analyzes that sustainability. This work demonstrates the prediction of hydrodynamics and biomass density of salt marsh to provide useful information for the planning and mitigation of sea-level rise impacts on marsh sustainability in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), Florida. An advanced circulation code was applied to simulate hydrodynamics (i.e., shallow water equations) in the GTMNERR. The model used a set of parameters and conditions based on the GTMNERR domain to predict tides for present-day conditions, which was validated using tidal data from eight monitoring stations within the GTMNERR. The hydrodynamic model results (i.e., MLW and MHW) were then coupled with a marsh equilibrium model to assess year-to-year biomass density for saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Vegetative data were obtained from the staff of the GTMNERR and organized for future work towards validation of biomass density predictions. Simulations were then performed with sea-level rise scenarios of 0.13 m, 0.22 m and 0.51 m, which are standardized cases of mild, moderate, and extreme rise for the northeast coast of Florida. The simulation results show nonlinear increase of tidal datums for given sea-level rise, thus leading to nonlinear change in biomass productivity. The modeling tool has engineering implications in the way of assisting the planning of dredging spoils to be laid over the marsh to sustain existing marsh against rising sea levels. The modeling tool further provides information about marsh migration due to sea-level rise, whereby coastal planners can use this information to designate and preserve existing uplands/wetlands that will house salt marsh in the future, as the marshes will migrate into such upland/wetlands areas

Generating anatomical substructures for physically-based facial animation.

Physically-based facial animation techniques are capable of producing realistic facial deformations, but have failed to find meaningful use outside the academic community because they are notoriously difficult to create, reuse, and art-direct, in comparison to other methods of facial animation. This thesis addresses these shortcomings and presents a series of methods for automatically generating a skull, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS – a layer of fascia investing and interlinking the mimic muscle system), and mimic muscles for any given 3D face model. This is done toward (the goal of) a production-viable framework or rig-builder for physically-based facial animation. This workflow consists of three major steps. First, a generic skull is fitted to a given head model using thin-plate splines computed from the correspondence between landmarks placed on both models. Second, the SMAS is constructed as a variational implicit or radial basis function surface in the interface between the head model and the generic skull fitted to it. Lastly, muscle fibres are generated as boundary-value straightest geodesics, connecting muscle attachment regions defined on the surface of the SMAS. Each step of this workflow is developed with speed, realism and reusability in mind

Virtual Morphology and Evolutionary Morphometrics in the new millenium.

EDITED VOLUME; abstract N/

Models and analysis of vocal emissions for biomedical applications

This book of Proceedings collects the papers presented at the 4th International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications, MAVEBA 2005, held 29-31 October 2005, Firenze, Italy. The workshop is organised every two years, and aims to stimulate contacts between specialists active in research and industrial developments, in the area of voice analysis for biomedical applications. The scope of the Workshop includes all aspects of voice modelling and analysis, ranging from fundamental research to all kinds of biomedical applications and related established and advanced technologies

Advances on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Manufacturing III

This open access book gathers contributions presented at the International Joint Conference on Mechanics, Design Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing (JCM 2020), held as a web conference on June 2–4, 2020. It reports on cutting-edge topics in product design and manufacturing, such as industrial methods for integrated product and process design; innovative design; and computer-aided design. Further topics covered include virtual simulation and reverse engineering; additive manufacturing; product manufacturing; engineering methods in medicine and education; representation techniques; and nautical, aeronautics and aerospace design and modeling. The book is organized into four main parts, reflecting the focus and primary themes of the conference. The contributions presented here not only provide researchers, engineers and experts in a range of industrial engineering subfields with extensive information to support their daily work; they are also intended to stimulate new research directions, advanced applications of the methods discussed and future interdisciplinary collaborations