A wide variety of software tools has been successfully used to visualize, analyze and present computational and experimental data at Langley Research Center. These tools can be categorized according to five primary uses: (1) 2-D image analysis, (2) conventional 3-D visualization, (3) volume visualization, (4) photo-realistic rendering, or (5) special purpose applications. Software is accessible in each of these categories for Langley personnel, and training or consultation can be arranged with the Data Visualization and Animation laboratory staff

Severance, Kurt

Weisenborn, Mike

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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Data Visualization and Animation Lab: Applications
Kurt Severance, Mike Weisenborn
A wide variety of software tools in DVAL have been successfully used to
visualize, analyze, and present computational and experimental data at
Langley Research Center. These tools can be roughly categorized according
to five primary uses: 2-D image analysis, conventional 3-D visualization,
volume visualization, photo-realistic rendering, or special-purpose
applications. Software in each of these categories is accessible to
LaRC personnel free of charge, and training or consultation can be
arranged with the DVAL staff.
Two-dimensional image analysis software is supported on many platforms
and provides several fundamental capabilities. The input is generally a
2-D array of bits, bytes, integers, floating-point, or even complex numbers.
These arrays can then be represented as color images from which features
can be enhanced, extracted, and statistically analyzed. Images can also
be represented as contour plots or, by correlating height with a scalar
quantity, as 3-D surfaces. Most image analysis tools in use today support
two levels of users: the programmer, who intends to incorporate their own
algorithms usually through a command-line interface, and the novice end-
user who usually prefers to work with a straightforward menu interface.
Advanced features include image segmentation and pattern recognition
capabilities.
The two primary image analysis packages available in DVAL are P_~WAVE and
KB-Vision, both of which have been successfully applied to several LaRC
projects. PV~WAVE, a product of Visual Numerics Inc. runs on most UNIX
workstations, and multiple licenses are available which can be shared among
LaRC researchers. A more advanced product, KB-Vision from Amerinex Artificial
Intelligence Inc., employs artificial intelligence techniques tQ provide
state-of-the-art feature extraction and pattern-recognition capabilities.
KB-Vision has been used to analyze and reduce images acquired from an in-flight
experiment which utilized tufts, and from a spin-tunnel test which utilized
retro-reflective targets, i
Software which allows interactive visualization of 3-D data was originally
specialized for computational fluid dynamics solutions on high-end
workstations. Today, tools are available even on modest computing platforms
for visualizing dense data from either computational or experimental sources.
These conventional tools generally input volume grids, scalar quantities, and
vectors in either structured or unstructured format. Arbitrary cross-sectional
surfaces through the data can be displayed and colored according to a selected
parameter. Advanced features include iso-surfaces (the 3-D extension of a
contour), transparency, thresholding, stereo display, and animation.
Three primary scientific visualization packages used at the Center include
the Flow Analysis Software Toolkit (F.A.S.T.), Tecplot, and Fieldview.
Although these tools were originally intended for CFD research, they have
been successfully used to analyze a variety of datasets including those
from wind tunnel or in-flight tests, atmospheric simulations, structural
analyses, and medical scans. F.A.S.T., a highly interactive environment
often used in DVAL to produce animations of 3-D data, is supported on
Silicon Graphics (SGI) workstations and is free to all NASA personnel
and contractors. Tecplot is free of charge to LaRC personnel and is
available on SUN, SGI, DEC, HP, IBM, and PC platforms. Fieldview, by
Intelligent Light, Inc., is supported on all major UNIX workstations, and
a limited number of licenses are available at LaRC upon request.
Volume visualization techniques offer an alternative to the more traditional
visualization tools. Whereas the conventional tools require the user to
extract polygonal approximations such as cutting planes and iso-surfaces
from their data, volume visualization tools can potentially render an entire
volume of data, allowing simultaneous examination of surfaces and internal
292
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structures. This technique is particularly applicable to the analysis of
diffuse or "fuzzy" 3-D phenomenon which have no clear boundaries, such as
electromagnetic fields. Current volume rendering technology requires the
volume to be a rectangular parallelepiped (a box) which is furthermore
subdivided into cubic building blocks_ called voxels. A value (upto 16 bits)
for some measured or calculated property is associated with each voxel.
The usefulness of volume visualization has been demonstrated in a number
of fields including cell biology, medical imaging, nondestructive testing,
molecular modeling, astrophysics, and multi-dimensional mathematics.
A high-end volume rendering package called VoxelView by Vital Images, Inc.
is supported on SGI and Macintosh platforms and is available for use in DVAL.
When a very high-quality computer-generated image or animation is necessary
to describe an otherwise abstract idea or phenomenon, photo-realistic rendering
software is required. The Wavefr0nt Advanced Visualizer available in DVAL
serves this purpose by providing a menu,driven environment in which such
effects as textures, shadows, _flect_0n, refraction, and transparency can
be simulated and applied to complex, moving objects. The objects can be
modeled within Wavefront or can be imported from other packages such as
PLOT3D or IDEAS. This software has pr<_ven useful in several azeas, primarily
in the description of an experL_ental facilities such as wind _unnels in which
interior structures of interest are o_£e_n inaccessible to conventional cameras.
Similarly, many phenomenon which are {_0 small, too large, to0 abstract, or
simply non-accessible have been simulated with this rendering package.
Specific applications have included the depiction of a water tunnel experiment,
the simulation of shuttle arm flexing due to heavy payloads, the internal
structure of multi-layered I-beams, an d the simulated take-of_! of the High
Speed Civil Transport. Two copies of the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer are
available on DVAL SGI workstations (with 4-CPUs each), and staff is available
to produce requested animations or train interested individuals _
A special-purpose application program has been designed in DVAL to support
flow visualization experiments which:utilize cameras and ligh_sheets.
The software, termed ILLUME (Interactive Lightsheet Locat0r Utility and
Modeling Environment), provides an interactive capability for determining
suitable placement of cameras and lightsheets well in advance of the actual
experiment and before any instrumentation is configured in a tunnel or on
an aircraft. The software allows the user to position camera s and light
sheens with respect to the test objector model and see simulated camera
views. Adjustments can be made to the camera and light sheet positions
and orientations until the desired view is obtained. In addition, roll,
pitch, and yaw adjustments can be made to the model to determine whether all
desired regions of the model remain visible to the recording camera for a
range of test conditions. ILLUME is an OSF/Motif-based program which runs
on mosn SGI workstations, accepts PLOT3D grid and function files, and is
freely availabe to LaRC researchers.
Information about all of the packages mentioned can be obtained through the
following e-mail addresses:
PV~WAVE
KB-Vision
Tecplot
Fieldview
F.A.S.T.
Voxe!View
Wavefront
ILLUME
pvwave-request@hojo.larc.nasa.gov
isdcseiphelp@larc.nasa.gov
tecplot@eagle.larc.nasa.gov
j.t.bowen@larc.nasa.gov
isdcs+vizhelp@larc.nasa.gov
isdcs+vizhelp@larc.nasa.gov
isdcs+vizhelp@larc.nasa.gov
isdcs+vizhelp@larc.nasa.gov
293
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DVAL APPLICATIONS
Outline
Image Analysis Software
t_J
Standard Scientific Visualization Software
Volume Visualization Software
Photo-realistic Rendering Software
Special-purpose Visualization Software
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D VAL APPLICATIONS
• inputs arrays of bit, byte, integer, or floating-point data
• color image display, enhancement, feature extraction, and statistics
• line, contour, and surface plots
• programmer or end-user level
PV~WAVE
• Visual Numerics, Inc.
• command-line language
• some 3-D analysis capabilities
• most UNIX workstations
pvwave-request@ hojo
. isdcs+iphelp@larcKBVision ,
• Amerinex Artificial Intelligence, inc.
• employs state-of-the-art A,I. techniques
• well-suited for feature extraction and pattern recognition
• most UNIX workstations
DVAL APPLICATIONS
Image Analysis Example
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DVAL APPLICATIONS
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Tuft Images
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Original
Image
Zoomed Image
Section
Segmentation
of Image
Line
Approximation
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HISTORY:
DVAL APPLICATIONS
Visualization Software
• evolved from software originally designed to analyze CFD
results on specialized workstations
• now available on a variety of platforms and useful in
analyzing practically any experimental or computational data
GENERAL CAPABILITIES:
• 3-D structured or unstructured grids:
• highly interactive environment
• arbitrary cross-sectional surfaces through the data
• contoured or colored surfaces according to scalar quantities
• iso-surfaces
• vector fields
• particle traces
DVAL APPLICATIONS
WIDELY-USED PACKAGES:
Flow Analysis Software Toolkit (F.A.S.T) isdcs+vizhetp@larc
• Ames Research Center/Sterling Software :
• only SGI workstations
• free to NASA
Fieldview
Inte hgent L_ght, Inc,
* ai! major UNIX workstations
• limited number of licenses available
j.t.bowen@larc
Tecplot
• Amtec Engineering, Inc.
• SUN, SGI, [)EC, H!_, IBM, PC
• available at LaRC upon request
tecplot@eagle
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D VAL A PPLICA TIONS
Flow _are T6-6Eit
_Surface Controls
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DVAL APPLICATIONS
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FEATURES:
• combines the concepts of image processing and computer
graphics to visualize an entire volume of scalar data
• requires the volume to be subdivided into regularly-spaced cubes
• well-suited for "fuzzy" or diffuse distributions of 3-D data
ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL (POLYGONAL) TECHNIQUES:
• unnecessary to create a polygonal approximation
• allows phenomena without clear boundaries (i.e., e,nergy fields)
to be represented accurately
• internal structures easily examined using transparency
AVAILABLE IN DVAL: VoxelView, by Vital Images, Inc.
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DVAL APPLICATIONS
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Wavefront Advanced   'Visualizer
• Photorealistic Computer Animation
• Used for Still Images and Animation Sequences
Object Modelingl Material Editing Motion Definition
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DVAL APPLICATIONS
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Scientific Applications
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• Display Experimental Setup
• Demonstrate Unobservable Phenomena
• Show Internal Structure of Objects
• Visually Simulate Future Technology
WATER TUNNEL SETUP
• Photographs can not fully
demonstrate the experimental setup.
• Computer animation can dissolve
certain features to clarify setup.
DVAL APPLICATIONS
Scientific Applications
• Display Experimental Setup
• Demonstrate Unobservable Phenomena
• Show Internal Structure of Objects
• Visually Simulate Future Technology
SHUTTLE ARM CONTROL
Researchers were investigating
methods to control flex in arm.
Computer animation allowed
a ..................... " ...............exaggeration nd demonstrat!on _
of flex.
DVAL APPLICATiONS
• r • III "1 ....... i_ 'rrrrr ' .... I
Scientific Applications
1 .... ii ......
= Display Experimental Setup
• Demonstrate Unobservable Phenomena
• Show Internal Structure of Objects
• Visually Simulate Future Technology
I-BEAM STRUCTURE
- .
• I-beams were constructed with
multiple layers.
• Computer animation allowed
demonstration of internal structure.
L,.)
DVAL APPLICATIONS
Sc ientific Ap plications
• Display Experimental Setup
• Demonstrate Unobservable Phenomena
,11,,, •• , • :_ : =, ........ i,
• Show Internal Structure of Objects
-=-- • Visually Simulate Future Technology
HIGH SPEED CIVIL TRANSPORT
• Aircraft is still in design phase.
• Computer animation provided a
preliminary view of the aircraft.
DVAL APPLICATIONS
Wavefront in DVAL
• Two copies of the Advanced Visualizer
• Running on 4-CPU Silicon Graphics Workstations
• Assistance is available for learning Wavefront
• DVAL staff with expertise in using Wavefront
D VA L A PPLICA TIONS
ILLUME
• Interactive Lightsheet Locator Utility and Modeling Environment
• Designed to ease setup of experiments involving cameras
and lightsheets.
Ma
t_
• Developed in DVAL - local expertise
• Graphical User Interface (MOTIF)
L,a
DVAL APPLICATIONS
ILLUME Controls
• Camera position and orientation
• Up to 6 Cameras
• Lightsheet position, orientation, and type (rotating or translating)
• Up to 6 Lightsheets
• Model translation, roll, pitch, and yaw
• Uses Plot3D gridfiles for geometry
• Allows function mapping onto grids
SESSION 8 System Design and Integration
Chaired by
Jerry H. Tucker
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
The Design Manager's Aid for Intelligent Decomposition DeMAID - Jim Rogers
RDD-100 and the Systems Engineering Process - Robert Averill
Computer Tools for Systems Engineering at LaRC - J. Milam Walters
A Distributed Computing Environment for Multidisciplinary Design FIDO - Robert
Weston
An Overview of the Computer Aided Engineering and Design for Electronics
Laboratory CAEDE - Shelley Stover
8.6 The Software Engineering and/or Ada Lab (SEAL) - Robert Kudlinski
316


Data Visualization and Animation Lab (DVAL): Applications

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