Sci Vi

Class Handout

Although scientific visualization and computer graphics and often linked there is a significant distinction. Visualization is concerned with exploring, transforming and mapping data in order to understand the data. Computer graphics is more about mapping and rendering data. Computer graphics is often about making the graphics as realistic as possible. Scientific Visualization often uses false color or image enhancement to show the data more clearly.

In this class the successful student will learn how to use a number of computer graphic techniques to visualize data. Programming projects using postscript, tk, and vtk and a project of the students choice will be the only graded assignments. (No knowledge of any particular programming language is assumed, although some programming experience will be required.)

Also we will discuss and demo many other visualization techniques and programs. From gnuplot to IDL, matlab to mathematica, VRML to java and many points in between.

List of Projects
1. Contour Plot using your favorite programming language and Postscript. formal statement
2. Interactive visualization of a 4-dimension graph using tcl/tk. formal statement
3. Volume Rending example using vtk (Visualization tool kit). formal statement
4. Your choice of project, it needs to be pre-approved by the instructor. formal statement
No Tests or Final
Outline of Lesson 1
Outline of Lesson 2
Outline of Lesson 3
Outline of Lesson 4
last update 11 Sept 96.