Volume visualization is concerned with the representation, manipulation, and rendering of volumetric (voxel-based) data, either sampled, simulated, or modeled. Recently, the use of discrete volumetric representation for a variety of geometry-based applications, referred to as volume graphics, has increased substantially. These applications include CAD, simulation, animation, virtual reality, and scientific visualization, as well as those that intermix geometric objects with 3D sampled or computed data sets. In these applications, the inherently continuous 3D geometric model is discretized (voxelized) in a preprocessing stage, generating a view-independent volume buffer (3D raster) of voxels, which is then easily rendered. In order to render these volumetric models and other volumetric data sets in real-time a special-purpose volume engine is needed. These trends in volume visualization have the potential to revolutionize the field of computer graphics by offering an alternative to the existing surface graphics approach. Volume visualization also promises important breakthroughs in its diverse applications.
This talk provides an overview of volume visualization with a focus on volume graphics, with some discussion on the Cube volume engine and volume visualization applications.