Advances in Voluem Visualization and Volume Graphics

                        Arie E. Kaufman
                 Department of Computer Science
           State University of New York at Stony Brook
                   Stony Brook, NY 11794-4400
		       ari@cs.sunysb.edu


Abstract

Volume visualization is concerned with the representation,
manipulation, and rendering of volumetric (voxel-based) data,
either sampled, simulated, or modeled. A recently increasing
trend in the use of discrete voxel representation for a
variety of geometry-based applications, referred to as volume
graphics, is apparent.  These applications include CAD,
simulation, and animation, as well as those that intermix
geometric objects with 3D sampled or computed datasets.
In these applications, the inherently continuous 3D geometric
model is discretized employing voxelization (3D scan conversion)
algorithms, which generate a volume buffer (3D raster) of voxels.
In order to render these volumetric models and other volumetric
data sets in real-time a special-purpose volume engine is
imperative.  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
a brief introduction to volume visualization and focuses on volume
graphics.