A software architecture for real-time volume data exploration on PC-based platforms
Michael Greystock Jones · Griffith Research Online · 2005
A software architecture is presented for real-time exploration of volumetric data on PCbased platforms using human computer interface (HCI) technologies ranging from mousekeyboard through to multi-screen virtual reality (VR) display with motion tracking. Voxel datasets in the range of 1 GB to 100 GB are targetted, with data from the Visible Human Project being chosen for system demonstration. The architecture is modular: the base program provides efficient display of intersecting orthogonal planes; separately compiled plugin modules provide more advanced 3-D rendering including surface fitting (SF) and direct volume rendering (DVR). Real-time display is provided using OpenGL. Semi-transparent rendering is correctly supported, through currently fails within regions that contain hybrid SF-DVR rendering. Script interfaces ensure code reusability and allow it to be readily reconfigured for particular HCI operation.