Computer vision as a tool for image synthesis
Susan S. Bowen · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1995
An exciting use of visualization technology is to provide an environment to explore physical phenomena in a way that cannot be duplicated experimentally. Image synthesis is the method that is used to analyze a typical flow visualization study of a modern aircraft configuration. In particular, tuft and liquid crystal flow visualization studies are used to illustrate the synthesis scheme. This paper details a data environment suitable for image synthesis using real-world and synthetic components. Computer vision techniques are used to extract features from aerodynamic image data. These features, or primitives can be combined in a single scene to view multiple data sets simultaneously. The methods for layering or merging these diverse primitives are detailed. In addition to detailing the steps of the analysis-to-synthesis pathway, a comparison of the effectiveness of segmentation techniques at achieving the required feature extraction is discussed.