Introduction to Scientific Visualization Book

Preface     VII
About This Book     VII
Acknowledgments     VIII
Introduction     1
Potential and Pitfalls     7
Understanding Data     7
Using Space     8
Using Colour     16
Using Animation     17
Misunderstanding Data     19
Using the Right Tool for the Right Job     19
The Perils of Interpolation     22
Problems     25
Models and Software     27
A Dataflow Model of Visualization     27
Visualization Scenarios     30
Computational Steering     30
Distributed and Collaborative Visualization     31
Visualization Software     33
Historical Context     33
Current Approaches     33
Problems     36
Colour in Scientific Visualization     37
The Electromagnetic Spectrum     37
Colour Perception     38
Modelling Colour     40
RGB Colour Model     40
HSV Colour Model     41
Relating RGB and HSV     44
Mapping Data to Colours     46
Nonlinear Colour Mapping     47
'Linear' Colour Mapping     48
Perceptual Effects and Colour Vision Deficiency     50
Problems     54
Choosing Techniques     55
Classifying Data     55
Dependent and Independent Variables     55
Data Domain     58
Scalar and Vector Types     60
Taxonomy of Visualization Techniques     64
Problems     68
Visualizing Scalars     69
1D Data     69
Bar Chart, Pie Chart, and Scatterplot     69
Histogram and Line Graph     72
2D Data     73
2D Bar Chart     73
2D Histogram     75
Bounded Region Plot     76
Image Display     76
Making a Framework     78
Contour Plot     81
Surface View     84
Height-field Plot     87
3D Data     90
Reduction to 2D     90
Isosurface     93
Volume Render     98
Problems     102
Visualizing Vectors     103
Arrow Plot     104
Streamline and Timeline     106
Streamribbon, Streamsurface, and Streamtube     108
Time Surface     110
Flow Texture     112
Unsteady Flow     112
Problems     115
Bibliography and Further Reading     117
References     125
Solutions     129
Useful Information     135
Web Sites     135
Abbreviations     136
Definitions     138
Index     145