CMSC 691V: Visualization Techniques
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Autumn 1998
Time: M, W, 11:00-12:15pm CP 207
Instructors:
Dr. Penny Rheingans, 215 ECS,
rheingan@cs.umbc.edu, Phone:(410)455-3554
Description: 
This course will cover topics in visualization: scientific visualization,
medical visualization, information visualization, and volume rendering
techniques. The format for the course will be group discussions of papers,
some lectures by the instructors, and some student presentations of papers.
The grading will be based on participation in class, critical assignments,
and class projects.
Class projects may be done individually or in groups. Projects have the
potential of leading to work that forms the basis of a Master's project
or Ph.D. research topic. A partial list of topics includes the following:
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Scalar Visualization Techniques
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Volume Visualization Techniques
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Perception and Visualization
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Visualization Design
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Flow Visualization Techniques
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Medical Visualization Techniques
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Information Visualization Techniques
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Sterescopic & VR Techniques for Visualization
Tentative Schedule
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Week 1 : Organization and Introduction to visualization
goals, data sources, data representation
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Week 2 : Scalar Visualization
color, geometry, texture
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Week 3 : Volume Visualization
contouring, ray casting
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Week 4 : Volume Visualization
splatting, transfer functions, acceleration
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Sept 21: Direct Volume Rendering II
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Sept 23: Direct Volume Rendering III
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Reading
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Week 5 : Perception
visual mechanisms and characteristics, perception of pattern, color, depth, and motion
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Week 6 : Visualization Design / Flow Visualization
design of effective visualizations; traditional flow vis techniques
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Week 7 : Flow Visualization
texture-based techniques, LIC
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Week 8 : Guest Lectures, Topics TBA
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Week 9 : Medical Visualization
goals, data sources, medical image processing, segmentation
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Week 10 : Medical Visualization
vis techniques, applications, validity
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Nov 2: Medical Vis: Applications
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Nov 4: Medical Vis: Assessment
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Reading
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Week 11 : Information Visualization
visualization of text, databases,
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Nov 9: Guest Lecture: Randy Rohr, GWU
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Nov 11: Glyph-based Infovis
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Reading
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Week 12 : Information Visualization
visualization of networks, relationships, high-dimensional data
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Nov 16: Dynamic Infovis
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Nov 18: Web-based Infovis, Distortion Viewing
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Reading
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Week 13 : Advanced Display
interaction, VR, haptics, sonification, true 3D displays
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Week 14 : Summary / Future Trends
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Week 15 : Project Presentations
Readings: Students will read and discuss seminal and current technical research papers. A list of readings (in progress and subject to frequent
update) is available
here .
Textbook: None, but the following books may be useful as references.
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The Visualization Toolkit, by William Schroeder, Ken Martin, Bill Lorensen,
2nd Edition, 1997
- Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition, Foley,
van Dam, Feiner, Hughes, Addison Wesley, 1993.
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Texturing and Modeling: A Procedural Approach, Second Edition,
Ebert, et. al., AP Professional, 1997.
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Radiosity and Realistic Image Synthesis, Cohen and Wallace, AP Professional
1994.
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Principles of Digital Image Synthesis, Andrew Glassner, Morgan Kaufman
1994.
Assignments:
Grades:
Grades will be assigned on the basis of implementation of a visualization
algorithm (10%), critical reviews of published visualizations (10%),
presentation of technical paper (10%), class participation (10%), and
class project (60%).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact David Ebert, ebert@cs.umbc.edu
or Penny Rheingans, rheingan@cs.umbc.edu.