Deep Earth Dynamics: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
Sinking of cold, dense lithosphere at the earth’s surface and upwelling of hot, buoyant rocks through the earth’s mantle drives the motions of tectonic plates at the earth’s surface and controls how quickly the earth cools in time. These processes are studied with numerical simulations that are compared to seismic observations of the earth’s interior and surface observations of topography, gravity, plate motion, heat flow and chemistry, with the aim of constraining the physical and chemical properties of the mantle through time.

---

Crustal Dynamics: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
High resolution (1–10 m) terrain data with regional to planetary coverage are now available for both Earth and Mars. These new data sets, comprised of both multi-spectral satellite data and digital elevation models (DEM), provide unprecedented opportunities to understand the processes that shape planetary surfaces. To capitalize on this opportunity, we have developed RIMS, a real-time, interactive mapping system that permits users to visualize, and thus analyze, high-resolution terrain data over large areas (1000 x 1000 km2). RIMS gives access to the geologic record by allowing users to conduct detailed geomorphic and geologic mapping over very large areas and thereby discover features or patterns in the data that were previously unrecognized.  The interactive 3D visualization environment of RIMS operates much like GoogleEarth in the way that it allows users to ‘fly’ in real-time over 3D terrain models comprised of texture data (e.g., a false-color satellite image) draped over a DEM.  Most importantly, RIMS also allows geologists to conduct geomorphic and geologic mapping by, 1) drawing polylines directly on the 3D terrain visualization, 2) measuring the orientations of surfaces using a virtual geologic compass, and 3) reconstructing the 3D shape of geological surfaces by surface extrapolation above and below the terrain model.

Image: Measurements in VR environments: Locations of faults and folds precisely mapped directly onto the virtual topographic surface.

---

Sedimentary Structures: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
Structures in sedimentary rocks reflect processes during deposition and influence fluid flow after deposition. The three dimensional geometry of features like cracks, inter-grain porosity, and mineral distributions provides clues to the origins of the features. We are developing neutron computed tomography as an imaging system for sedimentary features such as molar tooth structures (MTS), porosity between glass beads, and microbialites. Neutron imaging is effective at showing varitions in the distribution of hydrogen in rocks.

---

Biological Structures: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
All organisms have shapes, which is the subject of a field called morphology. Shapes are essential to life because they are physical properties that pose limitations on (or expand possibilities of) how organisms interact with the outer world.  Fossils usually preserve shapes of extinct organisms, which potentially indicate how these organisms interacted with the surrounding environment. It is therefore essential to study the morphology of fossil organisms if we were to understand the evolutionary history of life on this planet. Also, morphology provides basic data to reconstruct how extinct species are related with each other, and to living forms.

Image: 3D digital reconstruction of a Dimetrodon skull

---

Molecular Structures: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
Molecular structures can be assembled one atom at a time using the "Nanotech Construction Kit" (NCK). Currently, the kit contains silica tetrahedra, alluminum octahedra, and carbon triangles. Realistic structures can be assembled from these components. Two silicate units can connect to each other by their silicon atoms covalently bonding to one shared oxygen atom. Geometrically, this means that two tetrahedra link at their vertices. NCK is used create initial configurations for subsequent molecular dynamics simulations.

Image: Three stretches of six-circumference carbon nanotube connected by a T-junction.

---

Structure of Nonlinear Systems: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
Nonlinear dynamical systems are notoriously difficult to analyze. The best known example of this is found in deterministic chaos, where systems actively produce unpredictable and random-appearing behaviors, despite the simplicity of the governing equations. Many fields are well acquainted with this kind of complex behavior; it is found in a wide range of phenomena from fluid turbulence and electronic circuits to ecological and economic dynamics. Until recently, the difficulty of research and education in nonlinear dynamical systems has been to “visualize” the underlying structures that produce chaos. Only in the last several years with the development of high performance graphics processors and innovative visualization tools, such as sensory-immersive cave environments, has a direct approach to interactive visualization of nonlinear dynamical systems become possible.

---

Virtual Depth Perception: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]
Distance perception in real environments has been studied extensively. A good understanding of distance perception is important for the design of effective virtual reality application. While recent studies using head-mounted display technology indicate that of distance in virtual environments is consistently underestimated, we don't have a good understanding of distance perception in virtual environments using large-scale projection displays, such as CAVEs or Powerwalls.

Image: One of the three wall projectors and the mirror used to fold the light path to minimize the CAVE's footprint. These are Christie Digital Mirage S+4K stereo-capable three-chip DLP projectors with a native resolution of 1400x1050 pixels (KeckCAVES uses only 1280x1024 pixels per screen) and very high 6500 ANSI lumens light output. The small box mounted to the projector (on top in the mirror image) is the infrared emitter used to synchronize the active stereo image with the shutter goggles.

---

Oceans and Atmospheres: [ Synopsis ] [ Software ]