3DVisualizer
3DVisualizer was developed specifically for interactive, visual exploration of gridded data in immersive virtual reality (VR) environments. 3DVisualizer uses carefully optimized algorithms and data structures to support the high frame rates required for immersion and the real-time feedback required for interactivity. As an application developed for VR from the ground up, 3DVisualizer realizes benefits that usually cannot be achieved by software initially developed for the desktop and later ported to VR.
However, 3DVisualizer can also be used on desktop systems (unix/linux-based operating systems including Mac OS X) with a similar level of real-time interactivity, bridging the ‘‘software gap’’ between desktop and VR that has been an obstacle for the adoption of VR methods in the Geosciences. While many of the capabilities of 3DVisualizer are already available in other software packages used in a desktop environment, the features that distinguish 3DVisualizer are: (1) 3DVisualizer can be used in any VR environment including the desktop, GeoWall, or CAVE, (2) in non-desktop environments the user interacts with the data set directly using a wand or other input devices instead of working indirectly via dialog boxes or text input, (3) on the desktop, 3DVisualizer provides real-time interaction with very large data sets that cannot easily be viewed or manipulated in other software packages.
Three case studies are presented that illustrate the direct scientific benefits realized by analyzing data or simulation results with Visualizer in a VR environment. We also address some of the main obstacles to widespread use of VR environments in scientific research with a user study that shows 3DVisualizer is easy to learn and to use in a VR environment and can be as effective on desktop systems as native desktop applications.
(From M.I. Billen, O. Kreylos, B. Hamman, M. Jadamec, L.H. Kellogg, O. Staadt, D.Y. Sumner (2008) A Geoscientist’s Perspective on Immersive 3D Data Visualization, Computers and Geosciences, Vol 34/9 pp 1056-1072. DOI: 10.1016/j.cageo.2007.11.009)
Software
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Developed by Oliver Kreylos with additional functionality provided by various other computer scientists
