CSE 788.K14 Fundamentals of Visualization

 

 

Synopsis

This 788 course will cover the fundamentals of visualization for understanding nature and social phenomena that are described by numbers. we will first discuss the essence of visualization with a focus on the principles of visual design. We will study the books by Edward Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Envisioning Information, and Visual Explanation. We will then cover computer based visualization algorithms developed in the past decades to analyze three dimensional scalar and vector data generated from scientific and medical applications. Students are expected to apply the principles learned in the class to deign better and more effective visualization of quantitative information.

 

Class Meeting Time: MWF 12:30-1:18 pm, BE 198

Instructor: Prof. Han-Wei Shen (hwshen@cse.ohio-state.edu)

Grading:

·        Class Participation and Presentations: 20%

·        Midterm project or report: 30%

·        Final Project: 50%

 

Text Books:

            The following three books by Edward R. Tufte are required

·        The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

·        Envisioning Information

·        Visual Explanation

            

 

           Reference Book:

·        The Visualization Handbook, by Charles D. Hansen and Christopher R. Johnson

 

 

 

 

Take home midterm – Due February 14 2007

Final Project – Project description due March 1st, Final presentation March 14th.

 

Lecture Slides

 

Overview

Principles

Graphics Excellence

Chartjunk and Graphics Integrity

Parallelism

Sparklines

Volume Rendering

Projected Tetrahedra

Parallel Polygon Rendering

Vector Field Visualization

 

 

Tentative Class Schedule

Part I:  Principles of Visual Design (Textbook: Three-Volume Tufte Books)

            Overview (VD Chapter 1, EI Chapter 1)

            Visual and Statistical Thinking (VE Chapter 2)

            Theory of Data Graphics

-         Data Ink and Data Density (VD Chapter 4, 8)

-         Data Ink Maximization (VD Chapter 6)

-         Multi-functioning Graphics Elements (Chapter 7)

-         Chartjunk (VD Chapter 5)

-         Aesthetics (VD Chapter 9)

Visual Design Strategies

       Visualization of Nouns

-         Micro/Macro Readings (EI Chapter 2)

-         Layering and Separation (EI Chapter 3)

-         Small Multiples (EI Chapter 4)

-         Color and Information (EI Chapter 5)

-         Narratives of Space and Time (EI Chapter 6)

      Visualization of Verbs

-         Smallest Effective Difference (VE Chapter 3)

-         Parallelism (VE Chapter 4)

-         Multiples and Visual Confections (VE Chapter 5 and 6)

Visualization Integrity

-         Graphical Integrity (VD Chapter 2)

-         Sources of Graphical Integrity and Sophistication (VD Chapter 3)  

           

Part II: Scientific Visualization Algorithms (Tentative)

            Volume Rendering

-         Basic Volume Rendering Algorithms

o       Volume Rendering for Regular Grids

o       Volume Rendering for Irregular Grids

o       Volume Rendering using Graphics Hardware

-         Interface for Volume Rendering

-         Illustrative Volume Rendering

Isosurface Extraction

-         Isosurface Extraction Algorithms

-         User Interface for Isosurface Extraction

Vector Field Visualizatoin

-         Basic Vector Field Visualization Algorithms

o       Streamline/Pathline Integration

o       Flow Texture Advection

o       Seed Placements for Visualizing Vector Fields

-         User Interface for Vector Field Visualization

-         Illustrative Vector Field Visualization

Large Data Visualization with Parallel Rendering