Torsten Möller - Böcker

The goal of visualization is the accurate, interactive, and intuitive presentation of data. Complex numerical simulations, high-resolution imaging devices and incre- ingly common environment-embedded sensors are the primary generators of m- sive data sets. Being able to derive scienti?c insight from data increasingly depends on having mathematical and perceptual models to provide the necessary foundation for effective data analysis and comprehension. The peer-reviewed state-of-the-art research papers included in this book focus on continuous data models, such as is common in medical imaging or computational modeling. From the viewpoint of a visualization scientist, we typically collaborate with an application scientist or engineer who needs to visually explore or study an object which is given by a set of sample points, which originally may or may not have been connected by a mesh. At some point, one generally employs low-order piecewise polynomial approximationsof an object, using one or several dependent functions. In order to have an understanding of a higher-dimensional geometrical “object” or function, ef?cient algorithms supporting real-time analysis and manipulation (- tation, zooming) are needed. Often, the data represents 3D or even time-varying 3D phenomena (such as medical data), and the access to different layers (slices) and structures (the underlying topology) comprising such data is needed.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Proceedings of the 3rd - ternational Symposium on Visual Computing (ISVC 2007) held in Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California. ISVC o?ers a common umbrella for the four main areas of visualcomputing including vision,graphics,visualization,andvirtualreality.Its goal is to provide a forum for researchers, scientists, engineers and practitioners throughout the world to present their latest research ?ndings, ideas, devel- ments, and applications in the broader area of visual computing. Thisyear,theprogramconsistedof14oralsessions,1postersession,6special tracks, and 6 keynote presentations. Following a very successful ISVC 2006, the response to the call for papers was almost equally strong; we received over 270 submissions for the main symposium from which we accepted 77 papers for oral presentation and 42 papers for poster presentation. Special track papers were solicited separately through the Organizing and Program Committees of each track. A total of 32 papers were accepted for oral presentation and 5 papers for poster presentation in the special tracks.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Proceedings of the 3rd - ternational Symposium on Visual Computing (ISVC 2007) held in Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California. ISVC o?ers a common umbrella for the four main areas of visualcomputing including vision,graphics,visualization,andvirtualreality.Its goal is to provide a forum for researchers, scientists, engineers and practitioners throughout the world to present their latest research ?ndings, ideas, devel- ments, and applications in the broader area of visual computing. Thisyear,theprogramconsistedof14oralsessions,1postersession,6special tracks, and 6 keynote presentations. Following a very successful ISVC 2006, the response to the call for papers was almost equally strong; we received over 270 submissions for the main symposium from which we accepted 77 papers for oral presentation and 42 papers for poster presentation. Special track papers were solicited separately through the Organizing and Program Committees of each track. A total of 32 papers were accepted for oral presentation and 5 papers for poster presentation in the special tracks.

The goal of visualization is the accurate, interactive, and intuitive presentation of data. Complex numerical simulations, high-resolution imaging devices and incre- ingly common environment-embedded sensors are the primary generators of m- sive data sets. Being able to derive scienti?c insight from data increasingly depends on having mathematical and perceptual models to provide the necessary foundation for effective data analysis and comprehension. The peer-reviewed state-of-the-art research papers included in this book focus on continuous data models, such as is common in medical imaging or computational modeling. From the viewpoint of a visualization scientist, we typically collaborate with an application scientist or engineer who needs to visually explore or study an object which is given by a set of sample points, which originally may or may not have been connected by a mesh. At some point, one generally employs low-order piecewise polynomial approximationsof an object, using one or several dependent functions. In order to have an understanding of a higher-dimensional geometrical “object” or function, ef?cient algorithms supporting real-time analysis and manipulation (- tation, zooming) are needed. Often, the data represents 3D or even time-varying 3D phenomena (such as medical data), and the access to different layers (slices) and structures (the underlying topology) comprising such data is needed.