CDS 301

Spring, 2013

Scientific Information and

Data Visualization

Introduction

&

Syllabus

Jan. 22, 2013

Jie Zhang Copyright ©

Visualization

A Picture Is Worth a

Thousand Words

Cave Painting

Visualization is a

cognitive process

performed by humans

in forming a mental

image of a domain

space

Visualization

Human Cognition

Visualization is a visual

representation of a domain

space using graphics, images,

animated sequences, and

sound augmentation to present

data, structure, and dynamic

behavior of large, complex data

set that represent systems,

events, processes, objects, and

concepts [Williams et al. 1995]

Visualization

At Information

Age

For Scientists

• Effective communication

• Provide scientific insights

• Make scientific discoveries

Interactive Visualization

About Me

A Space Weather Scientist

It starts

from an

eruption

from the

Sun.

Prediction

depends on

how it

propagates

Space Weather: the Systems

10

空间气象的危害

Human Space Exploration

Satellite Operation

Aurora

Communication and

Navigation

Aviation

Power

Space Weather: Effects

SDO Mission

STEREO Mission

Syllabus

http://spaceweather.gmu.edu/jzhang/teaching/2011_CD

S301_Spring/

Text Book • Required:

“Data Visualization: Principles and Practice”

by Alexandru C. Telea, 2008

• Supplement (not required):

1. “Information Visualization: Perception for

Design”

• By Colin Ware, 2004

Content • Introduction (Ch 1)

• From Graphics to Visualization (Ch 2)

• Data Presentation (Ch 3)

• Visualization Pipeline (Ch 4)

• Scalar Visualization (Ch 5)

• Vector Visualization (Ch 6)

• Tensor Visualization (Ch 7)

• Domain-Modeling Techniques (Ch 8)

• Image Visualization (Ch 9)

• Volume Visualization (Ch 10)

• Information Visualization (Ch 11)

The Pipeline

1. Data Acquisition

2. Filtering

3. Mapping

4. Rendering

Scalar Visualization

Height plot and Isolines (P143)

Vector Visualization

Stream Tubes (P189)

Domain Modeling

Scattered Point Cloud and

Surface Reconstruction (P259)

Volume Visualization

Color and Opacity Transfer

Function (P. 368)

Information Visualization

Cone-tree Layout of File Hierarchy (P. 403)

Projects • Two small projects.

• One comprehensive project.

• Programming

– Matlab

– Paraview

– C/C++

– OpenGL

Assignment and Grade

• Homework (25%)

– 5 - 7 homework

• Projects (25%)

• Exams

– One mid-term (20%)

– One final (30%)

Contact

Office Hour: 3:00 – 5:00 PM, Thursday,

or by appointment