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.
