University of Utah Interactive Deformation and Visualization of Level Set Surfaces using Graphics Hardware 
Aaron E. Lefohn, Joe M. Kniss, Charles D. Hansen and Ross T. Whitaker 		 Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute
 

Proceedings cover image and Nominated for Best Paper Award

Abstract

      Deformable isosurfaces, implemented with level-set methods, have demonstrated a great potential in visualization for applications such as segmentation, surface processing, and surface reconstruction. Their usefulness has been limited, however, by two problems. First, 3D level sets are relatively slow to compute. Second, their formulation usually entails several free parameters that can be difficult to tune correctly for specific applications. The second problem is compounded by the first. This paper presents a solution to these challenges by describing graphics processor (GPU) based algorithms for solving and visualizing level-set solutions at interactive rates. Our efficient GPU-based solution relies on packing the level-set isosurface data into a dynamic, sparse texture format. As the level set moves, this sparse data structure is updated via a novel GPU to CPU message passing scheme. When the level-set solver is integrated with a real-time volume renderer operating on the same packed format, a user can visualize and steer the deformable level-set surface as it evolves. In addition, the resulting isosurface can serve as a region-of-interest specifier for the volume renderer.  This paper demonstrates the capabilities of this technology for interactive volume visualization and segmentation.
Authors
Aaron Lefohn University of Utah
Joe Kniss University of Utah
Charles Hansen University of Utah
Ross Whitaker University of Utah
Papers
1. "Interactive Deformation and Visualization of Level Set Surfaces using Graphics Hardware" in IEEE Visualization 2003" pdf
2. University of Utah SoC Technical Report pdf ps
3. "A Streaming Narrow-Band Algorithm: Interactive Deformation and Visualization of Level Sets", Invited extended version in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics pdf
Talk
IEEE Visualization 2003 Presentation ppt
Movie
Segmentation of a cerebral cortex with full volume rendering and audio voice-over. mpeg