Significant barriers face current scientific visualization efforts, including diverse, component-based visualization, computational and data input/output modules, heterogeneous and often incompatible component architectures, and expensive, proprietary software tools for rendering. Current visualization programs need tools that support development and deployment of applications for tera-scale, tiled surface display, volume rendering, as well as provide support for remote and distributed visualization systems. A scene graph architecture provides an elegant framework for combining high performance rendering technology with application tools for data paging, view-dependent operations such as level-of-detail model switching and refinement, while allowing the developer the freedom and control over key application design considerations, such as resource management. This approach is complementary to related efforts that focus on data, resource and location management, with emphasis upon rendering technology for remote, distributed and high performance visualization applications. Extend a commercial-grade, Open Source scene graph technology to 1) provide support for thread-safe rendering, 2) extend the serial rendering engine to a pipelined-parallel high performance design, 3) provide support for off-screen, hardware-accelerated rendering capabilities, and 4) provide direct support for tiled surface displays.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In the near term, commercial activities centered around an Open Source technology include support, accessories, such as Programming Manuals, and commissioned research and development. In the longer term, the proposed work serves as the foundation for future remote and distributed graphics and visualization applications, including Web-enabled location-based entertainment and commerce, including multiplayer games, browsing virtual malls and stores, and virtual museums and art galleries.
