Introduction to Scientific Visualization

This section introduces the concepts of scientific visualization, including data slicing, isosurfaces, animations and a description of data sonification. Many of the concepts are accompanied by images, most of which are created using either AVS5 or AVS/Express. The data for these images come from various scientists and are referenced below. The section does not include any exercises, but the concepts are referenced throughout the entire AVS/Express training.

Introduction to AVS/Express

This section introduces the AVS/Express scientific visualization package from Advanced Visual Systems. The scientific visualization concepts described in the previous section are mapped to AVS/Express capabilities. The student is shown an overview of the architecture and capabilities of AVS/Express. No attempt is made to show how to use AVS/Express in detail, just an overview of capabilities. The section does not include any exercises.

The Network Editor and Data Viewers I

This section describes the AVS/Express Network Editor as the visual programming interface for scientific visualization. Use of the visual programming interface to read data and to perform various visualizations. The use of Network Editor, the module list, search function, help function and other parts of the Network Editor are described. Also, the various data viewers, (integrated viewers with controls for the display) is presented.

The section includes a set of exercises to help the student manipulate the Network Editor components. The lab exercises consist of:

• Exercise Set 1 - Create and manipulate objects in the NE
• Exercise Set 2 - Create simple networks ( Read the data hydrogen.fld and manipulate the display)

The Network Editor and Data Viewers II

This section continues the description of the AVS/Express Network Editor as the visual programming interface for scientific visualization. The structure of the objects for the modules is presented. Also, the various controls for the data viewers is described. Manipulationg the display is also discussed.

The section includes a set of exercises to help the student manipulate the Network Editor and Data Viewer components. The lab exercises consist of:

• Exercise Set 1 - Explore the SingleWindowApp
• Exercise Set 2 - Create simple networks ( Use the Read_Data file object and manipulate the display)

Importing Data I

This section describes the AVS/Express capabilities to import data to be displayed and manipulated. There are 6 primary methods to import data, two are discussed in this section, the rest in the next section. The method called File Access Object, which allows the user to create a file reader for data is described in detail.

The section includes a set of exercises to help the student create various fields and to create a file object. The lab exercises consist of:

• Exercise Set 1 - Create and manipulate Non-cartesian fields.
• Exercise Set 2 - Use the Read_Column_File module to import data.
• Exercise Set 3 - Use the Add File Import Tool to create the Read_Data file object used earlier.

Importing Data II

This section describes the AVS/Express capabilities to import data to be displayed and manipulated. The three primary methods to import data are discussed in this section. The AVS/Express Field Data Type is discussed and the Field Header File is presented as a method to import data with other methods, including custom readers.

The section includes a set of exercises to help the student, including a set of exercises to create a field header file to import data. The lab exercises consist of:

• Exercise Set 1 - Scattered data 3D physical space, 1D computational space - coal combustion.
• Exercise Set 2 - Binary data - the lobster.

AVS/Express Data Visualization Techniques

This section describes the AVS/Express visualization techniques. This section presents numerous modules to map scientific visualization techniques to modules in AVS/Express. This section will be chaning rapidly as AVS adds capabilities to AVS/Express. For example AVS/Express 3.4 will include a key frame animator plus other visualizations techniques and these will be included in this section. The section includes a set of exercises to help the student to exploit the visualization capabilities of AVS/Express.

User Interface Kit

This section describes the AVS/Express capabilities to construct a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to provide an easier access to a visualization. The UI Kit provides the capability to construct a GUI using visual programming, and a visual Layout Editor to position the widgets. The section includes a set of exercises to help the student create a GUI.

Open Lab

This section provides the students to exercise the capabilities of AVS/Express on either supplied exercises or on user supplied data. The students will have access to the instructors to develop there own visualizations.

The Object Manager and the V Command Processor

This section describes the AVS/Express Object manager (OM) and the scripting language called V. All of the capabilities of AVS/Express are accessible via the V Command Processor (VCP). This section describes some of the V commands. The focus is to use the VCP for gathering information and debugging. The section includes a set of exercises to help the student including a set of exercises to create a field header file to import data.

Writing Modules

This section describes the AVS/Express features to extend AVS/Express by writing modules. This allows AVS.Express to connect to user specific needs, such as specially formatted data files or even running applications. The section includes a set of exercises to help the student to write a module.

Migrating from AVS5

This section describes the AVS/Express features that will assist the student in migrating from AVS5 to AVS/Express.

STM See The Molecule

This section describes the AVS/Express module suite written to display molecular systems, both the geometric structure and electronic properties. The modules were written by Ken Flurchick, Lee Bartolotti and Theresa Windus. Presented at the AVS User Group meeting at Viz '97 in Phoenix, Az. (1997)

References

Some of the course and lab material is courtesy of:

	Manchester Visualization Centre Manchester Computing, University of Manchester
and
	International AVS Centre

Also, many images are courtesy of several reseachers at various Ohio academic institutions:

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