title: A streaming narrow-band algorithm: interactive computation and visualization of level sets.
abstract: Deformable isosurfaces, implemented with level-set methods, have demonstrated a great potential in visualization and computer graphics for applications such as segmentation, surface processing, and physically-based modeling. Their usefulness has been limited, however, by their high computational cost and reliance on significant parameter tuning. 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. The proposed solution is based on a new, streaming implementation of the narrow-band algorithm. The new algorithm packs the level-set isosurface data into 2D texture memory via a multidimensional virtual memory system. As the level set moves, this texture-based representation is dynamically updated via a novel GPU-to-CPU message passing scheme. By integrating the level-set solver with a real-time volume renderer, a user can visualize and intuitively steer the level-set surface as it evolves. We demonstrate the capabilities of this technology for interactive volume segmentation and visualization.
authors.affiliation: School of Computing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. lefohnae@cs.utah.edu
authors.forename: Aaron E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lefohn
authors.forename: Joe M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kniss
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Ross T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Whitaker
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003196:Computer Graphics; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface