title: FieldML: concepts and implementation.
abstract: The field modelling language FieldML is being developed as a standard for modelling and interchanging field descriptions in software, suitable for a wide range of computation techniques. It comprises a rich set of operators for defining generalized fields as functions of other fields, starting with basic domain fields including sets of discrete objects and coordinate systems. It is extensible by adding new operators and by their arbitrary combination in expressions, making it well suited for describing the inherent complexity of biological materials and organ systems. This paper describes the concepts behind FieldML, including a simple example of a spatially varying finite-element field. It outlines current implementations in established, open source computation and visualization software, both drawing on decades of bioengineering modelling software development experience.
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. r.christie@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: G Richard
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Poul M F
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Shane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Blackett
authors.forename: Chris P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003628:Database Management Systems