Study of 3D Visualization Software for Geo-Science Applications

The aim of this study was to assess how certain tools in 3D volume visualization software aid physical scientists in their visual analysis of 3D data sets. The KeckCaves collaboration has lead to continuing development of a 3D volume visualization software package called Visualizer, which is built on the Virtual Reality User Interface (VRUI) Toolkit designed by Oliver Kreylos. Visualizer can be used to explore Geoscience data generated from seismic tomography models and mantle convection simulations to neutron imaging of ancient microbial communities preserved in rocks. In this study we compared Visualizer to a common commercial software package, called TecPlot [TecPlot ], which was designed for visualizing 2D and 3D data on a desktop. In the first part of the study, both software packages are compared in their native environments: Visualizer in a CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) and TecPlot on a desktop computer. In the second part of the study, Visualizer was also used on a desktop computer. (TecPlot does not run in a CAVE). Comparison of the two software packages used in a desktop environment provides information that allows one to assess how specific tools aid researchers in navigating through and identifying features in 3D data using a 2D viewing environment. Comparison of Visualizer on the desktop and in the CAVE provides further information concerning appropriate transfer of design patterns for VR environments to a desktop environment.