3D texture-based hybrid visualizations

In this paper, the visualization of hybrid scenes that contain volume data and a fitted extracted surface is addressed. The proposed algorithm is based on a integrated octree-based representation: the ‘‘hybrid octree.’’ The hybrid octree allows to obtain multiresolution representation of the volume data and it also maintains a decimated surface codification. The proposed visualization approach uses three-dimensional-textures for the visualization of the volume data and integrates the surface polygons using the information represented in the octree structure. The main characteristics of the method are: its capabilities to perform multiresolution hybrid visualizations and its efficient use of texture memory space. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.