Scientific Data Visualization

1
Scientific Data Visualization

• Jun Ni. Ph.DM.E
• Associate Research Scientist
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, CS and ME
• Research Technologies/Academic Technologies
• The University of Iowa

- presented at RT Workshop 2001 -
2
Outline

• Scientific Data
• Data Visualization
• Visualization Techniques
• Visualization Tools
• Commercial software
• Future Development

3
Scientific Data

• Any data or data-formats used in science or
  engineering can be referred as scientific data
• In most of applications, hereby, we define
  scientific data as massive and digital data with
  a variety of data formats
• Data can be floating-point data, integer data,
  image data, and clip data
• Format are various.
• Data dimensions (1-D, 2-D, 3-D or more)

4
Data Visualization

• Data visualization technique tool used to help
  researchers understand and/or interpret data
• It is a specific area in visualization, although
  it utilizes the same or similar techniques as
  used in other visualization.
• The data visualization deal with rare data, which
  is difficult to understand.
• Closed with data analysis methods and techniques

5
Data Visualization Techniques

• Plotting (used in data analysis)
• Mapping (used in graphics)
• Color image interpreting (used in image
  processing)
• Volume rendering (used in volume visualization)
• Graphics (Glut, OpenGL, )
• Animation
• Virtual reality (CaveLib, openGL, )
• Internet
• Database and data management

6
Data Visualization Tools

• There are many data-visualization tools. Some of
  them are built inside data analysis package (like
  mathematica (http//www.wolfram.com/), Matlab,
  (http//www.mathworks.com/), while others are
  available in either commercial or individual
  visualization packages
• Most of cases, data visualization tools should be
  developed based on specific need.
• Converting data sometimes becomes very important
  step in deploying specific data to existing
  software or programming environment.

7
Data Visualization Software

• Tecplot 9.0 from AMTEC (http//www.amtec.com)
• Tecplot is plotting software with extensive 2-D
  and 3-D capabilities for visualizing data from
  analyses, simulations and experiments.
• Tecplots Plot Gallery
• http//www.amtec.com/plotgallery/

8
Data Visualization Software

• Download Tecplot 9.0 (trial version)
• http//www.amtec.com/Service_pages/tec90download.h
  tml
• Download (documents)
• (http//www.amtec.com/Service_pages/tecplot_doc.ht
  ml)

9
Data Visualization Software

• Noesys with IDL from Research Systems
  (http//www.rsinc.com/)
• It is a data visualization software for
  analyzing, visualizing and maintaining control of
  your data.
• It is more powerful than ever with built in
  access to IDL, letting you move data between
  Noesys and IDL for analysis and manipulation.
  There are three versions of this new interface
  Noesys and NoesysIDL.

10
Data Visualization Software

• It includes the visualization applications
  Transform, T3D and Plot. Transform generates 2D
  visualizations such as contours, surface areas
  and vector plots. T3D's advanced ray-tracing lets
  you render data as volumes, slices or
  isosurfaces. Plot maintains a tight connection to
  the source data while generating line, color
  scatter, parametric and double-Y plots. You just
  select the plot format you want from a gallery
  and specify the columns.

11
Data Visualization Software

• It provides raster imaging of data, global map
  projections, importing of many file types
  including ASCII, Binary, TIFF, SDTS, DTED, and
  HDF (Hierarchical Data Format) file format.
• Download (http//www.rsinc.com/download/)
• Documentation (http//www.rsinc.com/training/docse
  ts.asp)

12
Data Visualization Software

• Gnu libaray

13
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an X-Y Plot

14
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an X-Y Plot
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  /Demo/plt/rain.plt
• Go to XY/Define XY Mappings. Highlight maps 2 and
  3 and set Map Show to Yes (Activate).

15
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an X-Y Plot
• Click on the Lines tab and highlight the second
  map change the Line Pttrn to Dash Dot Dot.
  Highlight the third line change the Line Pttrn
  to Dashed and Line Thck to .4. Close the dialog.
• Go to View/DataFit.
• Go to XY/XY Legend and toggle on Show XY Legend.
  Close the dialog.

16
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an X-Y Plot
• Move the legend by clicking and dragging it into
  place.
• Go to Axis/Edit and click on the Title tab.
  Select the Y1 axis along the top and select Use
  Text. In the text field write inches. Close the
  dialog.

17
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data

18
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile. Select
  /Demo/plt/cylinder.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off and the Contour option
  On. Select V5V(M/S) as the Contour Variable.
  Close the dialog.

19
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data
• Go to Field/Contour/Contour Attributes. Highlight
  zone 1 and change the Contour Plot Type to Lines.
  Highlight zone 2 and set it to Flood. Set zone 3
  to Both Lines and Flood. Close the dialog.

20
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data
• On the sidebar, select the Adjuster Tool (right
  column, second from the top) in the Tools
  buttons. Click on the Y-axis. Move the cursor to
  the top of the axis (cursor will appear as
  vertical arrows), click and drag down to y 10.

21
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data
• On the sidebar, select the Selector Tool (top
  right) in the Tools buttons. Click on the axis
  and the entire plot will be selected. While
  cursor appears as a crosshair, click and drag the
  plot until it is centered in the frame.
• Go to Field/Contour/Contour Legend and toggle on
  Show Contour Legend. Select Align Horizontal.
  Close the dialog.
• 8. Move the legend by clicking and dragging it
  into place.
• 9. On the sidebar, select the Label Contour Lines
  Tool (top left) in the Tools buttons. Click on
  contour lines to place labels.
• 10. Redraw.

22
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Contour Plot with Structured Data
• Move the legend by clicking and dragging it into
  place.
• On the sidebar, select the Label Contour Lines
  Tool (top left) in the Tools buttons. Click on
  contour lines to place labels.
• Redraw.

23
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Vector Plot
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  /Demo/plt/velocity.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off and the Vector option
  On. Select U/RFC as the U Vector Component and
  V/RFC as the V Vector Component. Click OK.

24
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Vector Plot

25
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Vector Plot
• Go to Field/Vector/Vector Attributes. Highlight
  the zone, click Index Skip, Enter Skip, Set ISkip
  to 2 JSkip to 2, click OK. Set Line Thck to 0.4
  and Vect Color to MultiColor. When prompted set
  V10Vorticity as the Contour Variable.
• Click OK. Close the dialog.

26
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Vector Plot
• Go to Field/Vector/Vector Length and change
  Relative(Grid Units/Magnitude) to 0.2. Close the
  dialog.
• From the Tools buttons on the sidebar, select the
  Streamtrace tool button (fourth down from top on
  left-hand side). Click on vectors to place a
  streamtrace.

27
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Vector Plot
• Add a streamtrace rake by clicking and dragging
  the mouse (hold down mouse button, drag, then
  release).
• Redraw.

28
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Shaded Contour Plot

29
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Shaded Contour Plot
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  /Demo/plt/skirt.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner, click 3D. Click OK
  for the messages.
• On the sidebar, select the Rotate about the
  Z-axis Tool (second up and over from bottom left)
  on the Tools buttons. Click and drag on the plot
  to rotate it until it is facing you (180
  degrees).

30
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Shaded Contour Plot
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off and the Shade and
  Contour options On. Select V4P(N) as the Contour
  Variable. Close the dialog.
• Go to Field/Contour/Contour Attributes. Highlight
  all the zones and change the Contour Plottype to
  Flood.
• Go to Effects Tab and set Surface Translucency to
  40.

31
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Shaded Contour Plot
• Toggle On Translucency on Zone Effects sidebar.
• In the Contour Attributes window, click on the
  Boundary tab and change Bndy Color to Black.
  Close the dialog.
• Redraw.

32
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a 3D Contour Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  TEC90/Demo/plt/skirt.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner, click 3D. Click OK
  for the messages.

33
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a 3D Contour Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• On the sidebar, select the Rotate about the
  Z-axis Tool (second up and over from bottom left)
  on the Tools buttons. Click and drag on the plot
  to rotate it until it is facing you (180
  degrees).
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off and the Contour
  options On. Select V4P(N) as the Contour
  Variable. Close the dialog.

34
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a 3D Contour Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to Field/Boundary Attributes. Highlight all
  the zones and change the Bndy Color to Black.
• Click the Effects tab on the Boundary Attributes
  window. Change Lighting Effect to Gouraud. Close
  the dialog.
• Redraw.

35
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Iso-Surface Plot in Tecplot 9.0

36
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Iso-Surface Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  TEC90HOME/Demo/plt/ijkcyl.plt.
• Go to Data/Delete Zones and delete zones 2, 3 and
  4.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off.

37
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Iso-Surface Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to Field/3D Iso-Surface Details. Choose v4 C
  for the Contour variable.
• Turn on Show Iso-Surfaces.
• Set Value 1 to 0.4, Value 2 to 0.8, and Value 3
  to 1.4.
• In the field beside Use Lighting Effect, change
  the effect from Paneled to Gouraud.

38
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Iso-Surface Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Select Use Surface Translucency and set the value
  to 30. Close the dialog.
• On the sidebar, select the Rotate about the
  Z-axis Tool (second up and over from bottom left)
  on the Tools buttons. Click and drag on the plot
  to rotate it until it is facing you (90
  degrees).
• Redraw.

39
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Slice Plot in Tecplot 9.0

40
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Slice Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  TEC90HOME/Demo/plt/ijkortho.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off.

41
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Slice Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Choose the Slice tool button (left column, second
  from the bottom) and click on the plot to create
  Slice 1. Choose v5 E for the Contour variable.
  The default slice will have a constant value for
  x.
• Type the letter "z" to slice for a constant value
  of Z.

42
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Slice Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Click on the slice and drag your mouse to move
  the slice to about z2.
• Type the letter "y" to slice for a constant value
  of Y.
• Click on the slice and drag your mouse to move
  the slice to about y4.
• Shift-click on the plot to create Slice 2.
• Type a number from 1 9 to create that many
  intermediate slices.

43
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Slice Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Click and drag your mouse to move Slice 1, or
  shift-click and drag to move Slice 2.
  Intermediate slices will be adjusted
  automatically.
• Go to Field/3D Slice Details, and select the
  Other tab. Turn Show Boundary on.
• For additional options see Help/Keyboard
  Shortcuts or Field/3D Slice Details.

44
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  TEC90HOME/Demo/plt/fetetra2.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off. Toggle Contour option
  On. Choose v7 P(N) for the Contour Variable.

45
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0

46
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Under Zone Effects on the sidebar, toggle
  Translucency On.
• Go to Field/ Mesh Attributes and select Zone 2.
  Click the Zone Show button and select Deactivate.

47
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Choose the Slice tool button (left column, second
  from the bottom) and click on the plot to create
  Slice 1. The default slice will have a constant
  value for x.

48
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to Field/Streamtrace Placement. For Vector
  Variables, set U to v4 U(M/S), set V to v5
  V(M/S), and set W to v6 W(M/S). On the
  Streamtrace Placement dialog, set Format to
  Volume Rod and Direction to Both. Close the
  dialog.

49
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Choose the Streamtrace tool button (left column,
  4th from the top). Alt-Click at several locations
  on the Slice to place streamtraces. To remove an
  unwanted streamtrace, Alt-Click on it and hit
  Delete.

50
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating a Streamtrace Plot in Tecplot 9.0
• Go to Field/Streamtrace Details. Click the
  Rod/Ribbon tab. Set Rod/Ribbon Width to 0.05 and
  Rod Points to 4. Turn on Show Mesh. Change Shade
  Color to Blue.
• For additional options see Help/Keyboard
  Shortcuts or Field/Streamtrace Details.

51
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Animation
• Go to File/New Layout.
• Go to File/Load Datafile, select
  /Demo/plt/multizn.plt.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the sidebar,
  toggle the Mesh option Off and theContour option
  On. Select V3U(M/S) as the Contour Variable.
  Close the dialog.

52
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Animation

53
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Animation
• Go to Field/Contour/Contour Attributes. Highlight
  all zones and change the Cont Plottype to Both
  Lines and Flood and the Line Color to Red.
• Click on the Boundary tab and change the Bndy
  Color to Black I-Indx Bndy to None. Close the
  dialog. Redraw.

54
Basic TecPlot guide

• Creating an Animation
• Go to Tools/Animate/Zones. Select Animate to AVI
  file, then click Animate. Change the Animation
  Speed to 5. Save animation.
• Animation will be created. Close dialogue and
  view animation with a media player.