Computer Visualization Facility

Background

• Advanced Research Computing section started as HPC support group

• Funded from research vote (off-the-top)

• Charged with increasing number of users and range of disciplines

• Founded Computer Visualization Facility as one means to achieve this

Rationale

• Scientific Visualization– Introduce scientists to better graphics– Better presentation– Better understanding

• Rendering and Animation– Artists using HPC

• Multimedia test facility

The proposal

The Reality

The Toys

VisionStation Plasma Screen

Case Study

• Theoretical Physics – Coupled-channel Collective Model

– Elastic scattering of Neutrons from Carbon nuclei

• Intensive Numerical Integration– Started as a HPC collaboration

– Model has ~10 parameters

– 1000 pts takes ~20 mins on 1 APAC cpu

Experimental Results

Some results from Model

Elastic X-section

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vll

One random run

radius = 2.826

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Energy (MeV)

(19578)

Detail from previous

radius = 2.826

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0.625 0.63 0.635 0.64 0.645 0.65 0.655 0.66 0.665

Energy (mev)

Re-run with smaller step

radius = 2.826

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0.6458 0.646 0.6462 0.6464 0.6466 0.6468 0.647 0.6472

Energy (mev)

Another detail view

radius = 2.826

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0.64667 0.646675 0.64668 0.646685 0.64669 0.646695 0.6467 0.646705

Energy (mev)

Re-run again still smaller

radius = 2.826

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0.646678 0.64668 0.646682 0.646684 0.646686 0.646688 0.64669 0.646692

Energy (mev)

Final detail view

radius = 2.826

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0.6466841 0.64668415 0.6466842 0.64668425 0.6466843 0.64668435 0.6466844 0.64668445 0.6466845 0.64668455

Energy (mev)

First Attempts at 3D

Better

Contour Map

Grayscale - 1000x1000.pgm

Surface rendered

The demo version

A different parameter

Same data different view

How I knew where to look

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49S1S5

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Presentation version

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QCG visualization

• Simulation of quantum states of two phosphorous atoms forming a gate in a quantum computer

Another presentation

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Terrain mapping

• Using publicly available data from satellite image as texture map on a digital elevation model to produce a realistic 3D image

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The nephron (kidney cell)

• As part of the virtual kidney project an accurate model of a nephron was developed.

• A fly-through developed for the VisionStation (immersive display) is shown

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Two concept developments

1. Student academic progression

2. Genetically modified pollen dispersion

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

New CVF proposal

• We thought we might get some space in one of the new buildings in our South Precinct.

• This was part of our presentations

• We didn’t get that space…

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Other activities

• Adobe Atmosphere– Interactions between avatars in specific virtual

environments

• My True Colours– Performance art

• Video-conferencing– Plasma screen wows them all

Futures

• New location

• AccessGrid node

• Using labs for out-of-hours rendering

The End