Interactive image cube visualization and analysis

This paper describes a computer system that allows highly interactive visualization of three-dimensional data arrays. Although the system was developed for analysis of image cubes produced by imaging spectrometer instruments, it can be used for visualization of any threedimensional data array. The design of the system includes a master display process that is always active and that provides a variety of options for displaying the image cube. Any one of several different interactive application processes can be run concurrently with the master display process. The concurrent processes extract and display data in graphical and numerical form and perform various analysis functions. The architecture of the system allows its capabilities to be easily extended. The system combines vector graphics on a bit-mapped graphics workstation and image display on a separate image display device. No other special-purpose hardware is required. The new visualization techniques provided by this system allow analysis of three-dimensional data arrays for which conventional volume rendering and surface display techniques are not appropriate.