- Teaching Lab
The laboratory was used to teach the undergraduate graphics course using Microsoft Visual J++ as implementation language. The software was also provided by Intel. The class gained good experience in the basic graphics techniques, including 3D graphics. They put together a basic repertoire of tools that they can now use elsewhere. See CS 435 for assignments and course specifics.
- The EREP Research in Constraint-based, Feature-based CAD (Hoffmann)
We have begun porting the Erep system from Sun to Intel platforms. The work progresses slowly because the GUI is written in Motif and X and requires hand translation to Microsoft Foundation classes. Some of the GUI will be rewritten in Java.
Among the many research interests and projects currently underway are: Spatial Geometric Constraint Solving and An Electronic Primer on Geometric Constraint Solving. Additional information is available by sending e-mail to Christoph M. Hoffmann.
- Computer-Aided Mechanical Design
Sacks is using the Intel equipment for research on computer-aided mechanical design. He has ported the HIPAIR program from Unix to Intel PC's and is developing new capabilities directly on the PC. There are two industrial applications. Sacks has begun interdisciplinary research on computer-aided micro-mechanical design with Dr. James Allen of Sandia National Laboratory (a world leader in micro-mechanism fabrication) and with Purdue faculty Hoffman and Peters. Sacks and Joskowicz are also exploring functional tolerancing of automotive transmissions with a major American manufacturer.
More information on this project, is available by e-mail to Elisha Sacks or Leo Joskowicz. For research and biographical information, please to go their respective home pages: Elisha Sacks or Leo Joskowicz. For sample image click here.
- Core Laboratory for Image Analysis and Multidimensional Applications (CRISTAL)
The Intel computers in CRISTAL are used by a number of faculty in the departments of Basic Medical Sciences, Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Biology, Bioengineering, and Food Science for imaging support for both research and teaching. However, the primary use of the Intel machines are the two research projects described below.
Intel computers:
1 - Dual - Pentium Pro NT server
2 - NT workstations (Pentium II-450)Projects:
Multiresolution client-server environments for fast navigation and search of high resolution image databases.
John Turek, Basic Medical Sciences
Charles Bouman, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Zygmunt Pizlo, Psychological Sciences
Mark Olin, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer EngineeringWe are currently working on methods for browsing and searching large (>100 GB), high-resolution microscopic and medical image data sets in a manner optimized for human visual perception. One Intel donated workstation is interfaced to a high-resolution scanned linear array digital camera (3400 x 2700 pixel) attached to a high-resolution brightfield microscope that is used for creating the data sets. A dual-processor NT server is used for storing our test databases and date-streaming techniques are used for distributing image data to client machines.
Wavelet decomposition for texture analysis of scanning electron microscopic images.
John Turek, Basic Medical Sciences
Charle Bouman, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Raghuvir Ramachandran, Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer EngineeringAn Intel donated workstation is dedicated to working on texture analysis of scanning electron microscopic images. The primary application is to use wavelet decomposition analysis to quantify changes in the texture of hair in response to nutritional changes.
- Distributed Graphics/Visualization (Bajaj)
We have begun porting our Shastra distributed and collaborative visualization code to work on both a LAN or WAN cluster of Intel platforms using Windows NT. The collaborative fronts (GUIs), session management and kernel layers have been rewritten entirely in Java 1.1, while the 3D displays are using the external authoring interface to link to VRML browsers. The supporting geometry and scene library middle layers are being rewritten in a combination of Java and C++ code.
See the Shastra Lab or send e-mail to Chandrajit L. Bajaj for more information.
- SurfLab
The SurfLab C++ modeler libraries have been ported to the dual processor NT environment. The effort involved one graduate student and one undergraduate student support by an NSF grant and its Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement. To complete the modeling environment and compare its viability compared to the existing SGI version, the 1998 effort will build a graphical user interface appropriate for the NT environment and parallelize the design support functions to obtain real-time feedback mechanisms during the interactive modeling process. The next (2) machine(s) requested will be single processor with high end graphics and large disk space.
Current project status can be monitored by clicking here. For news and general information about the SurfLab, click here. For specific questions, please send e-mail to the principal investigator, Jörg Peters.
- Climate Modeling Laboratory and IBM Center for Environmental Research
Oglesby received the Intel dual processor pentium pro NT machine in late September. Most of our time since then has been spent moving relevant visualization packages over to the Intel machine, and becoming familiar with working in the NT environment. In particular, we have successfully ported our in-house weather processor package WXP to the NT machine, where it performs very well. (This is a package that combines ingestion and analysis of meteorological data with a variety of visualization and mapping options.) We are working with research associates of Prof. Bajaj to port his visualization packages to the NT, though this more complicated port is still underway. These visualization packages will ultimately be used to improve the presentation and analysis of climate model results.
Check out the lab or send e-mail directly to the principal investigator, Robert J. "Bob" Oglesby
| Projects | Center's Home Page | Computer Sciences | Purdue University |
Updated 10/25/99 by Center Staff.
