Search

Analyzing complex and large data as generated in non-destructive testing (NDT) is a time-consuming and mentally demanding challenge. Such data is heterogeneous and integrates primary and secondary derived data from materials or material systems for spatial, spatio-temporal as well as high-dimensional data analysis. Currently, materials experts mainly rely on conventional desktop systems using standard 2D visualization techniques for this purpose. Our framework is a novel immersive visual analytics system, which supports the exploration of complex spatial structures and derived multidimensional abstract data in an augmented reality setting. It includes three novel visualization techniques: MDD-Glyphs, TimeScatter, and ChronoBins, each facilitating the interactive exploration and comparison of multidimensional distributions from multiple datasets and time steps. A qualitative evaluation conducted with materials experts and novices in a real-world case study demonstrated the benefits of the proposed visualization techniques. This evaluation also revealed that combining spatial and abstract data in an immersive environment improved their analytical capabilities and facilitated to better and faster identify patterns, anomalies, as well as changes over time., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures

This work introduces a novel Augmented Reality (AR) approach to visualize material data alongside real objects in order to facilitate detailed material analyses based on spatial non-destructive testing (NDT) data as generated in X-ray computed tomography (XCT) imaging. For this purpose, we introduce a framework that leverages the potential of AR devices, visualization and interaction techniques to seamlessly explore complex primary and secondary XCT data matched with real-world objects. The overall goal of the proposed analysis scheme is to enable researchers and analysts to inspect material properties and structures onsite and in-place. Coupling immersive visualization techniques with real physical objects allows for highly intuitive workflows in material analysis and inspection, which enables the identification of anomalies and accelerates informed decision making. As a result, this framework generates an immersive experience, which provides a more engaging and more natural analysis of material data. A case study on fiber-reinforced polymer datasets was used to validate the AR framework and its new workflow. Initial results revealed positive feedback from experts, in particular regarding improved understanding of spatial data and a more natural interaction with material samples, which may have significant potential when combined with conventional analysis systems., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures