HR: 11:20h
AN: ED31E-05    [PDF]
TI: New 3D Tools Provide Insights for Earth Interior Research, Visualization, and Education
AU: * Simkin, M V
EM: Marvin.Simkin@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404 United States
AU: Garnero, E J
EM: garnero@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404 United States
AU: Fouch, M J
EM: fouch@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404 United States
AB: Investigations of Earth's interior, from crust to core, inherently utilize spatially-based data and models. Examples include the distribution of earthquake hypocenters, seismic wave raypaths, and seismic velocity heterogeneity maps derived by methods such as forward modeling and travel-time tomography. Visualization of such information is generally limited to 2D maps and cross-sections, which ultimately can limit the interpretation of inherently 3D problems. While a wide range of images produced for the GeoWall has provided an immediate impact in the classroom, few software tools are available for educators and researchers to create new discipline-specific images without the aid of software developers or commercial software applications. In this work, we describe a new set of visualization construction tools tailored for the GeoWall and other VRML-based systems that is designed for broad use and free distribution. HoloDraw is a software suite that enables the transformation of 2D, 3D and 4D data sets into 3D stereo GeoWall images. These tools, which are currently in development, facilitate use of existing GMT (Wessel, P. and W. H. F. Smith, Free software helps map and display data, EOS Trans. AGU, 72, 441, 1991) scripts and their data sources, and produce 3D files for the GeoWall, suitably configured web browsers, and other software packages capable of viewing VRML files. HoloDraw runs on Unix, Macintosh, and Windows, using script files and command lines to create rectilinear or spherical projections of a wide range of data sets. We will present several images constructed with HoloDraw, including heterogeneity maps from global and regional seismic tomography, earthquake hypocentral locations, and source-receiver raypaths used for deducing D'' topography. We show that HoloDraw facilitates bringing new life to existing data sets through 3D visualization techniques that are easily transported to web browsers and the GeoWall. The two immediate benefits of HoloDraw are: (1) It allows researchers to view data and/or models from perspectives previously unavailable or impractical to create. In some cases this process facilitates important next-step research decisions that may have otherwise been obscured. (2) HoloDraw enables researchers to transport existing 2D image construction scripts (e.g., GMT tools) into 3D, providing a clear and comprehensible transfer of research knowledge and discovery to all levels of students and colleagues.
UR: http://geophysics.asu.edu/vis/agu/2003/ed01/
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 7299 General or miscellaneous
DE: 8124 Earth's interior--composition and state (old 8105)
DE: 8180 Tomography
DE: 9820 Techniques applicable in three or more fields
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting