Real-time Volume Visualization of Sensor Data for Target Detection and Classification

The Advanced Volume Visualization Display (AVVD) research program is a joint research program between the Fraunhofer Center for Research in Computer Graphics, Inc. and Innovative Research and Development Corp. It is dedicated to the real-time visualization of high-resolution volumetric sensor data sets, maximizing the use of the human visual system to facilitate detection and classification in extremly hostile environments. The AVVD program has successfully demonstrated the application of high-speed volume visualization to a number of detection and classification problems. Recent emphasis has been on sonar for undersea imaging using data from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Division Newport's High Resolution Array (HRA), and rapid mine detection usind data from the Coastal System Station's Toroidal Volume Search Sonar (TVSS). The AVVD system introduced a new capability: the intuitive composition of several "pings" into a synthetic volumetric set. This composite data is higher resolution, approaching optical quality, with soft shadows and broad specularities.