Visualization is largely understood and used as an excellent communication tool by researchers. This narrow view often keeps scientists from fully recognizing and developing their visualization skill set. This tutorial will provide a "from the ground up" understanding of visualization and its utility in error diagnostic and exploration of data for scientific insight. When used effectively visualization can provide a complementary and effective toolset for data analysis, which is one of the most challenging problems in computational domains. In this tutorial we plan to bridge these gaps by providing end users with fundamental visualization concepts, execution tools, customization and usage examples. Finally, short hands on tutorials on Data Sharing using SeedMe.org will be provided.
Pre-requisites: None
Level: Introductory
Tutorial Requirements:
1. Computer, mouse with scroll wheel (tablets are not sufficient for this tutorial)
2. VisIt software version 2.12.2 must be installed. Download executable/binary version (do not compile unless you are adventurous) for your operating system from here
https://wci.llnl.gov/simulation/computer-codes/visit/executables 3. Download sample data from here
https://wci.llnl.gov/content/assets/docs/simulation/computer-codes/visit/visit_data_files.tar.gz 4. Create an account on
SeedMe.org for data sharing portion (optional)
EXPECTED ATTENDEE OUTCOMES
Bulk of this tutorial is hands on, thus attendees must be prepared to follow along to make most of this tutorial.
a) Gain understanding of common visualization techniques for Mesh (Grid) based data
b) Learn about sample use case scenarios and success stories
c) Learn to use VisIt software for visualization and try out the standard visualization techniques discussed in 1.VisIt is one the two most powerful and popular open source software for visualization on HPC resources (Hands on)
d) Perform remote visualization with HPC clusters (Hands on)
e) Share data and visualization via
SeedMe.org SESSION DETAILS
Session 1 (Lecture): Visualization Fundamentals
In this session we will provide a rapid introduction to fundamental visualization concepts. We will provide an assay of visualization techniques available accompanied by example application scenarios. We will also discuss best practices and shortcomings of visualization techniques. These fundamentals will help attendees to apply and innovate existing techniques for their own research.
· Introduction to Visualization
· Perception overview with eye color sensitivity
· Visualization Techniques
· Application Examples
· Best Practices
Session 2 (Hands on): Visualization with VisIt
This session will provide a quick over view of VisIt and bulk of the session will be devoted to enable users to get a hands on experience with VisIt application. The attendees will create several visualizations on their laptops by following instructor’s guidance.
· VisIt Introduction
· VisIt basics (how VisIt works, one plot & 2 operators)
· Visit plot survey
· Expressions
· Commands and Scripting
· Moviemaking
Session 3 (Hands on): Remote Interactive Visualization
This session will provide a instructions on how to create system host profile and connect to XSEDE host like Gordon and perform remote interactive visualization.
· Remote Visualization (network permitting)
Session 4 (Hands on): Data Sharing using
SeedMe.org This session will provide instructions on how leverage the SeedMe infrastructure to share visualizations within and outside your research group.
· SeedMe overview
· Command line interaction with
SeedMe.org · SeedMe integration with VisIt
