Chapter 4 Vortex detection - Computer Graphics and Visualization

Preface
The research described in this thesis was conducted at the Computer Graphics and
CADCAM group of the Faculty of Information Technology and Systems of Delft University
of Technology. It is the fourth in a series of PhD projects concerned with scientific
visualization. The first to receive a PhD degree in visualization was Andrea
Hin, who developed visualization techniques for turbulent flow [Hin, 1994]. A year
later, Theo van Walsum graduated on the subject of selective visualization on curvilinear
grids [van Walsum, 1995]. Next, Wim de Leeuw’s thesis described methods for
presentation and exploration of flow data [de Leeuw, 1997]. All of these projects were
concerned with visualization of fluid flows. My project continues along this line, although
the focus is different: it concentrates on flow visualization using geometries, a
collective name for curves, surfaces, and volumes.
Many people have contributed to this dissertation, in many different ways and
degrees, some of whom I would like to thank in particular. The first and foremost
figure I wish to thank is my supervisor Frits Post, who has had the largest influence
on my work. His close involvement in my project has proven invaluable. During our
frequent meetings and discussions, he was always full of new ideas and suggestions
for me to try out (or ignore). When roads seemed a dead end, he always managed to
fill me with his enthusiasm to find a way out, or to continue in other directions. I also
greatly appreciate his thorough reading of and commenting on all my manuscripts,
including this thesis.
I thank my promotor Erik Jansen for offering me the opportunity to do this project
in his group, for his enthusiastic support throughout the project, and in the final stage,
for accurately yet quickly reading this manuscript.
I want to thank some people from WL Delft Hydraulics, my co-supervisor Arthur
Mynett, for his valuable time and comments and ideas provided during regular meetings,
Jan Mooiman, for providing data sets and insights into their physical backgrounds,
and Irving Elshoff, for his assistance in all matters related to AVS/Express
and PLANKTON-97.
I am also grateful to my new employers at the Manchester Visualization Centre
for patiently having waited for me to finish my thesis full-time in Delft rather than
part-time in Manchester.
Two MSc students contributed to this PhD project. Ton van der Wouden designed
and implemented CNX-lib, a well thought out library for unstructured grids.
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