The Scripps Visualization Center (VizCenter), which opened in March 2002, uses state-of-the-art computer hardware and software tools for presenting and manipulating very large datasets. The center, which can accommodate up to 60 people, is built around a Panoram curved floor-to-ceiling screen (~9' by ~29') featuring 3.2 megapixel resolution (3,276,800 pixels). The Infinite Reality graphics subsystem within the hardware is driven by a single-pipe SGI Onyx 3400 with a system bandwidth capable of 44 GBps. The Onyx is powered by 16 MIPS R12K processors and 16 GB of addressable
memory. Disk space is currently 1.5TB, with a sustained access rate of 125 MB/sec. This technology allows us to display multiple data layers (e.g., seismicity, high resolution topography, seismic reflectivity, draped interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images etc.) simultaneously, render them in 3D stereo, and take a virtual flight through the data as dictated on the spot by the user. Multiple video streams can be simultaneously displayed including the SGI megadesktop, S-VHS video, DVD video, and video from a laptop computer. Similarly, the five-channel surround sound audio system can be integrated via the SGI megadesktop, laptops, or simple handheld recording devices.

The potential video and audio combinations are numerous. One project in collaboration with Regional Workbench partners involves the display of 3D images of the Southern California-Northern Baja California border region. These images integrate topographical and bathymetry data and are part of our effort to merge GIS with 3D visualization.

Contact information for the Vis Center's Director (Graham Kent), Science Director (Debi Kilb) and Program Coordinator (Kitty Haak) can be found on their web site:

http://siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/contact.shtml