27. Level Set and PDE Methods for Computer Graphics
Tuesday, Full Day, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Room 515A
Level: Advanced

Level set methods, an important class of partial differential equation (PDE) methods, define dynamic surfaces implicitly as the level set (iso-surface) of a sampled, evolving nD function. This course is designed for researchers who are interested in learning about level set and other PDE-based methods, and their application to computer graphics, computer animation, geometric modeling, and computer vision. The course material is presented by several recognized experts in the field and includes introductory concepts, practical considerations, and extensive details on a variety of level set/PDE applications.

The course begins with preparatory material that introduces the concept of using partial differential equations to solve problems in computer graphics, geometric modeling, and computer vision, including the structure and behavior of several different types of differential equations (for example, the level set equation and the heat equation) as well as a general approach to developing PDE-based applications. The second stage of the course describes the numerical methods and algorithms needed to actually implement the mathematics and methods presented in the first stage. The course closes with detailed presentations on several level set/PDE applications, including image/video inpainting, pattern formation, image/volume processing, 3D shape reconstruction, image/volume segmentation, image/shape morphing, geometric modeling, anisotropic diffusion, and simulation of natural phenomena.

Prerequisites
A working knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, computer graphics, geometric modeling, and computer vision. Some familiarity with differential geometry, differential equations, numerical computing and image processing is strongly recommended, but not required.

Intended Audience
Students, researchers, and practitioners who want to learn about level set/PDE methods in order to employ them in computer graphics, image processing, and geometric modeling applications.

Organizer
David Breen
Drexel University

Lecturers
David Breen
Drexel University

Ron Fedkiw
Stanford University

Ken Museth
Linköping University

Stanley Osher
University of California, Los Angeles

Guillermo Sapiro
University of Minnesota

Ross Whitaker
University of Utah

Schedule

	Session 1 - PDE and Level Set Fundamentals
8:30	Welcome Breen
8:40	Introduction to PDEs and Their Application to Imaging I Sapiro
9:40	Introduction to Level Set Methods Osher
10:15	Break
	Session 2 - Numerical Methods and Applications
10:30	Dynamic Visibility in an Implicit Framework Osher
11	Level Set Numerical Methods Whitaker
11:25	Level Set Surface Reconstruction and Processing Whitaker
11:55	Level Set Methods on a Streaming Architecture Whitaker
12:15	Lunch
	Session 3 - PDE/Level Set Applications
1:45	Image Inpainting Sapiro
2:15	Computing Generalized Geodesics for Computer Graphics Sapiro
2:45	Algorithms for Level Set Modeling Museth
3:10	Level Set Surface Editing Operators Museth
3:30	Break
	Session 4 - Level Set Segmentation and Simulation
3:45	3D Volume Segmentation (Framework, Multiple Non-uniform Datasets, Diffusion Tensor MRI, Sinograms) Breen
4:30	Simulation of Water, Fire and Smoke Fedkiw