Biophysically Based Appearance Models: The Bumpy Road Toward Predictability

Saturday, 19 December | 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Room 511/512

This course addresses practical issues involved in the development of biophysically based appearance models. Because these models are used not only in computer graphics, but also in other scientific applications (for example, noninvasive diagnosis of medical conditions and remote sensing of natural resources), the course also aims to foster cross-fertilization with these fields. 

The course begins by providing a concise biophysical background and discussing the key concept of predictability. It continues by examining the specific constraints and pitfalls found in each of the key stages of the simulation framework (data collection, modeling, and evaluation) and discussing alternatives that could improve the fidelity of the entire process. 

Once a model is designed, implemented, and evaluated through a sound methodology, its scope of applications can be expanded to address a wide range of scientific questions. For example, computer simulations are regularly being used by life science researchers to understand and predict material-appearance changes prompted by mechanisms that cannot be fully studied using traditional experimental procedures. The course closes with an examination of recent examples of computer graphics appearance models that can also be employed in such interdisciplinary research efforts.

Level

Advanced

Presentation Language

Presented in English

Prerequisites

Familiarity with basic optics concepts and radiometric terms. Attendees should have a working knowledge of standard rendering techniques and terminology. Experience with Monte Carlo methods is helpful but not required.

Instructor(s)

Gladimir Baranoski 
University of Waterloo

Instructor Bio(s)

Gladimir Baranoski
Gladimir Baranoski is an associate professor in the School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Canada. His current research interests include predictive simulation of light interactions with organic and inorganic materials. The results of his interdisciplinary research in this area have been made available to the scientific community through publication of articles in journals and conference proceedings in computer graphics and related fields such as applied optics and remote sensing. He has also organized tutorial and course presentations for computer graphics conferences and remote-sensing symposiums on topics related to the main theme of this course.