This paper describes initial results of a 3D field topology analysis for automating transfer function design aiming at comprehensible volume rendering. The conventional Reeb graph-based approach to describing topological features of 3D surfaces is extended to capture the topological skeleton of a volumetric field. Based on the analysis result, which is represented in the form of a hyper Reeb graph, a procedure is proposed for designing appropriate color/opacity transfer functions. Two analytic volume datasets are used to preliminarily prove the feasibility of the present design methodology.

This paper takes advantage of a 3D eld topology analysis for automating visualization design aiming at volume data mining. The conventional Reeb graph-based approach to describe the topological features of 3D surfaces is extended to capture the topological skeleton of a v olumetric eld. Based on the analysis results, which are represented in the form of hyper Reeb graph, we propose two methods for eective geometric object tting and two principles to design appropriate color/opacity transfer functions for direct volume rendering. Feasibility study of the present methodology is performed with a large scale 4D simulated dataset from atomic collision research.