Voxelization: Multi-target Optimization for Biomedical Volume Rendering

Almost all existing software for visualization of biomedical volumes provides three-dimensional (3D) rendering. The most common techniques for 3D rendering of volume data are maximum intensity projection (MIP) and direct volume rendering (DVR). Recently, rendering algorithms based on Monte-Carlo path tracing (MCPT) have also been considered. Depending on the algorithm, level of detail, volume size, and transfer function, rendering can be quite slow. In this paper, we present a simple and intuitive voxelization method for biomedical volume rendering optimization. The main advantage of the proposed method, besides the fast structure construction and traversal, is its straightforward application to MIP, DVR and MCPT rendering techniques (multi-target optimization). The same single structure (voxel grid) can be used for empty space skipping, optimized maximum intensity calculation and advanced Woodcock tracking. The performance improvement results suggest the use of the proposed method especially in cases where different rendering techniques are combined.