
	The Viz Center - A High-Resolution, Stereo Visualization Facility
	© Photo by Sam Gray, courtesy of Ellenzweig Associates, Inc., Architects		Earth Science research and education increasingly demand the integration of geospatial datasets to observe and model natural phenomena. To meet this challenge, Harvard University and the Structural Geology & Earth Resources Group have developed a state-of-the-art immersive 3D stereo Visualization Facility. The facility uses three digital projectors in active stereo mode displaying on a 23 ft wide cylindrical screen. The image source was originally an 8-cpu, 16GB shared memory SGI Onyx with two Infinite Reality 4 1GB memory graphics pipes. The current image sources are a 4-cpu 128GB shared memory Linux system with an Nvidia Quadroplex D2 graphics unit, augmented by a ScalableGraphics DTC Windows cluster system.
	This is a research institute, industry-grade facility, sized for research groups and small class session instructional use. It includes the following technical components:

	• 23 x 8 ft cylindrical screen • Three edge-blended, high-resolution active stereo digital ChristieDigital Mirage 2000 projectors • 3D-Perceptions edge-blending, geometry correction and image scaling unit • primary image source -- Linux, 4 dual-core Opteron cpu, 128GB RAM, Nvidia Quadroplex D2 • second image source -- ScalableGraphics Windows DTC cluster, 3 Dell Precison workstation,dual cpu, 48 GB RAM, Nvidia FX Pro 5800, Mellanox Infiniband • tertiary Linux image sources • Stereo Graphics/Reald CrystalEyes Stereo Viewing eyewear
	Usage is by groups both within and outside EPS, hence the facility runs both general visualization software and specialized-domain software suites. As an integral part of the EPS/SGER EPOGEO computational cluster, there are software suites that focus on Earth and Planetary Observation, Geosciences & Geospatial analysis. An example from another domain, Egyptology, is the Virtools system. Some illustrative research and instructional examples include:

	• Offshore Niger Delta petroleum exploration • Southern California earthquake hazard assessment • Amazon forest logging impact on air current biodiversity dispersal • Architectural design walkthoughs • DNA mobility through cellular membrane pores • Seismic tomography of sub-African mantle plumes • Fracture analyses of geologic structures • Natural Disasters (GenEd) • Pyramid Schemes (GenEd)

	© Photo by C. Guzofski		Our group is always happy to give you a virtual tour through our projects in the Viz Center

Andreas Plesch and Charles Brankman discussing tectonic structures in the Viz Center

If you are interested in learning more about the Viz Center and the EPS/SGER EPOGEO computational cluster, or in a tour by our group, please contact Prof. John H. Shaw (shaw at eps.harvard.edu), or the Viz Center manager George Planansky (617-496-1386 or george_planansky at harvard.edu).

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