Computer graphics in nuclear engineering education at Queen Mary College

Computer graphical display has been used in teaching nuclear engineering at Queen Mary College since 1971 and has assumed an increasingly important role in the modelling and simulation of engineering systems, not least nuclear engineering systems, for teaching purposes. The role of computer graphics is illustrated by means of examples selected from a suite of nuclear engineering programs in current use, indicating the highly flexible interaction and enhanced presentation of information which can be achieved. The facilities provided at Queen Mary College for the implementation of graphics-based teaching programs are described and the associated laboratory organisation indicated.     

Computer graphics for design processes in mechanical engineering

At first the paper describes graphical software which was created for supporting our research activities. This software uses GKS. Then the application of this tool is discussed especially for developing spatial mechanisms, for modelling spatial structures by means of FEM, and for designing assemblies in mechanical engineering.     

Computer graphics and computer aided design in mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota

Engineering design in industry is changing as a result of the application of the new tools provided by the digital computer and interactive computer graphics. This shift is placing new demands on engineering curricula. The engineering graduate today must be trained in the use of the computer and computer graphics as a design tool—in much the same way that engineers in the past used the slide rule and today use the hand-held calculator.This paper summarizes the efforts to integrate computer graphics and computer aided design into the design curriculum in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota. Specific software packages have been developed for use in teaching engineering graphics and mechanism synthesis and analysis. These packages are discussed in detail, including the hardware used.     

Computer graphics hardware

The author predicts that computer graphics will move toward intellect support through better visualization tools based on a 30% per year improvement in hardware. He discusses graphics languages, visualization, processors, workstations, application-specific integrated circuits graphics (ASICs), memory and image files, and medical uses     

Computer graphics in CAM applications

Correct structuring and representation of production management-information will make the decision process more efficient in a factory. Graphic representation of survey data and comparisons are often very useful, although one loses some accuracy, compared with tables. The use of colours in this context makes the charts easier to understand, and more information may be shown without making the chart unclear. These facts have made the interactive graphic techniques useful for planning and resource allocation purposes. The result has been installed in industry.The study also presents a new method for automatic quality supervision. A detailed analysis of workpieces and products from mechanical industry is carried out.The method is a substitute for visual inspection as well as manual measurements: Missing holes, broken corners, and undesired material are detected. Important details are measured. There are individual tolerances on all measures. Parts that do not meet the requirements are rejected.The supervision program is easily changed, and the method is therefore suitable for small series production. The picture from a special TV camera is the basis for the quality supervision, which is of the noncontact type.     

Computer graphics in airport management

Computer graphics technology has been in use for over a decade. This technology has matured to a point where large applications involving databases can now be undertaken. This article describes the use of graphics technology in management of airport utilities, facilities and land. The systems described took over 60 manyears of development effort. This is considered as one of the largest and most complex undertakings in the application of computer graphics technology. As far as can be determined, no other airport in the world has a system of this size, complexity and sophistication. The events that led to a decision to develop the system are summarized. The system and how it is currently used at the airports within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are described.     

Computer graphics for holography

Holograms composed from a multiplicity of independent object views, referred to as composite holograms, are discussed. Three techniques, one an extension of old techniques and the others new, are presented. The latter are called the direct method and the postrendering method. The direct approach is favored because it uses less disk space. However, it requires somewhat more care because the elemental views rendered are not at all representative of normal object views     

Computer graphics and displays

A review is given of recent developments in computer graphics, with emphasis on displays. The principles of refresh, storage and raster-scan technologies are outlined, followed by an examination of developments in intelligent raster graphics terminals, displays for 3D computer graphics, and the emergence of powerful personal graphics workstations. Colour hardcopy is needed to complement today's colour raster displays, and ink-jet and electrostatic devices are described. A summary is given of the current status of international standards for computer graphics, and the paper concludes by pointing out some likely areas for future development.     

Implementation of computer graphics exercises in freshman engineering graphics education

The rising application of computer-aided design (CAD) in the industrial environment has precipitated an interest in computer graphics for engineering education. At the University of Texas at Austin, a computer graphics laboratory has been established that is primarily dedicated to freshman engineering graphics education. The laboratory is currently equipped with eight Hewlett-Packard 2647 A intelligent graphics terminals. Five software modules have been developed to introduce the student to the graphics terminal and to demonstrate its capabilities for making engineering drawings. The modules permit the construction of line drawings, pictorials, graphs and charts on the CRT terminal without requiring any programming skill on the part of the student. The laboratory exercises have been successfully used by over 1000 engineering graphics students during the first two semesters of implementation. This paper describes the efforts to date in organizing and implementing this freshman computer graphics laboratory.     

Computer graphics in distribution system planning

This paper describes the general approach and the characteristic of methodology developed for the Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas of Mexico (IIE). Recent developments in new technologies and equipment, the advancements made in tools and techniques for mathematical analysis, and the availability of computer equipment for information acquisition, storage and processing have all accelerated progress in the application of computers to the design of distribution networks. Computers cannot yet substitute for the engineer's judgement during the planning process, but their use does provide the engineer with better information and more time to think. Computer models help achieve better and faster decisions, and help explore more alternatives with less resources.     

Atoms to astronomy: Computer graphics at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Within the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, state of the art computer graphics animation is done in the Computer Graphics Laboratory. The topics of the animations cover many scientific disciplines. Specific features of the system developed there, both hardware and software, are discussed. The prime mover of the effort is Dr. James F. Blinn of Pasadena; his role and experiences are elaborated. Their current largest project is The Mechanical Universe; the system is used for its production.     

Computer graphics for cellular reconstruction

The use of computer graphics to study the three-dimensional structure of tissues within an organism such as a human is considered. A system called Sterecon, which uses stereo views of thick sections of tissues and a high-voltage electron microscope, is described. Contours of structures are traced in stereo and entered into a graphics database. Using thick sections decreases the work by ten- to twenty-fold. The database can be manipulated to display cellular organization using various graphics representations