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SURVEY OF AVAILABLE 3D VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES 
W. Schuhr a , E. Kanngieser b 
a University of Applied Sciences, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany e-mail: schuhr3d@hotmail.com 
b University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany 
CIPA Workshop on Scanning for Cultural Heritage Recording, Corfu, Greece, Sept. 01 and 02, 2002 
KEY WORDS: Solid FELIX, Spatial Laser Scanner, Spatial visualization, Two-Step Upconversion, Voxel, World Wide Web 
ABSTRACT: 
Due to practical and public benefits, the most important for the 3D Laser scanning technology are suited Spatial data presentation 
and Spatial visualization techniques. 
Therefore this paper deals with a survey of available 3D visualization techniques. Though some advanced Technologies, like the 
solid state FELIX- 3D Computer with a real 3D screen, obviously seem to be best suited for Spatial visualization of 3D Laser 
Scanner data in particular, a wide range of so far available conventional "light" 3D visualization Techniques is also suited for this 
very important task. 
This paper presents a synoptically result of this survey of available 3D visualization Techniques, highlighting Spatial visualization 
techniques, optimum suited for 3D Laser Scanner data. 
3D visualization techniques here mean full virtual Spatial visualization techniques only, while perspective or so called 2.5D 
projections are excluded. 
It is liked to emphasize, the improved solid state FELIX-3D in particular, which replaces the 2D PC screen by a real 3D PC-screen, 
might improve the whole Computer industry of our century. 
In order to stimulate research in visualization techniques for 3D Laser Scanner data, this paper in addition deals with a list of more 
than 10 topics, which are still a matter of research, e.g., the optimum virtual base length. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Recently 3D Laser Scanner data visualization techniques gain 
increasing importance for a broad spectrum of practical 
applications, as for 
the stereoscopic presentation of architectural and 
archaeological models, currently in particular increasingly 
derived from Laser Scanners, nowadays as 3dimensinal 
Pixels (=Voxels), 
for practical improvements from a 3dimensional 
interpretation of MIS related stereo mates of, e.g., 
Radiometric Pixel data of different sources, including data 
fusion, 
for Spatial viewing of virtual stereo mates for a better 
understanding and interpretation of vector data in 
Monument Information Systems (=MIS), 
The main benefit of 3dimensional data presentation is namely 
the gain of a whole additional dimension. 
This holds not only for image data but for Spatial data in 
general. 
This means, e.g., the provided new generation image maps, to 
be used for synoptically, statistical and planning purposes etc., 
will appear in 3 dimensions. 
This paper neglects perspective or so called 2.5 dimensional 
data presentations, but concentrates on methods for virtually 
3dimensional data visualization. 
It deals with principles of virtually Spatial data presentation, 
including the stereoscopic instrumentation. 
In this context it is shown, this moving back to the basics of 
Spatial data visualization is required and gains a surprising 
potential for further research. 
Figure 1. Principle scetch of the FELIX -3D with a solid state real (!) crystal 3D screen, a candidate for a new 3D PC-Generation? 
As a very important device for Spatial Laser Scanner data 
visualization the Solid State FELIX-3D shall be named in 
particular. The FELIX-3D solid state is the static successor of 
the well known 3D cylindrical Plexiglas tube with rotating 
screen, both suited for the presentation of 3D Laser based 
models, to be generated in color and in real time, for a direct 
autostereoscopic visualization, which means, for unaided eyes, 
see Figure 1. The FELIX-3D allows an object projection within