3D Visualization Analysis Research Articles

Evaluation of the urban heat island effect based on 3D modeling and planning indicators for urban planning proposals

ABSTRACT Urban planning plays an important role in the formation of urban space and microclimate. As a middle-level planning in the Chinese urban planning system, regulatory planning has a direct impact on the shaping of 3D urban space and can maximize the operability of urban planning. However, 3D space formation is not considered in the present preparation of regulatory plans, which leads to a misunderstanding of possibly formed 3D landscapes and microclimatic effects after the plan implementation. To support 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of the urban heat island effect (UHI) for regulatory planning, this study proposes a rule-based 3D modeling method to efficiently generate 3D models. The main elements of 3D models (terrain, building, road, vegetation, and land parcel) and their content were determined after analyzing the characteristics of 3D models in the regulatory plan. The 3D modeling process was constructed and combined with an UHI evaluation model through CGA programming. An index called heat island potential (HIP) was used as the UHI evaluation index and can be quantified using the correlation equations between planning indicators and HIP. The proposed method can support the planners to generate 3D models for a planning proposal, and simultaneously analyze 3D spatial effect and UHI.

Integrated framework to assess soil potentially toxic element contamination through 3D pollution analysis in a typical mining city

Soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution of contaminated sites has become a global environmental issue. However, given that previous studies mostly focused on pollution assessment in surface soils, the current status and environmental risks of potentially toxic elements in deeper soils remain unclear. The present study aims to cognize distribution characteristics and spatial autocorrelation, pollution levels, and risk assessment in a stereoscopic environment for soil PTEs through 3D visualization techniques. Pollution levels were assessed in an integrated manner by combining the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the integrated influence index of soil quality (IICQs), and potential ecological hazard index. Results showed that soil environment at the site was seriously threatened by PTEs, and Cu and Cd were ubiquitous and the predominant pollutants in the study area. The stratigraphic models and pollution plume simulation revealed that pollutants show a decreasing trend with the deepening of the soil layer. The ranking of contamination soil volume is as follows: Cu > Cd > Zn > As > Pb > Cr > Ni. According to the IICQs evaluation, this region was subject to multiple PTE contamination, with more than 60% of the area becoming seriously and highly polluted. In addition, the ecological hazard model revealed the existence of substantial ecological hazards in the soils of the site. The integrated potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated that 45.7%, 10.13%, and 4.15% of the stereoscopic areas were in considerable, high, and very high risks, respectively. The findings could be used as a theoretical reference for applying multiple methods to integrate evaluation through 3D visualization analysis in the assessment and remediation of PTE-contaminated soils.

Reaching beyond GIS for comprehensive 3D visibility analysis

Visibility analyses are one of the fundamental geospatial processing tasks applied in various fields. Recent technological advancements have accelerated viewshed calculations and improved their accuracy thanks to the growing availability of high-resolution spatial data. However, limitations of standard GIS tools, primarily related to the inability to perform analyses in a fully three-dimensional environment and the restriction to only point-based object analyses, have hindered the development of visibility analyses methods that accurately replicate human perspectives. This article presents a novel approach that combines GIS with 3D graphic software and uses high resolution LIDAR data. The presented method not only addresses the limitations of traditional GIS methods but also opens up new possibilities for comprehensive 3D visibility analyses that can better represent real-world scenarios. The proposed methodology, which ensures compatibility of the results with GIS for further spatial analysis, has the potential to enhance decision-making processes in fields such as urban planning, landscape management and protection, environmental impact assessment, infrastructure planning and development. By presenting a case study involving a photovoltaic farm, this article demonstrates the practical applicability and benefits of the proposed method in real-world scenarios.

Efficient 3D imaging and pathological analysis of the human lymphoma tumor microenvironment using light-sheet immunofluorescence microscopy.

Rationale: The composition and spatial structure of the lymphoma tumor microenvironment (TME) provide key pathological insights for tumor survival and growth, invasion and metastasis, and resistance to immunotherapy. However, the 3D lymphoma TME has not been well studied owing to the limitations of current imaging techniques. In this work, we take full advantage of a series of new techniques to enable the first 3D TME study in intact lymphoma tissue. Methods: Diverse cell subtypes in lymphoma tissues were tagged using a multiplex immunofluorescence labeling technique. To optically clarify the entire tissue, immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs (iDISCO+), clear, unobstructed brain imaging cocktails and computational analysis (CUBIC) and stabilization to harsh conditions via intramolecular epoxide linkages to prevent degradation (SHIELD) were comprehensively compared with the ultimate dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs (uDISCO) approach selected for clearing lymphoma tissues. A Bessel-beam light-sheet fluorescence microscope (B-LSFM) was developed to three-dimensionally image the clarified tissues at high speed and high resolution. A customized MATLAB program was used to quantify the number and colocalization of the cell subtypes based on the acquired multichannel 3D images. By combining these cutting-edge methods, we successfully carried out high-efficiency 3D visualization and high-content cellular analyses of the lymphoma TME. Results: Several antibodies, including CD3, CD8, CD20, CD68, CD163, CD14, CD15, FOXP3 and Ki67, were screened for labeling the TME in lymphoma tumors. The 3D imaging results of the TME from three types of lymphoma, reactive lymphocytic hyperplasia (RLN), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), were quantitatively analyzed, and their cell number, localization, and spatial correlation were comprehensively revealed. Conclusion: We present an advanced imaging-based method for efficient 3D visualization and high-content cellular analysis of the lymphoma TME, rendering it a valuable tool for tumor pathological diagnosis and other clinical research.

Measuring pedestrians' movement and building a visual-based attractiveness map of public spaces using smartphones

Accurately measuring the distribution of vitality in urban public spaces and evaluating the attractiveness index of landscape elements can enhance the precision of public space design and the rational planning of urban microupdate strategies. This study introduces a method based on the SLAM algorithm to create a 3D visual exposure analysis and applied in two squares in Macau to calculate the relationship between pathfinding decisions and visual exposure. The results demonstrate that both the extent of visual exposure (seen from the observer) and the area of isovist field (seen from the object) can statistically indicate the attractiveness index of a space. Consequently, an attractiveness map of the site can be constructed. This study effectively captures walking trajectories and visual data in real-world settings, integrating site-specific and pedestrian information into a digital twin system. This approach not only advances quantitative methodologies but also facilitates postoccupancy evaluations of public space usage and environmental behavior research, thereby expanding the potential for future investigations in this domain.

Micro-CT imaging of a frozen bubble cluster: Sample holder development and image processing techniques

The significance of clusters in the flotation of coarse particles is well-known. This paper presents a novel technique for micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) imaging of bubble clusters. A bubble cluster was collected using a customised arrangement and subsequently frozen to keep the cluster in a fixed position. A sample holder with a cooling chamber was designed and constructed to maintain the frozen state of the cluster during the micro-CT imaging process. The cooling chamber maintained a continuous flow of coolant at −10 °C across the sample, effectively preserving the frozen state of the bubble cluster during imaging. By utilizing this custom sample holder, high-quality imaging of the frozen bubble cluster sample was achieved. Image processing techniques enabled 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of the bubble cluster. The analysis includes measurements of cluster dimensions, particle and bubble sizes, volume distribution, and the percentage of particles in each size range within the cluster. These insights provide valuable information for understanding the underlying structure and characteristics of the bubble cluster, which cannot be obtained through the traditional photographic method.

Root canal morphology and bifurcating/merging sites of permanent mandibular incisors in 9- to 12-year-old children: An in-vivo 3D visualization analysis in China

ObjectiveThis retrospective study aims to analyze the root canal morphology of permanent mandibular incisors and the bifurcating/merging sites of root canal systems in children aged 9–12 in a Chinese subpopulation.DesignCone-beam computed tomography scans of 976 healthy, untreated and fully developed mandibular incisors were collected. Root canal morphology was identified by Vertucci's classification. Combined three-dimensional reconstruction and visualization techniques were used to locate bifurcating/merging sites in root canals. ResultsVertucci I was the most common classification of mandibular central incisors (42.3%) while Vertucci III was most common in mandibular lateral incisors (37.9%). Females more frequently showed Vertucci I classification (49.5% central incisors and 36.7% lateral incisors) while Vertucci III was most common among males (44.5% central incisors and 41.0% lateral incisors). The difference in canal classification by sex was statistically significant (p < 0.05). 58.7% of Vertucci V canals bifurcated in the apical third (AT) in central incisors, while 69.5% bifurcated in the middle third (MT) in lateral incisors. Bifurcating and merging in AT (44.3%) was the most common style of Vertucci III canals in central incisors, while bifurcating in MT and merging in AT (53.8%) was the most common in lateral incisors. ConclusionThe root canal morphology of mandibular incisors in children aged 9–12 was different from that reported in previous studies on adults, and closely related to sex. Males had significantly greater canal variability than females. Lateral incisors had greater canal variability than central incisors. The bifurcating/merging sites were closely related to tooth type.

Interactive 3D Visual Analysis of Weather Prediction Data Reveals Midlatitude Overshooting Convection during the CIRRUS-HL Field Experiment

Abstract In summer 2021, microphysical properties and climate impact of high- and midlatitude ice clouds over Europe and the North Atlantic were studied during the Cirrus High Latitude (CIRRUS-HL) airborne field campaign. The related forecasting and flight planning tasks provided a testbed for interactive 3D visual analysis. Operational analyses and forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) were visualized with the open-source software “Met.3D.” A combination of traditional 2D displays with innovative 3D views in the interactive visualization framework facilitated rapid and comprehensive exploration of the NWP data. By this means, the benefit of interactive 3D visual forecast products in the routine flight planning procedure was evaluated. Here, we describe the use of 3D tropopause and cloud visualizations during a convective event over the Alps, which became one of the CIRRUS-HL observation targets. For the planning of the research flight on 8 July 2021, our analysis revealed that simulated strong convective updrafts locally disturb the tropopause and inject ice water across the dynamical tropopause into the lower stratosphere. The presented example provides a novel 3D perspective of convective overshooting in a global NWP model and its impact on the tropopause and lower stratosphere. The case study shall encourage the atmospheric science community to further evaluate the use of modern 3D visualization capabilities for NWP analysis.

Skin Whole-Mount Immunofluorescent Staining Protocol, 3D Visualization, and Spatial Image Analysis.

The use of polychromatic immunofluorescent staining on whole-mount skin enables cell type characterization and aids in the delineation of the physiological and immunological strategies used by the skin to combat pathogens. Using whole-mount skin for polychromatic immunofluorescent staining removes the need for histological sectioning and enables the visualization of anatomical structures and immune cell types in three dimensions. Here we present a detailed protocol for immunostaining with fluorescence-conjugated primary antibodies in whole-mount skin to reveal structural landmarks and specific immune cell types using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) (Basic Protocol 1). The optimized staining panel reveals structural features such as blood vessels (CD31 antibody) and the lymphatic network (LYVE-1 antibody), in combination with MHCII antibodies for antigen-presenting cells (APCs), CD64 for macrophages and monocytes, CD103 for dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC), and CD326 for Langerhans cells (LC). Basic Protocol 2 describes image visualization pipelines using open-source software (ImageJ/FIJI), enabling four visualization options (z-projections, orthogonal views, 3D visualization, and animation). Basic Protocol 3 describes a quantitative analysis pipeline using CellProfiler to characterize the spatial relationship between cell types using mathematical indices such as Spatial Distribution Index (SDI), Neighborhood Frequency (NF), and Normalized Median Evenness (NME). These protocols will enable researchers to stain, record, analyze, and interpret data from whole-mount skin using commercially available reagents in a CLSM-equipped laboratory and freely available analysis software. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Immunofluorescent staining and imaging for whole-mount mouse skin Basic Protocol 2: File rendering and visualization using FIJI Basic Protocol 3: Spatial image analysis using CellProfiler.

Bioprinting of pre-vascularized constructs for enhanced in vivo neo-vascularization

Pre-vascularization has been receiving significant attention for developing implantable engineered 3D tissues. While various pre-vascularization techniques have been developed to improve graft vascularization, the effect of pre-vascularized patterns on in vivo neo-vessel formation has not been studied. In this study, we developed a functional pre-vascularized construct that significantly promotes graft vascularization and conducted in vivo evaluations of the micro-vascular patterns (μVPs) in various printed designs. μVP formation, composed of high-density capillaries, was induced by the co-printing of endothelial cells and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC). We implanted the printed constructs with various μVP designs into a murine femoral arteriovenous bundle model and evaluated graft vascularization via 3D visualization and immune-histological analysis of the neo-vessels. The μVP-distal group (μVP located away from the host vessel) showed approximately two-fold improved neo-vascularization compared to the μVP-proximal group (μVP located near the host vessel). Additionally, we confirmed that the μVP-distal group can generate the angiogenic factor gradient spatial environment for graft vascularization via computational simulations. Based on these results, the ADSC mono pattern (AMP), which secretes four times higher angiogenic factors than μVP, was added to the μVP + AMP group design. The μVP + AMP group showed approximately 1.5- and 1.9-fold higher total sprouted neo-vessel volume than the μVP only and AMP only groups, respectively. In immunohistochemical staining analysis, the μVP + AMP group showed two-fold improved density and diameter of the matured neo-vessels. To summarize, these findings demonstrate graft vascularization accelerated due to design optimization of our pre-vascularized constructs. We believe that the developed pre-vascularization printing technique will facilitate new possibilities for the upscaling of implantable engineered tissues/organs.

A Survey of the Landscape Visibility Analysis Tools and Technical Improvements.

Visual perception of the urban landscape in a city is complex and dynamic, and it is largely influenced by human vision and the dynamic spatial layout of the attractions. In return, landscape visibility not only affects how people interact with the environment but also promotes regional values and urban resilience. The development of visibility has evolved, and the digital landscape visibility analysis method allows urban researchers to redefine visible space and better quantify human perceptions and observations of the landscape space. In this paper, we first reviewed and compared the theoretical results and measurement tools for spatial visual perception and compared the value of the analytical methods and tools for landscape visualization in multiple dimensions on the principal of urban planning (e.g., complex environment, computational scalability, and interactive intervention between computation and built environment). We found that most of the research was examined in a static environment using simple viewpoints, which can hardly explain the actual complexity and dynamic superposition of the landscape perceptual effect in an urban environment. Thus, those methods cannot effectively solve actual urban planning issues. Aiming at this demand, we proposed a workflow optimization and developed a responsive cross-scale and multilandscape object 3D visibility analysis method, forming our analysis model for testing on the study case. By combining the multilandscape batch scanning method with a refined voxel model, it can be adapted for large-scale complex dynamic urban visual problems. As a result, we obtained accurate spatial visibility calculations that can be conducted across scales from the macro to micro, with large external mountain landscapes and small internal open spaces. Our verified approach not only has a good performance in the analysis of complex visibility problems (e.g., we defined the two most influential spatial variables to maintain good street-based landscape visibility) but also the high efficiency of spatial interventions (e.g., where the four recommended interventions were the most valuable), realizing the improvement of intelligent landscape evaluations and interventions for urban spatial quality and resilience.

3D dynamic deformation measurement and visual analysis of helicopter rotor

针对直升机旋翼动载荷飞行试验测试需求，提出一种直升机旋翼三维动态变形测量与可视化分析方法。首先，根据直升机旋翼的结构特点和高速旋转特性，设计了以一组双目高清摄像头为核心的旋翼动态变形影像测量与监控及分析系统；其次，基于双目立体视觉测量理论，论述了测量系统标定、实时单点变形测量、散斑影像匹配、旋翼表面三维重建与三维动态变形可视化分析原理/方法；最后，在地面进行了模拟实测环境的仿真试验，实现了试验系统搭建、试验数据采集、处理与分析。试验结果证明，该方法可获得最大误差优于4 mm的定位测量精度，能很好地实现直升机旋翼三维动态变形测量，为飞行试验旋翼载荷测试数据分析等提供直观、可靠的数据与技术支撑。

E15.5 Mouse Embryo Micro-CT Using a Bruker Skyscan 1172 Micro-CT.

X-ray computed microtomography (µCT) is a powerful tool to reveal the 3D structure of tissues and organs. Compared with the traditional sectioning, staining, and microscopy image acquisition, it allows a better understanding of the morphology and a precise morphometric analysis. Here, we describe a method for 3D visualization and morphometric analysis by µCT scanning of the embryonic heart of iodine-stained E15.5 mouse embryos.

Retracted: 3D Visualization Analysis of Motion Trajectory of Knee Joint in Sports Training Based on Digital Twin.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/3988166.].

Cryogenic contrast-enhanced microCT enables nondestructive 3D quantitative histopathology of soft biological tissues

Biological tissues comprise a spatially complex structure, composition and organization at the microscale, named the microstructure. Given the close structure-function relationships in tissues, structural characterization is essential to fully understand the functioning of healthy and pathological tissues, as well as the impact of possible treatments. Here, we present a nondestructive imaging approach to perform quantitative 3D histo(patho)logy of biological tissues, termed Cryogenic Contrast-Enhanced MicroCT (cryo-CECT). By combining sample staining, using an X-ray contrast-enhancing staining agent, with freezing the sample at the optimal freezing rate, cryo-CECT enables 3D visualization and structural analysis of individual tissue constituents, such as muscle and collagen fibers. We applied cryo-CECT on murine hearts subjected to pressure overload following transverse aortic constriction surgery. Cryo-CECT allowed to analyze, in an unprecedented manner, the orientation and diameter of the individual muscle fibers in the entire heart, as well as the 3D localization of fibrotic regions within the myocardial layers. We foresee further applications of cryo-CECT in the optimization of tissue/food preservation and donor banking, showing that cryo-CECT also has clinical and industrial potential.

URBAN GROWTH SIMULATION USING URBAN DYNAMICS AND CITYGML: A USE CASE FROM THE CITY OF MUNICH

Abstract. Urban dynamics modelling using system dynamic (SD) approaches aims to provide an understanding of the major internal forces within an urban area, such as population development. SD models provide valuable information for decision and policy making. Urban systems are strongly related to the urban space, which is well described by geospatial data. Therefore, the connection of SD and geospatial data is advantageous, both for feeding spatial information into SD models and for further spatial analyses and for visualizing the results of SD in geographic context. This paper describes a new approach to combine an SD model with a semantic 3D city model. Our approach shows that a bidirectional data exchange between semantic city models and SD models improves the predictions generated by the SD models. Furthermore, we show that automatic modification of the semantic city model by the output of the SD model allows for 3D visualization and further analysis of future scenarios.Since semantic 3D city models and SD models have complex data structures, and since the models have evolved in very different domains, integrating the models is a complex task. In order to facilitate the integration process, we developed a conceptual model, which describes the data structures of the semantic city model and of the SD model as well as the bidirectional relations between the models using the concept of model weaving. The approach was tested using the SD tool Vensim and a CityGML data set from the city of Munich for an urban densification use case.

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy.

Deafness is the most common sensory impairment, affecting approximately 5% or 430 million people worldwide as per the World Health Organization1. Aging or presbycusis is a primary cause of sensorineural hearing loss and is characterized by damage to hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), and the stria vascularis. These structures reside within the cochlea, which has a complex, spiral-shaped anatomy of membranous tissues suspended in fluid and surrounded by bone. These properties make it technically difficult to investigate and quantify histopathological changes. To address this need, we developed a light-sheet microscope (TSLIM) that can image and digitize the whole cochlea to facilitate the study of structure-function relationships in the inner ear. Well-aligned serial sections of the whole cochlea result in a stack of images for three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering and segmentation of individual structures for 3D visualization and quantitative analysis (i.e., length, width, surface, volume, and number). Cochleae require minimal processing steps (fixation, decalcification, dehydration, staining, and optical clearing), all of which are compatible with subsequent high-resolution imaging by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Since all the tissues are present in the stacks, each structure can be assessed individually or relative to other structures. In addition, since imaging uses fluorescent probes, immunohistochemistry and ligand binding can be used to identify specific structures and their 3D volume or distribution within the cochlea. Here we used TSLIM to examine cochleae from aged mice to quantify the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. In addition, advanced analyses (e.g., cluster analysis) were used to visualize local reductions of spiral ganglion neurons in Rosenthal's canal along its 3D volume. These approaches demonstrate TSLIM microscopy's ability to quantify structure-function relationships within and between cochleae.

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Deafness is the most common sensory impairment, affecting approximately 5% or 430 million people worldwide as per the World Health Organization1. Aging or presbycusis is a primary cause of sensorineural hearing loss and is characterized by damage to hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), and the stria vascularis. These structures reside within the cochlea, which has a complex, spiral-shaped anatomy of membranous tissues suspended in fluid and surrounded by bone. These properties make it technically difficult to investigate and quantify histopathological changes. To address this need, we developed a light-sheet microscope (TSLIM) that can image and digitize the whole cochlea to facilitate the study of structure-function relationships in the inner ear. Well-aligned serial sections of the whole cochlea result in a stack of images for three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering and segmentation of individual structures for 3D visualization and quantitative analysis (i.e., length, width, surface, volume, and number). Cochleae require minimal processing steps (fixation, decalcification, dehydration, staining, and optical clearing), all of which are compatible with subsequent high-resolution imaging by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Since all the tissues are present in the stacks, each structure can be assessed individually or relative to other structures. In addition, since imaging uses fluorescent probes, immunohistochemistry and ligand binding can be used to identify specific structures and their 3D volume or distribution within the cochlea. Here we used TSLIM to examine cochleae from aged mice to quantify the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. In addition, advanced analyses (e.g., cluster analysis) were used to visualize local reductions of spiral ganglion neurons in Rosenthal's canal along its 3D volume. These approaches demonstrate TSLIM microscopy's ability to quantify structure-function relationships within and between cochleae.

Food Security: 3D Dynamic Display and Early Warning Platform Construction and Security Strategy.

Since it affects a nation’s economy and people’s wellbeing, food security is a crucial national security requirement. In order to realize multi-angle grain data presentation and analysis and achieve the goal of deep mining, we propose a 3D dynamic visualization analysis method of multidimensional agricultural spatial–temporal data based on the self-organizing map. This method realizes the multi-angle display and analysis of grain data and achieves the purpose of deep mining. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the global food security situation is not optimistic, so it is necessary to use the food security early warning system to solve the food security issue. Machine learning has emerged widely in recent years and has been applied in various fields. Therefore, it is an excellent way to solve food security to apply the model in machine learning to construct a food security early warning system. Afterward, a food security early warning platform is developed with a support vector regression (SVR) model to ensure food security. Finally, we analyze China’s medium and long-term food security policy in line with modernization objectives. The experimental results show that the food security early warning platform based on the SVR model from 2007 to 2016 is effective compared with the actual situation every year. Through analyses, we should improve the stability, reliability, and sustainability of food supply, firmly hold the food security initiative, and construct a national food security guarantee system matching the goal of modernization.

Sintering Behaviors of Supported Nanoparticles Related to Spatial Location by a Quasi-Four-Dimensional TEM.

The performance degradation via sintering phenomenon is a critical issue for the application of supported nanoparticles in industrial catalysis. However, the challenges to combine in situ stimulation and three-dimensional (3D) characterization hinder a profound understanding of sintering behaviors, thus the effect of spatial location on nanoparticles sintering has long been neglected. Herein, based on a homemade holder integrated with in situ Joule heating and electron tomography, a quasi-four-dimensional (4D) transmission electron microscope characterization approach is developed to reveal the spatial location of supported nanoparticles and its pronounced impact on size distribution and sintering behaviors. The results of 3D visualization and statistical analysis demonstrate a strong location-dependent sintering behavior of supported nanoparticles, where external nanoparticles sinter via migration coalescence, and internal nanoparticles sinter via Ostwald ripening. The quasi-4D methods developed in this work can also be extended to the study on 3D configuration evolution of other nanomaterials under an external stimulus.