Visualization is largely understood and used as an excellent communication tool by researchers. This narrow view often keeps scientists from fully using and developing their visualization skillset. This tutorial will provide a “from the ground up” understanding of visualization and its utility in error diagnostic and exploration of data for scientific insight. When used effectively visualization can provide a complementary and effective toolset for data analysis, which is one of the most challenging problems in computational domains. This tutorial aims to bridge these gaps by providing attendees with fundamental visualization concepts, execution tools, customization and usage examples. Finally, a short introduction to SeedMe.org will be provided. SeedMe enables easy automation and sharing of visualization and other results.

The tutorial will comprise of four closely related sessions as follows:

1. Visualization fundamentals: Lecture – Assay of standard techniques and their utility (45 min)
2. Hands on Visualization with VisIt software on your computer/laptop (80 mins)
3. Remote visualization with VisIt software on Gordon cluster at SDSC. We will provide training accounts. (30 mins)
4. Short hands on introduction to SeedMe.org (25 mins)

Date: March 6, 2015
Time: 9am – noon PT
Instructor: Amit Chourasia, Sr. Visualization Scientist, Visualization Services Group, SDSC
Level: Beginner
Requirements: Please make sure you download and install all software and data mentioned below ahead of tutorial.

1. Computer, mouse with scroll wheel (Laptops with touch pads are clunky for 3D navigation and will slow you down significantly)
2. VisIt software version 2.5.2 Yes this is bit older, but we need it for remote vis on Gordon. Do not bother with compilation, use executables/installers
3. Download Gordon host profile for Visit Unzip and copy this file to Linux/Mac ~/.visit/hosts folder or Windows: My Documents/VisIt/hosts folder. You will need to run VisIt once to create this folder in users directory.
4. Download Sample Data Unzip to your Desktop
5. Account on SeedMe.org which enables you to share visualizations easily.
6. Download corresponding tool from SeedMe.org for uploading content.